by Susan Page
Mexico’s spiritual and artistic Huichol (Wixárika)) people live in a remote region of the rugged Sierra Madre Occidental mountains that formed natural barriers to the conquerors and missionaries. Some 20,000 of them still live there and continue to preserve valued artistic traditions through their extraordinary embroidery, yarn paintings, and bead work. They are one of the few remaining Mexican tribes whose ancient customs have survived to a large degree intact into modern times, and there is much we can learn from their belief system and way of life.
Preserving ancient wisdom, yarn paintings and beaded gourd bowls began as votive offerings to the gods, carried by pilgrims to remote sacred sites in the Huichol homeland and other locations in Mexico. Only gradually did the artists realize that they could also make a living by creating works of art to sell. Our mission at GalerÃa Atotonilco is to support these artists, and in doing so help to keep alive the ancient wisdom portrayed in yarn paintings. Our support of Huichol families helps them to preserve indigenous languages and traditional ways of life.
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