Adam & Eve with Snake, Tree of Life
Balbuena Family - Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla

by Susan Page

Folk art and fine art fall on a continuum. On the left end is a large body of work that is unequivocally "folk art." It has its roots in indigenous culture and has been handed down through families for many generations, sometimes hundreds of years. Each artist has acquired a deep knowledge of materials and techniques, a passion for quality, and a high level of skill honed over many years of working and learning from family members or village artists.

Folk art is entirely regional. Artists in one village all work in the same traditional craft, and nowhere else in the world will you find that style of work. It would be rare to find a woodcarver in a town where the tradition is ceramics.

Ceramic Mermaid from Oaxaca

Chiapas Iron Cross with Blue Rooster

Hammered Copper collection
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The subjects portrayed in folk art are usually scenes of simple country life, nature, mythology, Day of the Dead, religion, traditional arts, and humor. A common theme is duality: sun and moon, male and female, life and death, day and night – the yin/yang of Mexican culture. The mermaid embodies both land and sea and so is a symbol of the universe.

On the right end of the continuum is "fine art," created by artists with formal training. Each artist is creating original work, the more distinctive to that artist, the better. The art comes from within the individual artist, and is an entirely personal vision.

Hammered Copper Fox Vase

Devil Dance Mask from Xalitla Guerrero
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In the middle is a body of work that bridges these two worlds. Many folk artists produce work that is exquisitely crafted. It remains within the town tradition in terms of material and technique, but the quality of the craftsmanship is so high, and the vision so personal and original, that it might be considered fine art.

The special fact about this middle category of fine quality work is that the work is still priced as folk art. It is possible to obtain a museum-quality masterpiece for a few thousand dollars or less. If it were seen as "fine art," it would be many thousands of dollars. Some folk art is now actually reaching up into the higher echelons of pricing, but this is still rare.

Devil Dance Mask

Esperanza Perez Jaguar with Cubs
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Finally, there is a big difference between genuine folk art and souvenirs found in tourist shops. These items may look like folk art, but they are inexpensive imitations, possibly even manufactured, not rooted in indigenous tradition, and of very poor quality. A craftsperson is cranking out work, possibly even based on a village tradition, although often not at all. It's colorful, looks "Mexican," and is cheap and cheaply made. Souvenirs have a place in the world. People earn a living making them, and tourists buy them. But they should never be mistaken for authentic folk art.

Guerrero Dance Mask

Huichol Yarn Painting with Deer and Corn

Galería Atotonilco, located five miles north of town. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 to 4 with no appointment necessary. It is widely considered to be the finest collection of folk art for sale in all of Mexico. The collection also includes colonial-era tables and trunks, prints by the famous Oaxacan graphic artist Irving Herrera, contemporary ceramics by the world-famous Gustavo Pérez and more. Don't wait. Plan a day in the country soon. We are surrounded by restaurants, hot springs, and the historic Atotonilco church.

Galería Atotonilco
An Unforgettable Experience of Mexico

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Susan Page is the former Director of Women's Programs at UC Berkeley, where she helped to found the Contraception Clinic at the Student Health Service, and to create one of the first university-based Human Sexuality programs in the U.S. She helped establish the first safe house for battered women in Contra Costa County. A best-selling author, Susan has appeared widely on national television and radio, including the Oprah Winfrey Show. She founded and is president of the San Miguel Writers' Conference and Literary Festival and of Gáleria Atotonilco.

www.susanpage.com

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