Yarn paintings

Huichol yarn painting is a traditional artistic technique that is used for recording dreams, visions, myths, and the innermost personal prayers of the artists. Because the Huichol language is non-written, these story boards are used to express the beauty and wisdom of the ancient Huichol cultural tradition. Huichol artists can be thought of as modern day scribes.

The Huichols use smaller version of these paintings as offerings to the many gods and goddesses that reign over their isolated homeland in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Mexico.

Yarn paintings originate from votive objects the Huichols create as ceremonial offerings. The small wax and yarn votive objects are made as prayers to depict the desires of the people and their families. After the ceremonies they are taken to far off sacred places and left for the gods and goddesses.

The larger paintings, made by Huichol artists for sale, utilize the same technique for placing strands of yarn onto a thin surface of beeswax mixed with pine resin that has been spread onto a wooden board. It is a meticulous and time consuming art form that may be a successor to the featherworking techniques of the Huichol ancestors, the Aztecs.

Beaded masks

These beautiful, one-of-a-kind beaded masks where made by pressing tiny glass beads into natural beeswax spread over a paper-mache form. Bead art is made in limited quantities by the Huichol and Tepehuano Indians of southwestern Mexico. Click here for additional information on the Huichol people and how this art was made.

Spirituality that will move you

Mexican culture meets pop-culture icon:  “El  Vochol” Volkswagen Beetle. The car will be at the Washington D.C. museum until May 6, when it will continue on its international tour. After the tour, the car will be sold or auctioned, with proceeds going to the Association of Friends of the Museum of Popular Art in Mexico City to help safeguard and promote the work of Mexican artisans.

African tribal influences?

When most people think about Mexico they never think about Africa, or natives of African descent. However there are areas in Mexico that have a large black population.

Black heritage in Mexico is not only isolated to Veracruz and Costa Chica. In the 1500 Spaniards brought Africans into Mexico because the Indians were dying. By the mid-1600, there were more than 15000 blacks and mulattos in Mexico. The races in Mexico mixed, thus making Mexico a nation of mestizos (mixed peoples).

 This work of art showing a Huichol indian playing a drum has something African about it, it almost looks like it has been influenced by African tribal art. A reliquary figure covered with beads and Huichol symbolism.

“Holy cow!”

Two stunning decorated Huichol cow sculptures, standing in a gallery in Jalisco/ Guadalajara México.

 

Yarn paintings

Huichol yarn painting is a traditional artistic technique that is used for recording dreams, visions, myths, and the innermost personal prayers of the artists. Because the Huichol language is non-written, these story boards are used to express the beauty and wisdom of the ancient Huichol cultural tradition. Huichol artists can be thought of as modern day scribes.

Click here to see more Huichol yarn paintings.

Bildungs TV – The Huichol indians on German television

Leopoldine Ganser made an item about the Huichol indians on ‘Bildungs TV’.

Link: Bildungs.TV – bildungsthemen – Top Events – Huicholindianer.

Huichol Indian Guitar

The Hermes Music Foundation has given this rare spiritual gift to Bellas Artes Alliance to raise funds for producing events that promote, preserve and advance Latino music, art and culture. “Hermes has provided very few of these guitars. They have been prepared well in advance and only for very special people and artists such as Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, and Deepak Chopra, among others.”

The guitar is being raffled by Latinitas on behalf of Bellas Artes Alliance. The drawing will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2011, at the Pan Americana Festival  Held at Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701. For more information, or to purchase a ticket, please leave a message at 512-282-9112 or contact lramirez@bellasartesalliance.com.

Beaded eclipses

The eclipse has special meaning for the Huichol, because it represents the eclipse of July 11 1991 at 10:21 a.m. Pacific Coast time. This is the sixth sun according to the ancient Meso-American Calendars of the Maya. When Cortez arrived it was the begining of the fifth sun. As we all know, Cortez changed their world more than any other force they had ever encountered in their past. Evidently they are expecting some large scale Earth changes according to their divine cosmology.

“Mexibeads”

Christian Louboutin made this Huichol inspirated pumps for spring/summer 2012. Mexibeads will retail at £1,732 at Louboutin World; a relatively high price point even for the brand that undoubtedly reflects the intricate beading that gives the shoe its Mexican character. The beads positively shimmer, and are embedded on a luxe satin canvas.