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Huichol Beadwork
The Huichol are one of the oldest indigenous
Mesoamerican societies to survive into the modern era from pre-Columbian
times, partly by having escaped the persecutions of the Spanish
Conquest by migrating south from their ancestral homelands into
the natural fortress of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
The Huichol are highly creative people and reflect
their strong ceremonial traditions and rich mythology in their visionary
artwork. The beadwork and thread paintings we offer begin with a
coating of beeswax and pine resin mixture onto a gourd, carving
or piece of wood. Then the artist meticulously places the beads
or yarn on this sticky base, by hand, one by one, until the artist’s
vision is brought to life.
| BEADWORK ARTIST: Refugio
Gonzalez |
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Rocking Lion
by Alfonso Santiago, Tin, 6"H, $12
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Tin (Hojalata)
Mexico's artisans have been using tin to make
toys and decorations for generations. We work with some of the best
craftsmen in Oaxaca: Miguel Angel Aguero, Victor Hernandez and Alfonso
Santiago. We especially like the colorful toys in the form of animals,
Ferris wheels and toy soldiers.
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TIN ARTISTS:
Miguel Angel Aguero
Victor Hernandez
Alfonso Santiago
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Seri Baskets
The Seri Women living on the coast of Sonora,
Mexico make fine, coiled basketry from the desert shrub branches
of the limberbush and dye them using local vegetal dyes. Some designs
are similar to those of their Tohono O'odham neighbors in Arizona;
others are unique to the Seris.
Using their teeth for splitting the limberbush,
the baskets are woven in a spiral manner, coiling upward in layers
that are held in place with vertical stitches, which provide support
as well as tie each successive coil tightly to the rest, forming
a compact structure capable of holding water. The result is a beautiful
basket noted to be among the best in the world.
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BASKET ARTISTS: |
| Estela Mendez |
Hortensia Martinez |
Martina Monroy |
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Textiles
The Zapotec weavers
from the Oaxacan village of Teotitlan del Valle have woven rugs
since the earliest Colonial times. Still using hand-spun yarn on
the fixed-frame pedal loom brought by the Spaniards and mixing their
own dyes, these artists create visions in wool that are a feast
for the eye.
Nuestra Tierra highlights
a collection rugs and wall hangings from several award-winning artists
of the village, most echoing traditional Zapotec themes and designs.
We hand-select each rug based on its expert weave, imaginative use
of color (natural and alkaline), and richness and complexity of
design. These rugs are suitable either as a wall hanging tapestry
or for use on the floor as a rug.
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ZAPOTEC RUG ARTISTS:
Arnulfo Mendoza and
Jacobo Mendoza
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Milagros
Milagros (literally, “miracles”) are
small metal objects similar to charms that are traditionally made
out of nickel and used in Catholic churches in Mexico as offerings
to saints for prayers answered.
Nuestra Tierra offers used nickel milagros and
new silver ones in the forms of hearts, feet, arms and other parts
of the body as well as houses, horses and cows.
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Frontera Kitchen Salsa
We love our new line
of Frontera Kitchen products created by Rick Bayless. (Yes, he's
the one you've seen on TV.) Rick is also a restaurant consultant
and teaches Mexican cooking in the U.S. and Europe. We are offering
his wonderful range of salsas, and our customers are enjoying the
free samples at the back of the store.
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Fiberstone
Fiberstone is the name given to a unique process
that permits the reproduction of original ancient Mayan reliefs.
These extremely detailed works of pre-Hispanic art are signed, limited
editions created by artist Renato Dorfman.
The process used to recreate these masterpieces
involves re-carving the image in stone and creating a mold for its
reproduction. The artist finishes each piece through a process of
antiquing and sealing until it closely resembles the original. The
finished relief looks and feels like the stone original, yet is
lightweight. It serves as a tribute to both modern and ancient Mayan
art.
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| FIBERSTONE ARTIST: Renato
Dorfman |
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