What Is Oaxacan Folk?

Clay figures are a Oaxacan folk art form.

Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca represents 16 different ethnic groups, each with its own languages, dialects and folk art traditions. Many people visit Oaxaca city and then visit the surrounding villages, with each village containing many artisans following a handicraft tradition. In addition, the city's museums, shops, galleries and markets of showcase diverse examples of Oaxacan folk art.

Types

Some of the predominant types of Oaxacan folk art include black pottery, green pottery, terra cotta ceramics, rugs and tapestries dyed organically and tin ornaments. In addition, Oaxaca has earned fame for its more recent art form, called "alebrijes," which consist of fantastic creatures and animals carved from copal wood and painted in ornate detail.

Signficance

Unlike the northernmost states and big cities of Mexico, Oaxaca has remained more attached to its past and traditions. While other regions have abandoned some of their handicrafts in the modern age, Oaxaca folk art remains a central part of daily life as well as the state's thriving tourist economy.

Considerations

Broader definitions of Oaxacan folk art encompass other creative and cultural aspects of daily life in Oaxaca. For example, the July Guelaguetza festival represents a gathering of different indigenous groups from the state's seven regions, with each group presenting a folk dance and costume characteristic of the region.

Features

Oaxacan folk art ranges from simple pottery bowls that cost less than a dollar to world class "alebrijes" and rugs that fetch several thousand dollars and form part of museum collections around the world. Most folk art contains a signature or symbol representing the artist. Some artists also sign their work with the name of their village. When shopping for folk art, you can sometimes distinguish between the simpler items produced as souvenirs and those that have extraordinary details or features, directed at a more upscale, collector market.

Geography

Certain Oaxacan villages have earned fame for a specific art form. Teotitlan de Valle features rug weavers, San Bartolo Coyotepec has potters, Arrazola offers "alebrijes," Atzompa showcases a variety of ceramics and Ocotlan de Morelos features people who weave bedspreads and curtains on back-strap looms.

References

• "New York Times"; 36 hours in Oaxaca, Mexico; Beth Greenfield; November 2007
• "Los Angeles Times"; Travel Mexico