Still More Nativity Scenes

Yes, I know that the Christmas season is over.  However, I had read on the internet that there was an exhibit of Mexican Nativity scenes at the Coyoacán subway station.  So, on Tuesday I took the Metro to see the display.  The show was organized by the "Fomento Cultural Banamex", a non-profit organization established by the National Bank of Mexico, to promote and preserve the culture of Mexico.  One of its major projects is to support the nation's rich heritage of popular arts.

The small exhibit consisted of a couple dozen Nativity scenes created from a wide variety of materials and from different regions of Mexico.

There were three colorful, delightfully whimsical Nativity scenes made out of wood by a folk artist from Oaxaca.

In this one the Holy Family, the Wise Men and the shepherds are all in an automobile out for a ride.

Joseph is driving, while Mary and Jesus are in the front passenger seat.

Mermaids are a common subject of Mexican popular art, and here the characters are riding a mermaid boat.

In this Nativity scene the figures are on the backs of turtles.  As far as I can make out, the three Kings are presenting aquatic animals as gifts.

This primitive Nativity scene was modeled from clay by an artist from the state of Guerrero.

These clay figures are from Oaxaca.

The town of San Bartolo Coyotepec in the state of Oaxaca is famous for its black pottery.  These figures are dressed in the traditional attire of various regions of Oaxaca.  The three Kings are depicted as "feather dancers" with their large, plumed headdresses.

This simple Nativity, carved from stone, comes from the state of Yucatán.

These two scenes, made of lacquered wood come from different villages in the state of Guerrero.

These highly realistic figures made from wax come from the state of Morelos.

This Nativity from Oaxaca is made from corn husks.

This large plate is from Tonalá, a town in the state of Jalisco that is famous for its pottery.

Tlaquepaque, another town in Jalisco, is also known for its pottery.  In this realistic scene, the figures are all dressed as Mexican peasants.  Notice that the angel is a man playing a fiddle.

Here is another scene from Tlaquepaque.  In this one the figures are all dressed as Aztecs.

The city of Metepec in the State of Mexico is famous for its ornate clay sculptures known as Trees of Life.  Originally, they depicted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but now the artists of Metepec create Trees of Life with a wide variety of themes.  These two are of the Nativity.

It was a small very nice exhibit in an unexpected location!