Saving Copal Trees in Oaxaca — Palo Que Habla Bioconservation Project
Copal is the tree used to carve the wooden figures we call alebrijes in Oaxaca. It is a disappearing resource. Thanks to Jacobo and Maria Angeles in San Martin Tilcajete, where many of the region’s alebrijes are made, there is a bioconservation project called Palo Que Habla to replant copal trees for the next generation […]
Shop Mexico–The Artisan Sisters: Oaxaca Carved & Painted Wood Alebrijes
Now that I’m back in North Carolina, I am looking at my Oaxaca folk art collection of whimsical, carved wood and hand-painted alebrijes. Wow, there are a lot of beautiful alebrijes from San Martin Tilcajete and San Antonio Arrazola, including some by famed Jacobo Angeles and his wife Maria. It’s now time to sell as […]
Shop Mexico: The Artisan Sisters Week 11–Bertha Cruz Alebrijes
Whimsical carved copal wood and hand painted, these Oaxaca treasures from the studio workshop of artisan Bertha Cruz can be yours. Send me an email to let me know which one you want and I will send you a PayPal invoice. all prices include shipping and handling for the continental U.S.A. First: SOLD. Do the […]
Cows, Pigs, Calaveras: Carved Wood Figures of Placido Santiago Cruz
This week I was in Oaxaca city for two days visiting with silversmiths Brigitte Huet and Ivan Campant! I went with them to present their work at Susanna Trilling’s Seasons of My Heart Cooking School in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec. This mecca of the culinary arts is located about 40 minutes from the city in the […]
Chris Hugo Recommends Ephraim Fuentes — Alebrijes, Animalitos and Carved Wood Figures
Ephraim Fuentes is a talented wood carver from San Martin Tilcajete. Chris Hugo, from Washington State, wrote me to recommend Ephraim and tell about the great experience he and his group had visiting the workshop. I asked Chris to send photos to share with you, and he says, “These may be foxes or something mythical […]
Alebrijes: In Search of the Masters
The three great wood carving villages are San Martin Tilcajete, Arrazola and La Union. I’ve written about finding La Union in another post. And, of course, you can find wonderful alebrijes in excellent galleries along Alcala, such as La Mano Magica, or tucked around the corner and across the street from Santo Domingo, at Tally […]
Editing My Collection: Oaxaca Folk Art & Textiles Sale
From time to time, I edit my collection and offer a small number of rugs, hand woven shawls, blouses, pillow covers and other Oaxaca textiles for sale. These include some beautiful cotton brocade blouses hand woven on a backstrap loom from the Amusgos tribe and embroidered beauties from Tehuantepec. The tops from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec […]
The Quest: La Union Tejalapan and Gabino Reyes
It is no small feat to get to La Union. It is not on the map. None of us had been there before, including Eric who was born an raised in Teotitlan. The little Chevy that could was packed with Eric driving, our two photographer friends, Sam (a “she”) and Tom, Stephen and me. We […]