Folk Art Fine Art
Sometimes the line blurs
by Heather Wilson
Winter- Spring 2004

Wondering what artistic treasures you might discover in Puerto Vallarta that are typically Mexican and one of a kind, yet won’t break the bank and aren’t difficult to transport back home? Our local shops and galleries carry a cornucopia of beautifully made Mexican handicrafts, the lines blurring between fine art and folk art, tradition and innovation, when it comes to the following.

Talavera
Most ceramic art grew out of pieces made for practical use that eventually became appreciated for the aesthetic value of their ornamentation – Talavera from Puebla, for example. Introduced to New Spain in the 16th century, its origins Spanish Majolica, Talavera is the oldest tin and lead- glazed ceramic in America.
Still made the same way it was then, by master potters in certified workshops held to strict standards of authenticity, the most coveted Mexican Talavera comes only from the state of Puebla, which has an abundance of quality black and white clay and a long pottery tradition.
Displaying hand-painted patterns and scenes handed down for centuries, only six traditional mineral pigments are used: blue, green, yellow, red, brown and black. By combining them, different tones are achieved, as well as orange and purple.
Detailed and vibrantly lustrous with a unique texture, this pottery decorates kitchens, walkways, home interiors and exterior walls in Poblano Mexican architecture. Each piece with its own personality and character, here in Vallarta you can find Talavera dishes, vases, canister sets, tiles, sinks, bathroom accessories, garden ornaments and more.
Sought by collectors, quality Talavera is expensive, reflecting the time dedicated to each piece. Since there are many imitations, authentic pieces must be signed by the workshop producing it and state that it is from Puebla. Irregularities are characteristic and desirable.


Mata Ortiz Pottery
Fragile, earth-toned pottery is the hallmark of the village of Mata Ortiz in Chihuahua, where more than 400 artists create these thin-walled ceramics painted with intricate, finely drawn geometric designs, each unique. At least a dozen of them have gained renown as world-class potters of this sophisticated art movement, which has its roots in a pre-Hispanic culture.
The inspiration of Juan Quezada, this unique art form originated in the ‘70s and soon became the town’s dominant occupation. While gathering wood as a youth, Quezada found shards of fine ancient pottery, then spent 15 years figuring out how to duplicate it by recreating the whole long-forgotten process – mining, treating and forming the clay, decorating and firing the pots the way the inhabitants of the ancient city of Paquime did five centuries ago.
Teaching his family, they, in turn, taught others, each making their own artistic contributions and developing distinctive styles. For his effort, Quezada received the highest award for accomplishments in the arts from ex-president Zedillo, the same award given to artist Diego Rivera.
Still quite affordable, Mata Ortiz pottery is increasingly being displayed in galleries and museums, demand and prices increasing accordingly.


Alebrijes
Springing from symbols in the collective unconscious that appeared in a dream, alebrijes are bizarre, fanciful winged creatures handcrafted in copal wood, a light wood similar to balsa, with delicately sculpted faces and bodies painted with extremely intricate patterns.
Originating in Oaxaca in the ‘60s, this art form began with master craftsman Pedro Linares, who had been a skilled carton juda figurine maker for Diego Rivera until giving life to his visions. The roots of this novel art form are pre-Hispanic, with the indigenous penchant for color and love of the fantastic, even the macabre.
Beginning in the imagination of the artist and creatively carved, no two are alike. Soon Pedro’s family and fellow villagers began imitating him, and as competition arose they became more elaborate, complex figures. Classic figures are monster-like, while the newer designs are more whimsical than scary. In general, men do the carving and women the painting, which is true of a lot of folk art.
Since “Smithsonian” magazine published a photo of a dancing rooster albrije in the ‘90s, they’ve become increasingly popular with collectors, prized here and around the world. Produced in workshops across Mexico, they are definitely conversation pieces that make a novel addition to one’s home.