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Latin American Art Gallery

Huichol Native Gods, Deities & Symbols as Represented in Their Art – The Bear

February 19, 2020 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol, who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixárika, life and religion are intertwined.  Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art and are part of daily life.  As Carl Lumholtz, the original ethnographer and explorer who studied the Huichol society, said, “All phases of their lives are prayer – the planting, harvesting, peyote pilgrimages – all art, weaving, bead work, face painting, and yarn paintings embody prayer within symbols.”  They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers.  Here we introduce the Jaguar and Turtle and show them in Huichol art pieces.

The Takutzi Nakahue, Mother of all gods and of corn,  is symbolized by the rain, serpent, water, the bear, the armadillo, and the sacred tree.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Huichol Native Symbols as Represented in Their Art – Hummingbirds

August 4, 2019 by Latin American Art Gallery

To the Huichol, the hummingbird brings in the high frequency of the flowers and their healing powers, including from the flowers of the peyote cactus.

Here is a Huichol Native beaded hummingbird from one of the amazing artists we work with.  It is beaded all the way around except for the inner wings.  Click on one of the photos to be taken to the listing in our store.  There are more hummingbirds to be seen as well.

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Two Huichol Native Masks Created with Different Bead Sizes

August 1, 2019 by Latin American Art Gallery

Here are two Huichol Native masks.  One is made with size 11 seed beads.  The other is made with size 15 seed beads, which are much smaller (bigger number, smaller bead).  The artists we work with use the smaller beads.  The two masks are around the same height.  The two photos make it easy to see that one is much more detailed than the other.  Can you tell?  Both are beautiful but the one on the bottom has many more beads per square inch than the one on the top.  Clicking on the lower mask will take you to the its page where more views and explanation of the symbols can be seen.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Huichol Native Gods, Deities & Symbols as Represented in Their Art – Six Colors

February 2, 2019 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol, who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixarika, life and religion are intertwined.  Their deities are honored in their ceremonies, represented in their art and are part of daily life.  As Carl Lumholtz, the original ethnographer and explorer who studied the Huichol society, said, “All phases of their lives are prayer – the planting, harvesting, peyote pilgrimages – all art, weaving, bead work, face painting, and yarn paintings embody prayer within symbols.”  They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers.  Here we introduce the five colors, red, blue, green, orange and yellow.

Huichol Use of Color

Traditional Huichol art is full of colors and they have meaning.  Through the ritual consumption of peyote, colors can be experienced as language and song.  Thus stories are revealed.  Their art captures these stories and colorful visions.  During its creation color is used intentionally as it’s integral to the stories.

Red

Represents the East, the Fire God Tatawari and masculinity.

Blue

Represents the South,  the Pacific Ocean, water, rain and femininity.

Green

Represents the Earth, Grandfather, the heavens, healing, growth and heart.  This bowl displays a green double headed eagle.

Orange 

Orange represents Wirikuta, which is the homeland where life began.  It is the sacred area where peyote is found.  Peyote allows communication with the Gods.Yellow

A special root, called Uxa (pronounced Urra) found in Wirikuta, the sacred homeland.  It used for yellow face paint done before ceremonies.  This is a young pilgrim in Wirikuta, the sacred homeland.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Huichol Native Gods, Deities & Symbols as Represented in Their Art – Jaguar & Turtle

May 27, 2018 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol, who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixárika, life and religion are intertwined.  Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art and are part of daily life.  As Carl Lumholtz, the original ethnographer and explorer who studied the Huichol society, said, “All phases of their lives are prayer – the planting, harvesting, peyote pilgrimages – all art, weaving, bead work, face painting, and yarn paintings embody prayer within symbols.”  They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers.  Here we introduce the Jaguar and Turtle and show them in Huichol art pieces.

Huichol Deity Mayetse (Jaguar)

Mayetse, the Jaguar, is the messenger of Tatawari, the god of Fire.  Mayetse is the guardian of the sacred vows the Huichol shaman take during initiation.  Carved wooden jaguar heads are beaded by using a beeswax mixture calling campeche as a natural glue. Each bead is carefully placed into the wax.  The artist uses the beads to form sacred symbols on the jaguar.  Click on one of the heads to go to the description of the symbols on this jaguar head.

                  

Tortuga  (Turtle)

The tortuga assists the rain goddess.  It protects the water quality of the springs and replenishes underground water sources.  Here is a young turtle on its mother’s back.  It is a fine wooden carving covered with beads as described above.  Click on one of the images to go to the description of the symbols on this turtle-on-turtle.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Huichol Native Gods, Deities and Symbols as Represented in Their Art – Snake and Scorpion

May 18, 2018 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol, who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixáritari (Huichol pronunciation: /wiˈraɾitaɾi/), life and religion are intertwined.  Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art and are part of daily life.  As Carl Lumholtz, the original ethnographer and explorer who studied the Huichol society, said, “All phases of their lives are prayer – the planting, harvesting, peyote pilgrimages – all art, weaving, bead work, face painting, and yarn paintings embody prayer within symbols.”  They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers.  Here we introduce the Snake and Scorpion and show them in Huichol art pieces.

Huichol Deities Serpiente (Snake) and Tortuka (Scorpion)

In the physical world snakes are appreciated by the Huichols because they eat the rodents and pests in the corn fields.  The Huichols believe that rain is milions of snakes.  They fall from the Rain Goddess who is depicted as a massive circular, coiled snake.  The snake deity also instructs shaman to become healers and are the communicators between the spiritual and physical world.

Serpiente

Here is a snake figure, fully beaded with tiny beads.  Clicking on the image takes you to our store where there is a longer description.

On the elephant is a yellow scorpion and red snake on its front leg.

Tortuka

Scorpions are both esteemed and feared.  Their sting kills many every year.  But the scorpion spirit is also considered a protector and ally to fight off demons and bad luck.  They also are thought of as protectors of the peyote.  In the Huichol art they are often placed close to the peyote, as in the bowl below.

In this lizard and bowl see the red and light blue scorpions.  Clicking on the images takes you to our store where the art is described in more detail.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Beadwork, Huichol, Sacred symbols, Scorpion, Snake

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Viewing the Art & How it is Made

The tiny chaquira, or seed beads, are applied by coating the surface of a carving or bowl with a beeswax mixture called campeche. The beads are then applied one by one using a needle. The vision of the artist comes to life as the beads are applied.

The beading is perfect with every bead in place. This can easily be seen by hovering over each image where it will expand, showing the incredible detail of this art.

The images may also be clicked to bring up a slideshow of enlarged images. Because smaller size 15 beads are used – called ‘microbeads’ – instead of the larger size 11, greater skill and artistry is required. The quality of the beading is unsurpassed!

Take care not to place this art in hot direct sunlight or near a hot lamp. This may soften the beeswax. Otherwise, with gently handling, this art will stay in perfect shape.


SEE THE HUICHOL ART PAGE FOR AN IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION OF THESE PARTICULAR HUICHOL INDIANS AND THEIR ART.

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    • Beaded Masks and Figures
    • Beaded Ornaments
    • Beaded Prayer Bowls 'Jicaras'
    • Yarn Art
  • Huichol Native T Shirts
  • Peruvian Gourd Ornaments

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