Masks

There was another special exhibit that I wanted to see.  This one was at the Franz Mayer Museum which houses the largest collection of decorative arts in Latin America.  The museum is in the former convent and hospital of San Juan de Dios.

The exhibit I wanted to see was of masks that are used in the dances and ceremonies of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.  The masks were selected from a large private collection.  However, I was disappointed.  It was a very small exhibit with around a half dozen display cases tucked away in a corner of the museum.

Anyway, here are photos of some of the masks...

A wooden mask for a "parachico", one of the traditional dancers of the town of Chiapa del Corzo in the state of Chiapas

This mask from the Pame tribe of the state of San Luis Potosí is made, in part, from a tin can.

A death mask from the state of Guerrero

It is made of wood incrusted with plastic to simulate bone.

This mask from the state of Michoacán is called "el Señor del Naranjo" (the Lord of the Orange).  I had no luck trying to find out just what the Lord of the Orange is.

  

A devil mask from the state of Oaxaca

A wooden death mask from the state of Veracruz

Two wooden masks from Guerrero... one of a woman, the other of a mermaid

There was a case filled with miniature masks.

There's that mysterious Lord of the Orange again.

More from the Museum of Popular Art

Here are more items from the current special exhibit at the Museum of Popular Art, an exhibit which focuses on the natural materials used to create these pieces of art.

An alabaster vase with an eagle and serpent motif

Another vase, this one made of onyx

A "molcajete"

Before there were electric blenders, every household had one of these mortar and pestles made from volcanic stone for grinding ingredients.

A "metate"

Before there were shops that mass produced tortillas by machine, every household had one of these stones on which to grind corn.  (Alejandro can remember his mom grinding corn on a "metate".)

A more decorative "metate"

A stone carving of a Mayan wedding

A stone carving of a goat

A basket woven from palm fronds

 

A collection of cotton "huipiles", women's garments that are used among many of the indigenous peoples

Clay pottery from different parts of the country

A carved wooden spoon rack

A hammered copper vessel with figures of doves

They were setting up another exhibit in the ground floor gallery, so I am sure that I will soon return to this delightful museum.

Destination... Mexico

 At the Museum of Popular Arts there is currently a special exhibit called "Destino... México".

This exhibit  of Mexican handicrafts and popular art combines objects from the museum's collection and private collections.  The focus is on the use of Mexico's many natural resources to create this art.

Here are some of the items on display...

At the entrance to the exhibit is this impressive sculpture which is an example of "hojalatería"... tin smithing.

This picture is a reproduction of a famous Diego Rivera mural depicting the Aztec marketplace.  It is created entirely from "popotillo", the dried straw-like pieces of a wild grass that grows on the slopes of the volcanoes of central Mexico.

This antique tray was also created from "popotillo".

This "morral", a typical bag used by men in rural areas, is made from the fibers of the maguey plant, a type of agave typical of central Mexico.

The dye used on this garment is made from cochineal, a scale insect which lives on cacti in Mexico.  During the colonial period, cochineal was an important and lucrative export.

Murex, a kind of sea snail, was used in making the purple dye for this garment.

This sculpture of a horse and rider was modeled from clay.

These intricate carvings were made from animal bones.

The art of creating pictures from birds' feathers goes back to pre-Hispanic times.  These are two more modern examples... a landscape and an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

A wooden, lacquered tray 

A carving of a jaguar made from copal wood.

A "quexquémitl", a triangular, poncho-like garment worn by indigenous women.  It was made of wool and woven on a backstrap loom.

A clay basin decorated in a lattice-work style known as "petatillo"

"Amate", paper made from the bark of the fig tree has been used by artists since pre-Hispanic times.  This large painting is incredibly complex.

More to come from this special exhibit at the Museum of Popular Arts...

 

A Fleet of Kites

Last year I was at the Museum of Popular Arts to see the entries for their annual kite contest.  When I saw that the kites for this year's competition were on display, I wanted to check them out.  The entries are hanging in the museum's courtyard.

This is the 18th year that the museum has sponsored this contest.  The kites are made by residents of Mexico, and must be constructed from natural materials.  No plastic or metal allowed.  The winner receives a prize of 20,000 pesos (around 1000 U.S. dollars).  I wonder if the kites are tested to see if they can actually fly.  

Here are a few of the entries...

This one has a marine life theme.  There is a tortoise and a porpoise, and I think the body of the kite is a manta ray.

The banner under this honeycomb kite says "Sweet beehive".

This kite is inspired by the traditional "María" dolls.

Now on the special exhibit at the Museum of Popular Arts...