Trip to Oaxaca Mexico, Part Two

This was just a great door in an old building on my 8 block walk from the hotel to the Zocalo.

On the way I stopped in a shop called MARO, run by the Regional Association of Craftswomen of Oaxaca. A group of local artisans who display their work there. I either didn't find anything I liked or at a price I was willing to pay so I left empty handed.
The shop is located in an old house near the Zocalo.
This was a figure outside another Artisans shop.

After all this shopping I decided to visit Museums. The first was the Museo Belber Jimenez, a new one to me.
Born in 1941 in the village of Tututepec on the Oaxacan coast, Belber is a Mixtec Indian that came from a family of six brothers and one sister. Unfortunately, being Mixtec meant he grew up in poverty. This is a problem that plagues indigenous groups of Mexico and Latin America. Most will never overcome this obstacle but the family found opportunity through education.

The family moved to Oaxaca City for a better life and were helped by the local people. He later received a degree in Anthropology (the same as his wife Ellen Belber). For over 40 years he lived in the United Stated where he became a jeweler designer. He is known worldwide and his designs can be spotted on American celebrities.

Over 40 years ago, out of pure interest and love he started collecting pieces of jewelry, textiles and folk art. His collection began from pre-Colombian objects found in his village and some pieces that were passed down through many generations in his family. He became familiar with important artists in "the last movement of modernism," in terms of silver. One in particular, William Spratling, known as "the father of contemporary Mexican silver," and many others are represented in the museum by their impressive designs.

Of particular interest to me were the many huipils from the surrounding area.





This skirt had beautifully embroidered bands.
I had never seen versions of this sequined piece before.

For more photos of Mexican huipils visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/citlali/sets/72157594380025164/

and:

http://www.mexicantextiles.com/collecting/huipilgallery/index.htm

Trip to Santiago Atitlan- Across the Lake

I always enjoy taking a few hours to visit Santiago Atitlan across the lake from Panajachel. It means a very enjoyable boat trip and a chance to at least see some of my favorite huipils. The women in this village decorate them with glorious birds of every description. They also used to decorate the mens pants which were made of the same fabric and about the length of pedal pushers. I don't see so many men's decorations lately. Originally the birds were all hand embroidered. Now they are mostly sewn by machine but the work is absolutely phenomenal. Some years I am not even able to purchase any huipils that I like as they are getting more and more expensive.

Some of the women huipil sellers waiting for me to leave a booth. The town is becoming more and more commercial with new booths being built every year. In addition to the huipils people sell beautiful wood carvings, beaded jewelry and paintings. It was nice to see the women wearing their traditional headgear. This year I was lucky and able to purchase a few huipils
The dock.
Closeup of the headgear. This woman was on the cover of a book when she was a child. Now she is in her 20's with a son.
Two of the huipils which I purchased:


This beauty was embroidered by machine on the usual hand woven cotton huipil base.
The workmanship is fantastic considering that the women do this without digitalized patterns or anything.



The back is similar to the front.



$ 109 plus $8.95 postage

The second huipil is also made on handwoven cloth but this one is hand embroidered. The white line on the front is my label not a flaw.

Hand embroidered pieces are becoming a rarity as so many women switch to machines.

The back is essentially the same as the front.

$ 59.00 plus $8.95 postage.

SOLD