Development_of_the_craft_in_Oaxaca Alebrije

butterfly man francisca calva of oaxaca

many rural households in mexican state of oaxaca have prospered on past 3 decades through sale of brightly painted, whimsical wood carvings call alebrijes international tourists , owners of ethnic arts shops in united states, canada, , europe. called “alebrijes” in oaxaca marriage of native woodcarving traditions , influence pedro linares’ work in mexico city.

pedro linares méxico city (distrito federal). in 1980s, british filmmaker, judith bronowski, arranged itinerant demonstration workshop in u.s.a. participating pedro linares, manuel jiménez , textil artisan maria sabina oaxaca. although oaxaca valley area had history of carving animal , other types of figures wood, @ time, when bronowski s workshop took place when artisans oaxaca knew alebrijes paper mache sculptures. linares’ designs adapted carving of local wood called copal. oaxaca valley area had history of carving animal , other types of figures wood, , linares’ designs adapted carving of local wood called copal. adaptation pioneered arrazola native manuel jiménez. version of craft has since spread number of other towns, notably san martín tilcajete , la unión tejalapan, become major source of income area, tilcajete. success of craft, however, has led depletion of native copal trees. attempts remedy this, reforestation efforts , management of wild copal trees has had limited success. 3 towns closely associated alebrije production in oaxaca have produced number of notable artisans such manuel jiménez, jacobo angeles, martin sandiego, julia fuentes , miguel sandiego. 1 of important things fantastical creatures carved of wood every piece removable, s how can tell have piece carved 1 of original great carvers. later carvers didn t learn technique of making each piece fit removed , put in again , again. pieces have more tripled in value. painting on these figures more intense , varied. first copy fantastic forms , bright colors manuel jiménez, carved figures in local copal wood rather using paper. animal figures had been carved in central valleys area of oaxaca zapotecs since pre-hispanic period. totems of local animals carved luck or religious purposes hunting decoys. figures carved children toys, tradition continued 20th century. after craft became popular in arrazola, spread tilcajete , there number of other communities, , 3 main communities are, san antonino arrazola, san martin tilcajete , la union tejalapam, each of has developed own style. carving of wood figures did not have name, name “alebrije” became adopted carved, brightly colored figure of copal wood, whether of real animal or not. make distinction, carvings of fantastic creatures, closer linares’ alebrijes, called “marcianos” (lit. martians) . oaxacan alebrijes have eclipsed mexico city version, large number of stores in , around city of oaxaca selling pieces, , estimated more 150 families in same area make living making figures.

woodcarving, along other crafts in oaxaca, grew in importance state opened tourism. started in 1940s pan-american highway , has continued day construction of more roads, airports , other transportation coincided rising prosperity of u.s. , canada making mexico affordable exotic vacation. oaxacan woodcarving began bought in 1960s hippies. prior 1980s, of woodcarvings natural , spiritual world of communities, featuring farm animals, farmers, angels , like. these pieces, referred rustic (nistico), carved , painted in simple manner. later known alebrijes, carvers such manuel jimenez of arrazola, isadoro cruz of tilcajete , martin sandiego of la union began carving animals youths, while doing other chores such tending sheep. 1960s , 1970s, these carvers had enough of reputation sell work in city of oaxaca. more dealers shipping other parts of mexico , abroad visited rural villages, more exotic animals such lions, elephants , added, , came dominate trade. eventually, traditional paints gave way acrylics well. development encouraged woodcarving artisans’ contests held state of oaxaca in 1970s, encouraged carvers try new ideas in order win prizes , sell pieces state museums.

manuel jimenez 1 of creations

in 1970s , 1980s, carvers in 3 villages sold pieces store owners in oaxaca, 1 carver, manuel jimenez, carving full-time. other carvers used craft supplement incomes farming , wage labor. considered male occupation. in mid-1980s, influence of linares alebrijes becoming popular , wholesalers , store owners united states, began deal artisans in oaxaca directly. desire of foreign merchants non-indigenous animals , newly popular alebrijes affected market. 1990, woodcarving had begun boom households in arrazola , tilcajete earning @ least part of income craft. la union less successful in attracting dealers , tourists. boom had dramatic economic effect, shifting economies of arrazola , tilcajete away farming , towards carving. affected carvings being produced. carvings became more complicated , paintings more ornate families competed against each other. specialization occurred neophyte carvers looking niche compete established carvers. craft continued become established in 1990s more families carved , more tourists came oaxaca building of new roads. of these new oaxacan crafters have extended design smooth – abstract painted realistic animals, mendoza family (luis pablo, david pablo , moises pablo a.k.a. ariel playas), creating new generation of alebrijes.

while sales trend has been positive oaxacan alebrijes, dependent on global market fluctuations , on tourism oaxaca. there decline in sales in late 1980s, possibly due global market saturation , dominance of repetitive, unimaginative designs. sales rose again in 1990s. sales fell again in 2001, when tourism u.s. fell , fell again precipitously 2006 due statewide social unrest. has not recovered since.

the alebrije market divided 2 levels, production of unique, high-quality, labor-intensive pieces , production of repetitive, average quality , inexpensive pieces. have produced exceptionally fine pieces have gained reputations artists, commanding high prices. larger pieces made better carving families. while pieces can bought , ordered artisans directly, sell middlemen in turn sell them outlets in mexico , abroad. successful carving families sell exclusively dealers , may have few pieces available drop-in visitor. . within mexico, oaxacan alebrijes sold in tourist locations such oaxaca city, la paz, cancún, cozumel , puerto escondido . pieces sold internationally go united states, canada, europe , japan, expensive pieces end in ethnic craft stores in urban areas, university towns , upscale resorts. cheaper pieces tend sold @ trade shows , gift shops. tourists buy pieces directly carvers pay twice wholesalers do. . price of each piece depends on quality, coloring, size, originality , reputation of carver. expensive pieces sent abroad. pieces sold retail in oaxaca range $1 $200 usd. commercialized figures of dogs, armadillos, iguanas, giraffes, cats, elephants, zebras, deer, dolphins, sharks , fish. animals painted bright colors , designs , carved exaggerated features bear little resemblance occurs in natural world. anthropomorphism common , carvings of animals playing musical instruments, golfing, fishing, , engaging in other human pursuits popular. fantastic creatures such dragons , chimeras , others carved, carvings of benito juárez, subcomandante marcos, chupacabras (imaginary beings eat goats), martians, mermaids, , helicopters. diversity of figures due segmented market both in mexico , abroad rewards novelty , specialization. in number of cases, carvings return images mexican culture such angels, saints, , virgins, have somber faces if painted in bright colors. devils , skeletons parts of more festive scenes depicting them, example, riding dogs , drinking. foreign customers demand more creative figures little repetition. prices abroad range between 3 , 5 times retail price in oaxaca, median of $100 usd, lowest around $10 , highest around $2,000. 1 of expensive pieces sold carving village occurred in 1995, when doctor mexico city paid isidro cruz of tilcajete equivalent of $3000 usd piece entitled “carousel of americas.” piece took cruz 3 months complete. typical household income of families arrazola , tilcajete averages $2000usd per year, exceptional artists can earn $20,000 per year. 2 thousand year substantially more average in oaxaca , allows families build or expand housing , send children secondary school. however, families carve sideline agriculture providing basic staples. in towns, in tilcajete, economy has shifted agriculture making of wood carvings number of families abandoning farming altogether. however, households in oaxaca, success of alebrijes has not replaced need farm or alleviated need send family members mexico city or united states , work , send remittances home.

despite oaxaca’s reputation production of crafts indigenous peoples, alebrije makers monolingual spanish speakers not identify member of indigenous group although have zapotec ancestors. alebrijes considered novelty items makers rather expressions of cultural heritage. . more traditional woodcarving, such utensils, toys, religious figures , still made older residents, these crafts overshadowed alebrijes. approximately 150 families devote @ least part-time making of alebrijes, carving techniques being passed down generation generation , many children growing around fantastic figures both finished , in process.

due copies other places, certification scheme being considered ensure viability of crafts area. include educating consumers , working reputable stores.