A Better Life for Carving Artists

In the beginning, it’s just an ugly piece of gnarled wood, bent and twisted. But for a poor villager in southern Mexico, this misshapen branch could represent a new floor, food for his family, a way to escape grinding poverty. In the carver’s skilled hands, the bends in the wood become kicking legs, an elongated neck or a twitching tail.

These fancifully carved animals, painted in vibrant colors, prance and pose. But look more closely and more often than not you’ll see more mythical creatures. Dogs with the necks of giraffes. Fire-breathing monsters. Dancing chickens. Sleek, elongated cats. Dragons with horns.

Welcome to the world of Oaxacan folk carvings.

The state of Oaxaca is home to many legendary carvers being recognized outside of their homelands. Indeed, many of these artists are being flown across the continent to various folk art museums and exhibitions, particularly in the United States.

But the truth is, these eccentric pieces of folk art have endured for generations, long before Americans began snatching them up in 1985 to add a whimsical, colorful note to homes decorated with a Mexican or Southwestern motif.

“They appeal to my sense of fantasy and fun,” said Jan Strahan Zavala of Santa Ana, who has about 25 figures in her collection. “They remind me of the literary genre of magical realism that you often find among Mexican writers. It’s a new, mythical way of looking at the world.”

Anthony Corradino of Anaheim, who has about 60 pieces, began collecting Mexican art about 30 years ago and Oaxacan art for the last 15.

“I was always drawn to colorful, primitive art,” he said. “When I first saw the carvings, I didn’t know much about them. The earlier pieces are much simpler, a lot of painting in solid colors, but still bright colors. I just felt the figures represented true art.

“They were one artist’s statement about the world. Some of the Indian tribes in southern Mexico have very interesting mythologies and stories. Some of these figures may represent some of those stories.”

Some of the carvings are surreal. After all, according to Zavala, it’s not every day you find figures of horses sitting at a table drinking beer or devils playing cards.

The villagers carve the figures primarily from tree branches. Depending on the curvature of the wood, their animals take on different shapes and forms. The size can range from an inch or two up to several feet long.

“I had giraffes that were about 6 feet tall,” said Angela Villalba, owner of Reign Trading Co. in Studio City. “But they kept falling over because they were so top-heavy. Finally, my father drilled a hole in the bottom and filled it with lead so they could stand without tipping.”

The animals share the stage with other forms. In the fall and winter, angels are common. In the spring and summer, mermaids abound. And there are plenty of devils for Day of the Dead celebrations in October.

Corn silk, wool or dyed plant fibers can be used for hair on angels or tails for horses.

“One of my favorite pieces is a cobalt-blue whale with tiny flowers painted on it,” Zavala said. “I liked it so much, I bought a walrus figure with a similar design.”

Corradino likes to create displays with some of his figures.

“I’ll start with one figure and then try to create different scenes with the pieces. Sometimes it’s a cantina. Sometimes it’s a certain grouping of animals.”

Because of the increasing popularity of the figures, more carvers have taken up the art form.

The work was initially performed by women because their creations were considered dolls or children’s toys. Once the carvings began supporting families, with pieces commanding anywhere from $25 to $500, men joined in. The art provides a more stable means of providing for their families and also serves as an escape from work such as farming or working as street vendors.

Most of the carvings today are created by men but are painted by women. Villalba estimates there may be 300 carvers in Oaxaca.

The wood they use--primarily copalillo--is rather ugly. But it’s a hardwood that grows easily in the hot Oaxacan region, and it doesn’t absorb much paint.

With the carvings’ increase in popularity, the wood favored by many carvers is becoming harder to find. Some carvers have it trucked in from other regions while it’s still green and more pliable.

Pocket knives, machetes and kitchen knives remain the most common carving implements.

“When I first started importing them, I sold a lot to designers, gift shops, museum shops--even to restaurants. Some of the first carvings were much simpler,” Villalba said. “The painters were using dyes that, while very colorful initially, faded quickly. With some of the earlier carvings, it looks as though they were colored with marking pens. As the artists gained access to better paints, the carvings and painting became more detailed.”

They also make other items that appeal to buyers--miniature tables and chairs, key-chain charms and small shelves--painted in bright colors and featuring flowers, suns, watermelons and bananas.

Corradino enjoys collecting angels, though not all of them appear, well, angelic. Some look downright grumpy. But to collectors such as Corradino--a high school teacher who brings some of his carvings to class--that’s part of their charm.

“The kids get a kick out of them, but you have to be careful. Since all the little pieces--ears, tails, antlers--are detachable, it’s easy to lose parts of the animals,” Corradino said. “But my students have fun with them, and it helps create more of an appreciation for Mexican folk art and the culture.”