Vibrancy of Tradition: Folk Art of Oaxaca, Mexico
February 1 through April 27, 2008
Location: Corning Gallery
Oaxaca, Mexico's second-largest state, is famous for the creative folk art of its residents. The exhibition "Vibrancy of Tradition: Folk Art of Oaxaca, Mexico" utilizes the William and Evelyn Ward Collection to demonstrate how this folk art tradition has endured over time.
A small, yet striking selection of over thirty items, including textiles, terracotta figurines, pottery and woodcarvings by some of the region's most highly regarded craftspeople, is on display in the intimate second-floor gallery. These carefully chosen items are accompanied by photographs the Wards took in Oaxaca. Many of the artists whose work is featured attained national and international reputations after the Wards collected their pieces.
"These traditions continue to be preserved, even though changes are taking place," says Acting Associate Curator of Cultural Anthropology Adriann Balok, who organized the exhibition with intern Christine Salsgiver.
Ceramics
Oaxaca is renowned for its ceramics, and several excellent examples are included in the exhibition. Specific styles are handed down from one generation of a family to the next.
Terracotta figurines often show the influences of the native Zapotec culture in theme and decoration. On display are several examples of terracotta pieces by the late Teodora Blanco, an artist from the village of Santa Maria Atzompa whose work has received worldwide acclaim.
Green pottery, also from Santa Maria Atzompa, is created using a green glaze that the Spanish introduced in the 1500s. Pieces are simply dipped in the glaze and then fired. The resulting pots and bowls are used for cooking or serving food.
Visitors will probably recognize "chia" pottery – hollow sculptures of rams, goats, deer and angels used to sprout seeds – but may be surprised to learn its heritage. The chia plant is a type of salvia that was eaten by Aztec warriors for strength. Chia contains more omega-3 fatty acids than flaxseed.
Black pottery from the village of Coyotepec is made from dark clay that is fired under conditions promoting an oxidative reaction that further darkens it. Polishing rocks are used to give exterior surfaces a sheen. Doña Rosa Real de Nieto pioneered this pottery style. Several of her pieces are included in the exhibition.
Woodcarvings
Woodcarving is another Oaxacan specialty. The village of Arrazola, which lies in the foothills of Monte Alban, is home to numerous skilled carvers. Among the most famous of them is Manuel Jimenez, whose carving of a kneeling red bull is on display.
Elsewhere in Oaxaca, craftspeople specialize in carving figures for the Day of the Dead. Several examples of these skeletal figures (called calveras) are on exhibit. Families bring out these figures, usually as part of an altar, on November 1 to entice the souls of the deceased to return home for a celebration, then continue on to the spirit world
Textiles
The exhibition also highlights textiles, including examples of traditional clothing, such as the huipal and rebozo, as well as blankets and rugs.
Traditionally, weaving was done either with cotton or a fiber called ixtle, derived from the maguey plant, on a backstrap loom. Dyes were made from a variety of natural sources. One of these was the cochineal beetle, whose larvae created a vibrant red dye.
After colonization in the 1500s, the Spanish upright treadle loom and wool came into general use, and Catholic imagery was incorporated into weaving patterns and garment embellishments. Eventually, natural dyes were supplanted by aniline dyes.
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in natural dyes, in part to preserve traditional practices, but also because some weavers consider these dyes superior to their artificial counterparts. Cochineal, in particular, has attracted attention for its colorfastness and non-toxicity.
About the Collection
In 1953, William and Evelyn Ward visited Oaxaca, Mexico, for the first time on their honeymoon. They were enchanted by the region's rugged landscape and its native people, whose way of life included a strong folk art tradition.
The Wards made more than 20 trips to the region together, photographing and interviewing local artisans and collecting their work. William, who worked as director of design at the Cleveland Museum of Art and a professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art, continued to visit Oaxaca even after Evelyn died in 1989.
The Wards' collection of folk art passed to the Museum after William's death in June 2004 and was accessioned in the summer of 2005.
Sunday, February 10, Noon to 4:00 pm
Free with Museum Admission
Join the Museum for a celebration of Mexico's cultural diversity. Enjoy traditional dance performances, hear presentations about Mexican folk art and see displays in the Museum's galleries that explore Mexico's connections to a variety of natural history topics. Children can try special hands-on activities in the Smead Discovery Center. Stop by the Museum Store to browse the selection of books about Mexico and its cultures.
The Mexican Cultural Festival will showcase:
- Dance Workshops – Traditional dance instruction by costumed instructors provided by Lilly Corona Moreno of Mexico Danza Cultura y Tradicion
- Astronomy demonstration on how ancient Aztecs and Mayans made calendars by watching stars
- Information on Mexican dinosaurs
- Live animal appearance by a Mexican hawk
- Information on migratory birds from Mexico and their migration paths in Cleveland
- Math lesson and details on the significance of pyramids and Mexican deities
- Displays of butterflies and wasps of Mexico
- Displays of howler monkeys and spider monkeys of Mexico with skulls for viewing
- Instruction on history of corn – Kids can make their own corn husk dolls
- Instruction on history of chocolate
- Instruction on natural dyes including the cochineal beetle
- Kids can plant their own "chia" figurines in the Smead Discovery Center
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The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is generously funded
by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. |
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