In the 20th century, tourists began visiting traditional towns and villages of Guatemala, spurring the revival of certain artforms such as traditional pottery, but also encouraging the development of new crafts and artforms that would provide a stable income for local artisans. Among these new artforms were small figures made of paper and straw, clothed in scraps of … [Read more...] about Guatemala Maya Tourist-Trade Figures: Researched by Elizabeth Ferguson and Ngozi Ekeke
Dolls are popular tourist-trade items throughout Mexico and northern Central America. The styles of the dolls have changed over the decades, with some adopting a more generic or international “stuffed toy” form; the dolls continue, however, to be adorned with traditional dress, and this has provided a valuable record of changes in these traditions over time. Some dolls are … [Read more...] about Mesoamerican Dolls: Researched by Ngozi Ekeke
Oaxacan metal art, also known as hojalata or “tin art,” is a folk art development that became popular on the tourist trade in the 20th century. While the use of tin is relatively recent, this artform has deep roots in Precolumbian Mesoamerican metallurgy. Artists of the Postclassic period (900-1521 CE) Mixtec cultures of Oaxaca created elaborate metalwork jewelry designs in … [Read more...] about Oaxacan Metal Folk Art: Researched by Codee Ratliff
This group of artworks consists of tourist-trade reproductions inspired by some famous, and some not-as-famous, works of ancient Precolumbian art, including works from the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Teotihuacano, Mixtec, and West Mexican cultures. The reproductions are generally made by artisans who are indigenous or are of Mestizo (mixed indigenous and Spanish) heritage, often … [Read more...] about Mesoamerican Art in Reproduction: Researched by Leslie Dunaway and Macaylah Gant Hodge
The southern central Mexican state of Oaxaca is the home to the Zapotec and Mixtec, indigenous cultures whose artisans have both preserved ancient traditions and have developed vibrant new artforms. Grey plumbate wares have been known since Precolumbian times, and from this ancient tradition developed a prominent form of art known as barro negro, or Oaxacan black pottery. … [Read more...] about Oaxacan Black Pottery: Researched by Emma Schupbach