Kevin October 2nd, 2011
Santos Bautista comes from one of the best recognized families of artists in San Andres Cohamita. Extraordinarily traditional Santos has held a number of positions or cargos in his community and is commited to seeing his cultures traditions continue.
Today we are importing new beads for artists like Santos to work with. We like to think of it as offering people a new look at old traditions. Folk art as well as indigenous art cannot remain stagnant. Cultures evolve and change but this does not neccessarily detract from ones core beliefs. It is our sincere hope that these new innovations will breath new life into this ancient art form and allow the Huichol to express their beliefs in a whole new way that will attract more people to appreciate not only their art but more importantly their culture.
Tags: bead art, Czech beads, Czech glass beads, ethnographic art, Huichol, Huichol art, Huichol bead art, Huichol yarn art, indegeous art, jaguar, jaguar art, Mexican Folk Art, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta
Kevin September 26th, 2011
When the orange flowers on the mountain beging to bloom you know that the day of the dead is just around the corner. It is actually a harvest ceremony where the indigenous people have for hundreds if not thousands of years given thanks to the fruit that matures or dies and falls from the tree.
For most in Western civilization the whole adoration of skulls and skeletons may seem a bit odd but it actually stems from pragmatism and makes perfect sense. Ones soul last for ever and when the flesh is gone all that is left is ones bones hence the soul is thought to reside in the bones. During the conquest the Spanish tried to convert the indigenous and tought them all about the holy trinity and angels. Shaman scratched their heads because they could converse with their god’s but couldn’t see the Spanish angels the conquistadors spoke of.
Today, over 500 years after the ‘Conquest’ of Mexico the Day of the Dead and its traditions are very much alive in Mexico. In the comming weeks we will feature a number of pieces of contemporary folk art that show the day of the dead is still used today to reflect ones ancient beliefs in today’s modern world.
Tags: Aztec, day of the dead, Huichol art, Huichol bead art, Huichol Indian, Huichol yarn art, Mayan, Peyote People, Puerto Vallarta
Kevin August 28th, 2010
Deep in the mountains of Michoacan near the border of the state of Mexico is a magical village that has become very famous for its folk art. The artists of Tlapujahua, Michoacan draw their inspirations from the surrounding nature and ancient traditions that this village clings too.
Mario Moreno is the sone of Saulo Moreno one of the grandmasters of the day of the dead paper mache figures. His whimsical sculptures bring skeletons back to life. Day of the dead in Mexico is a time for reflection, to remember loved ones who have passed on. We remember the good times, laugh about adventure and expirences and so it is not 
a morbid ceremony of death but rather a way of cel
ebrating life.
Tags: day of the dead, Ethnic Art, indigenous art, Mario Saulo Moreno, Mexican Folk Art, Mexico, Paper Mache, paper mache and wire, Peyote People, Puerto Vallarta, Saulo Moreno
Kevin June 26th, 2010
The Purepecha indians from Huancito, Michoacan have for centuries made off of their utilitarian cooking pots by digging the clay from the local river beds. Over the last 25years however several families in Huancito have taken it upon themselves to rescue their ancient tecniques of making laquer paints from the natural clay pigments. Red, black, brown, and white are natural colors that the woman extract from the clay by working it on a metate. The pots are hand formed and the colors are barnished onto the pots, painted and fired.
The origins of the Purepecha is just one of the many mysteries surrounding this ancient tribe. Linguistically they have no relatives, but have been very successful in maintaining their dialect; today most kids are sent to school to learn Spanish as it is not spoken in the home. The Aztec called the Purepecha humming birds, it is still a recurring theme in their folk art today.
Tags: Barnished pottery, ceramic pots, Indian art, laquer paints, Mexican Folk Art, Mexico, Michoacan, natural paints, Peyote People, Pottyer, Puerto Vallarta, Purepecha, Tarascan
Kevin June 26th, 2010
Cecilio is one of the pioneers of realism in Huichol yarn painting but had been going through some tough times. After a long drought that can only be compared to writers block, Cecilio believes he was hexed by a jealous shaman who block his creative powers. After about 3years of trying to work off this evil hex Cecilio
is back with a new distinct style that collectors are really going to love.
Kevin June 26th, 2010
Santos Daniel is undoubtably one of the most collected Huichol artists. A pioneer of the art he has over 25years of experience that add real depth to his portfolio. Vibrant colors combined with his unique tecnique of texturing the yarn make up Santos trade mark style. We are very excited to be able to show a selection of his 24″ pieces are are eagerly anticipating his latest 4′ masterpiece that should be done in the next week or two.
Tags: Ethnic Art, Huichol art, Huichol Artist Santos Daniel Carrillo Jimenez, Huichol Indian Art, Huichol yarn art, Indian, Mexican Folk Art, Peyote People, Peyote People Puerto Vallarta, Puyerto Vallarta
Kevin June 4th, 2010
After almost a year we are very excited to have Luis Castro back health and ready to work. Luis was commissioned by the British Museum in London to do a number of pieces for their boutiques. His work was to coincide with the exhibition they were hosting on the life of Moctezuma. Unfortunately because of personal reasons Luis was only able to produce a handfull of pieces compared with the number the museum ordered him to do. It was not long after that when his father Eliseo had Luis in an institution seeking the help he needed to straighten his life out. Its been a long, hard struggle back but Luis is now healthy, and very excited about getting back to work.
Kevin May 23rd, 2010
Luis Ruiz Ramirez from Las Guyabas is one of very few artists that have been able to blend the Huicholes ceremonial art with todays commercial bead art. Every piece is a true prayer to their gods, the paper flowers represent the beauty of nature, the quartz rocks are their ancestors, coins are a monatary sacrifice used as offerings to the gods, deer hair is used for abundance so the Huichol will have food in their homes and the cotton or sheeps wool will bring the clouds that make it rain.
Kevin May 16th, 2010
Neikame has done it again, forever pushing the limits of his cultures traditional art he has come up with another masterpiece that will undoubtably knock your socks off. An almost perfect combinations of form and color combine to bring a level of surrealism that few will ever come close to copying.
Kevin May 16th, 2010
After almost a year dealing with some personal problems, Luis Castro is back and better than ever. Sometimes one needs to take a step back and evaluate where you are going. The time off definately did not hurt Luis’ work as he still has that special touch that seperates his work from just about everyone else.
Tags: day of the dead, Ethinic Art, Huichol, Huichol art, Huichol yarn art, Indian, Jalisco, Mexico, Nayarit, Pacific Coast, Peyote People, Puerto Vallarta
