Colores de la Vida uses work from wood, tin, ceramic and papier-mache artisans. Some of the artisans are just starting their careers. Some are considered "Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art."
The animals in this opposites book were hand carved by brothers Martin and Quirino Santiago and their family members. The Santiagos live in the hamlet of La Union Tejelapam outside of Oaxaca, City.
Each piece in this alphabet book was hand carved by brothers Moises and Armando Jimenez. Their wives and children painted and sanded the work.
Original embroidered cover and book jacket of Ten Mice for Tet. Each page of the book was hand sewn by Mr. Dinh and his family in the village of Quat Dong, Vietnam.
Author, Cynthia Weill and embroiderer Pham Viet Dinh
|
WelcomeCynthia Weill is a children's book author. In her books she uses folk arts from around the world to illustrate basic concepts for children. In her newest series, the handicrafts of artisans from Oaxaca, Mexico are used to teach colors, opposites and the alphabet in Spanish and English. For more information about these works, Cynthia Weill and classroom materials go to www.cincopuntos.com.
About Cynthia Weill
Cynthia is trained as an educator and art historian and has lived and worked in Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. She has always been fascinated by folk art and for many years has helped artisans to improve their output. The seeds for her books, Colores de la Vida, ABeCedarios and Opuestos were planted in 1996 when Cindy was a Fulbright Exchange teacher in Mexico City. On the weekends, Cindy travelled to Oaxaca, Mexico where she fell in love with the enormous array of crafts. In 2003, Cindy was introduced to Armando and Moises Jimenez, grandsons of the founder of the wood carving tradition, Manuel Jimenez. She worked with the Jimenez family and long-time photographer friend K.B. Basseches to develop 29 animal figures to represent the Spanish and English alphabets. During this time, she also met the Santiago brothers: Martin and Quirino, carvers from the hamlet of La Union. A friendship formed and they and other family members supplied the figures for Opuestos. The artwork for Colores de la Vida comes from artisans from all over the State of Oaxaca. In this volume, ceramic, tin, papier-mache and wood carvings are utilized to represent the colors. Both aspiring and well known artisans were invited to make work for this project. Favorable Reviews
ABeCedarios received a starred review in the Fall 2007 Criticas Connection and Publishers Weekly. Opuestos received a Blue Ribbon from the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 2009, at the University of Illinois and is on Oprah's 2010 list. Oaxacan Folk Art Imperiled Oaxacans for centuries have earned their living by making and selling their artisanal work to foregin visitors. These handicrafts include wood, ceramic, tin, papier-mache, back strap and treadle loom weaving. Unfortunately, poor press about all of Mexico has frightened away potential visitors to the region. Without a livelihood, artisans are migrating to the United States to support their families. The youngest group of artisans is seeking other forms of employment and an important link between generations is being broken. For more information about Oaxacan folk arts and how you can help Oaxacan artisans go to www.fofa.us. Other Works Cindy is also the author of Ten Mice for Tet (Chronicle Books 2004). While working in humanitarian assistance in Ha Noi, Vietnam she visited the ancient embroidery village of Quat Dong. There she befriended master embroiderer, Pham Viet Dinh. Over the months a friendship developed as the pair collaborated on various stitchery projects. After Dinh had copied an antique wood block print entitled "Mouse Wedding", Cindy felt the work would make beautiful pictures for a children's book. What transpired was Ten Mice for Tet; and over the next three years dozens of Americans and Vietnamese came together to create a unique work of art. Each page of the book including the cover was hand embroidered. Ten Mice for Tet |
|
