Final Project

For this final project, I am submitting a small art piece I created. This idea was inspired by the fact that I am into indigenous arts/crafts and by a workshop held at Casa Zapata last year. A freelance artist visited the dorm to teach us how to make a yarn painting. "Huichol yarn art" involves creating figurative designs of nature - animals (real and fictional) and most commonly the sun or moon. The colors used in the paintings are vibrant and very beautiful. They are found in northern Mexico and made by the Huichol native community (see more at http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1074-huichol-art)

I wanted my specific design to mimic the ones found in traditional Oaxacan clothing. My parents are both from Oaxaca, a state in southern México with a very high indigenous population. Nearly one-third speaks an indigenous language and the state itself holds 53% of the total indigenous population of México (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Oaxaca). My main source of inspiration for possible designs was based on the stunning photographs of Diego Huerta - a Mexican photographer who takes powerful portraits of Mexico's indigenous communities in their everyday lives and clothing. His Instagram page is a must see https://www.instagram.com/diegohuertaphoto/?hl=en . I ultimately chose to go for a design similar to the one found on the clothing of this young indigenous girl:

My final art piece comes nowhere near the intricate ones that are typically created. The limited variation in colors was due to the fact that I only had four colors of yarn, so I attempted to mix up their locations and combinations on the canvas.

This project gave me a nice study break, but more importantly an opportunity to experience what it was actually like to make a yarn painting which must be handcrafted very carefully and which requires time. I truly admire the work done by the native people who design these clothing and other crafts.