Trip to Oaxaca, Part Five

On Friday I ventured forth with friends to a small town called San Martin Tilcajete,where there usually was an Alebrijes market since the town is famous for them. Unfortunately for us they were having a festival on that day and the market was not happening. The bandstand in the middle of the town park.



A local vegetable market near the park.

Some interesting doors.
A band was busy rehearsing in the churchyard for the festival.
Luckily we were able to visit a few artists in their studios which, on the whole, was probably much more interesting than a market would have been. I bought the bat alebrije from this well known artist. The painting area. Most of the figures are painted by women and the carving is done by the men.
New wood waiting for the carving knife. To make the wood carvings, seasoned wood from the copalillo tree, with a lovely sweet odor, is cut in short lengths. The twists and branchings inspire the artists imagination. Forms are roughed out with machetes then refined with rudimentary pocket knives. A small figure might take 5 hours to carve while a larger piece 30 inches or more could take 3 days. The figure is sanded smooth, treated and thoroughly dried before painting. Over the base coat, patterns of intricate brushstrokes and dots are applied. A maguey cactus thorn is sometimes used to jab up to two or three thousand dots per figure. Each piece is unique in size, color and design, and meticulously created by hand.
The artist, Luis Sosa Calvo, displays some of his carvings ready for the paintbrush.
Scraps from the carving.
Some of the fanciful animals before they are painted.
The beautiful local church.
Donkey in a courtyard.
A mural on an outside wall.