Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo - Universal artist from Colima
In the half-light I enter the ‘horno’ or oven room. A base of reds frames the pre-Hispanic pieces in the Museum of Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo. It is easy to imagine the fiery origin of the land ...
read more
Discover the magic of papelmalecho in Tapalpa
"Mexico has colorful folk art traditions," says the diminutive woman in white, pointing to a series of papier mache creations. "Ours are always amiable or nice, like a pleasant dream." Patricia ...
read more
Masks and feather head dresses: Mexicans celebrate danzas
Mexicans love to wear masks, to dance and make music in a blazing display of fireworks, feasting and shooting off pistols. Appearances are deceptive; even the poorest pueblo collects money to celebrate...
read more
Martin Ibarra Morales - renowned ceramicist and master of detail
I spent a long time studying the eyes of the Olmecs, the lips, noses and facial expressions of the Toltecs and those from Colima. It was the work of all who went before me that enabled me to do what I ...
read more
A treasure in our own backyard
Jalisco has hundreds of fine artisans but I have just this last week found incredible art right here in Chapala and Ixtlahuacan - our own backyard.
...
read more
Six books by Karen Witynski and Joe Carr
These six wonderful books hit a real soft spot because I'm an ardent admirer of Mexican creativity as it exhibits itself so lavishly in art, architecture, the design of everyday objects and the bold approach to color. And I particularly enjoy good photographic books, which these essentially are.
read more
Mexican Folk Art from Oaxacan Artist Families by Arden Aibel Rothstein and Anya Leah Rothstein
There are hundreds of photos of all kinds of artistic output, from pottery to wood carvings, from basket weaving to candle making, and lots more but we're given a much closer look at the actual creators of all this work. We're treated to wonderful works featuring mermaids, clowns, devils, angels, fishes, skeletons, Biblical scenes, animals and birds of all kinds, and even ladies of the night. These are all used to decorate masks, bedspreads, candles, baskets, jewelry, furniture, statues, toys, pottery and clothing and much, much more plus some 87 brief biographies of each of the artists.
read more
Casa Santiago: Zapotec rug weavers of Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
Porfirio Santiago weaving a Zapotec rug in Oaxaca, Mexico Copyright 2007-03-01
Porfirio Santiago is at his loom, diligently weaving a massive 2 x 3 meter rug with traditional designs, f...
read more
Michoacán's master craftspeople and their arts
Abdon Punzo Angel's thick hands tapped minute details into the menacing snout of the copper dragon that sat immobilized in a vise, its body seeming to squirm. Beside him, another shiny dragon writhed f...
read more
Creations In Silver - By Dona Eva Martinez
The designs of Doña Eva Martinez are mostly 18th and 19th century with some pre-hispanic symbolism, predominantly earrings. They are of pure silver and treated to give an antique finish. The designs a...
read more
Exvotos: Folk art and expressions of faith in Mexico
In Mexico, an exvoto is most commonly a personal thank you note to God.
read more
Talavera - Mexico's earthly legacy from the City Of Angels
There is no more glorious an experience or heightening of the senses than to walk through Puebla's exquisitely beautiful downtown on a sun drenched afternoon. Every building is a work of art. And every...
read more
Did You Know? Most "bark paper" comes from wild fig trees
Besides being used as a kind of rough paper for records and correspondence, amate was also cut into human or animal forms as part of witchcraft rituals after which it would be buried in front of the pe...
read more
Armando
Juan Mata Ortíz is a small village of potters, farmers and cowboys in Northern Chihuahua. About 30 years ago, an unschooled artistic genius, Juan Quezada, taught himself how to make earthenware jars i...
read more
A Storyteller - On Pottery
Juan Mata Ortíz is a small village of potters, farmers and cowboys in Northern Chihuahua. About 30 years ago, an unschooled artistic genius, Juan Quezada, taught himself how to make ollas,
earthe...
read more
Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua; a village of potters
Northern Mexico often gets short shrift in the tourist literature. Several guidebooks recommend one blast south as quickly as possible because there is "nothing but empty desert in Chihuahua, Coahuila or Nuevo Leon." Au contraire!
read moreLuz - Another Village Light
Juan Mata Ortíz is a small village of potters, farmers and cowboys in Northern Chihuahua. About 30 years ago, an unschooled artistic genius, Juan Quezada, taught himself how to make ollas,
eart...
read more
Mata Ortiz--How Do You Get There From Here?
Juan Mata Ortíz is a small village of potters, farmers and cowboys in Northern Chihuahua. About 30 years ago, an unschooled artistic genius, Juan Quezada, taught himself how to make ollas,
eart...
read more
Adaptations: Survival Of The Cleverest
Juan Mata Ortíz is a small village of potters, farmers and cowboys in Northern Chihuahua. About 30 years ago, an unschooled artistic genius, Juan Quezada, taught himself how to make earthenware jars i...
read more
Artesanía - Behind the Scenes in San Miguel de Allende & Guanajuato
Admit it. Next to simmering on the beach or sunning poolside slathered in oil, you visit Mexico to shop. In fact, if you’re a real shopper you bypass beach resorts altogether. On at least one trip ea...
read more
Mexican fire opals
Few gemstones evoke the excitement of a precious fire opal. The flashy show of this gem makes each specimen unique, a fountain of mystery, enchantment and legend. Some say that opals convey foresight a...
read more
The Colored Paper Affair
LOVE OF COLORED PAPER is as Mexican as tortillas, tacos, or tequila. There are fiestas all year round and each one is festooned and bright with multi-colored streamers, flowers, and bows; fringed, fold...
read more
A Potter's Story
A POTTER'S STORY
An Answer for all those who Asked.
By Marybeth Coulter-Best
Her Email
Her Home Page
A friend asked me...
read more
Building a foundation to live in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
Our world in Teotitlan operates on the trust of a handshake and commitment to personal agreement. We operate on the premise that it will all work out by the strength of our relationships.
read more
Chapala's Feria Maestros del Arte: guardians of the folk art tradition
"Art is a country's history and, before Mexicans could read or write, they were telling stories through their art. If this art disappears, so does history."
read more
