Mexican folk art includes pottery, sculpture, textile arts and much more.
Mexican folk art celebrates the heritage and spiritual beliefs of a proud people. Many artisans are Mestizos, persons of Mexican-Indian ancestry. They draw upon Spanish and Indian influences to create masterpieces that reflect their culture---from the colorful masks of the Nahua Indians to the crafted-metal thank offerings, or milagros, of the Catholic artists.
Mesoamerican Roots
The folk art of Mexico is a culmination of traditions that began with the ancient Olmecs of Mesoamerica. Olmec influence is pronounced; they created many of the motifs still seen today. Sculptures of humans with gigantic heads and animals in unusual poses were common Olmec subjects. These persisted in later Aztec designs.
After Hernando Cortes claimed the land for Spain, Catholicism dominated Mexican art. Due to Spain's trade with the Philippines, Asian characteristics also show up. Modern trends indicate a more cosmopolitan slant, although the Olmec and Aztec influences remain strong.
Metal, Pottery and Glass
Mexican artists still rely upon their heritage for inspiration. They use tin and copper to fashion ornaments just as they did centuries ago. They work silver and gold into jewelry using traditional methods. Wrought iron smithies flourish in places like Chiapas and Oaxaca.
Potters use materials such as squirrels' tails to apply paints. In the northern state of Chihuahua, artists such as Juan Quezada, create new ceramic styles that resemble ancient pieces. They often depict mythological scenes.
Natural Fibers and Wood
Thanks to Mexico's abundant forests, wood remains a common folk art material to create bowls, toys and statues. The religious influence has spawned a thriving industry in crèches, crosses and nativity figurines. Folk art has long exploited the use of paper, too. Artists mold fantasy creatures called alebrijes out of newspaper and paint them brilliantly.
Textiles are among the most easily recognizable Mexican folk arts. Craftsmen weave fibers from agave plants into baskets and hats and use wool to produce rugs and serapes. Dyes made from plant materials create bold color patterns that reflect Mexican heritage.
Other Art Forms
Artisans use coconut shells, seeds and gourds to fashion intricate bowls and infant rattles. They also carve volcanic rock or stone to replicate ancient statues and polish them with corncobs. Other craftsmen use jaguar skins to make musical instruments. The Kikapú Indians, some of whom once populated the Great Lakes of North America, create moccasins that resemble those of their northern cousins. The variety of Mexican art is as diverse as the people themselves.
Future Trends
Much of the Mexican folk art created today is mass-produced for export, but artisans throughout the country keep alive the ties to ancient Mesoamericans. Tarascan, Zoque and Huichol Indians still use the time-tested methods their ancestors perfected. Through these and many other contemporary artists, the culture, history and traditions of Mexico endure in its folk art.
