Sun and Flowers Skull, Beads Art + Canelo Clay

When we contemplate Huichol art, the first thing that stands out are its colors, this striking quality is owed to the fact that, according to their worldview, it is through Color that Gods speak to Mankind. This is one of the few artistic processes in the world which is invariably attached to a Mystic sense, using the Spirit as the Art’s raw Material and Vice-versa. Any piece from this collection is based on Experiences associated with Peyote, it is from this interaction that such colors and forms observed in Wixarika arts come to be.

No other Prehispanic Culture uses such a high complexity color usage as that of the Wixarikas, their craft was born as an offering to the Gods, although it also a way to communicate to their community, and even to the rest of men, the Messages of their divinity. According to their beliefs, when communication between Gods and people exist, bright colors and Shapes open a Portal, called the Nierika. This is why their Yarn compositions are named Nierikas. Their art is created using representations of knowledge acquired during ceremonies.

Distinguished and much appreciated Artists are referred as “Chamanes”, properly called Maraakames, who embody their experiences with the Gods through their brilliant, intense, and even fluorescent color palette art. Each Wixarika item is created with the purpose of having contact with Deities.

Canelo Clay (Traditional Cinnamon colored Clay) is one of 5 traditional types of Clay from Tonala, and it has an amazing technique all its own as Traditional “Barro Canelo”, originally from El Rosario, a community that belongs to the Municipality of Tonala, Jalisco. This technique is considered a Prehispanic Legacy, and nowadays is still completely handcrafted, with natural pigments only found in the region.

It is known as “Canelo” due to it’s color’s similarity to Cinnamon. It’s Terracotta colors make it a very particular type of clay in it’s finished state. This technique has a similar firing process as do most techniques, what changes here is both paint and finish; it is distinguishable because the pigments used are 100% natural and made by the artisan himself. Paint and finish are not noticeable until the piece is fired, this is when different hues of brown appear. The technique was traditionally used for producing water jugs that could keep the water cool.

Pablo Reza

Pablo was born in the Wixarika (Huichol) community of San Andres de Cohamiata, in Jalisco, populated by just 1317 inhabitants, and located over 1940 meters above sea level in the mountains.

Housing in his town is very humble, they lack tap water or electricity, and the main activity of its residents is self-procuring agriculture, cattle raising, and the production and selling of traditional arts and crafts.

Pablo’s family consists of four members, his father who is a farmer, his mother, the homemaker, and his younger brother, who just as his father is also dedicated to farming. Pablo is the only family member who is dedicated to the Arts, even though he started doing it at a late age, when he was 21, Pablo makes incredible pieces both with Chaquiras (small colored beads) and Yarn. His work is impeccable, and his favorite works are those who represent animals of any kind.

In order to sell his Art, Pablo rides downhill on his horse from the Sierra Madre Occidental, the path is irregular and hazardous, and the commute downhill takes around 8 hours. After he’s finally reached, he continues his journey to Tonala, where he is received at a friend’s house for a few days while he sells his pieces to galleries in Tlaquepaque and other locations, he also uses the opportunity for taking orders, not only for his products, but also for other members of his community, he has committed himself to bringing more work back to his town.

Pablo has become friends with other Artisans and has innovated his own art by uniting his work with that of other Artisans, such as he has done with his close friend Master Artisan Pablo Pajarito, they have fused their techniques, resulting in beautiful figures such as Canelo Clay Skulls with their faces covered in Stunning Chaquira. Pablo loves tradition, but he also is an innovator by excellence, giving a new focus to Huichol (Wixarika) Arts.

Pablo Pajarito

The hands of five generations of talented and dedicated men and women have preserved the cultural heritage of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and even their great-great-grandparents. That is the case of Pablo Pajarito. Being in his workshop is entering the very essence of this Technique. Pablo started working on his technique at a very young age, sanding and softening the easier pieces in his family’s shop. It was at the age of ten that Pablo started practicing his first pencil strokes.

Pablo Pajarito’s crafts are exquisite works of art that go from Tequila cups to Collection pieces.

He has won awards in numerous contests, as well as having a highlight moment when he collaborated with a Japanese artist. A collaboration that took 4 Months to deliver a statue of a robot.

Pablo enjoys his work very much. He also finds gratification helping other Mexican artisans develop their techniques. As well as collaborating on new projects and ideas with his homonymous Pablo Reza, a Wixarika artisan from Jalisco’s High Sierra.

Usually, Pablo crafts around 6 small pieces a day, but when he embarks on a project for a contest or a collector, he can pour a lot of time and dedication into it, a single collection piece may take from 15 days to 1 Month to produce.