Exhibit at the Museum of Popular Art

Perhaps my favorite small museum in Mexico City is the Museum of Popular Art.  The museum opened in 2006 in an Art Deco building that used to be the city's chief fire station.  The museum houses a spectacular collection of handicrafts; works that transcend the category of "crafts" and are truly works of art.

I have already been the museum a couple of times, but last week I passed the building and saw a sign advertising a special exhibit that was going on.  It was an exhibit showcasing the popular arts of the southern and southeastern states of Mexico.  

The show had originally been scheduled to run through the 25th of June, but due to its popularity had been extended into August.  The next day I went back to the museum to catch the exhibit before the end of its run.

This region of Mexico, which includes the Yucatan Peninsula and the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and others, is the portion of the country that has the largest indigenous population, and is rich in traditional crafts.

Here are just a few items in the exhibit...

Visitors are greeted by this large clay figure of a jaguar from the town of Amatenango del Valle.

A large (probably six feet tall) decorative piece from Oaxaca made from tin.

A beautiful wood carving from the state of Chiapas.  (Wow, I would love to have this for my collection of carvings!)

An embroidered dress from Chiapas, and, in the background, handwoven fabric from Chiapas.

An amber necklace from Chiapas

The famous black pottery from Oaxaca

  

An example of lacquerware from
the state of Guerrero

The brightly painted wooden carvings of animals from the state of Oaxaca are known as "alebrijes".   The "alebrije" is from the workshop of Jacobo and María Angeles in the village of San Martín Tilcajete.  I have visited their workshop a couple times on trips to Oaxaca, and I have met Jacobo.  I have one of his carvings at home.

Clay figurines from the workshop of the Aguilar sisters in Ocotlán, Oaxaca.  I have visited their workshop also.

The "terno" is the traditional dress of the Yucatan.  In the background are hand woven hammocks from Yucatan.

It was not a part of the exhibit, but I have to include a photo of this Volkswagen which was just inside the entrance to the museum.  The entire automobile is covered with the intricate bead designs of the Huichol tribe.  Truly amazing!