They have lived in the Sierra Occidental for over a century. The sun is their guardian angel, guiding them for 40 days to achieve the enlightenment of their lives. This is their art.
We are a few kilometers from the beach in San Blas, and it’s not surprising that this ethnic group blends among tourists. Puerto Vallarta (in Jalisco) and Nayarit are also Wixarika territory, the ethnonym name given to the Huicholes. According to their geographical history, the Bolaños Canyon in Nayarit is the place where they were born.
Necklaces, animals, masks, and even murals have been recognized worldwide thanks to Mariano Valadez, a Huichol artisan from the Santiago Ixcuintla region in Nayarit. He does this because it is part of his culture. His Huichol artworks have been exhibited in San Antonio and at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
He enjoys weaving yarn and helping women embroider Huichol garments. “Imagination is one of the first things needed to do this work,” says Mariano. The next step is the colorful aspect—sometimes using over 50 different shades—and the scenic balance of what you do, “but above all, doing it with heart,” continues Valadez.
Creating each piece goes beyond commercial interests. “We believe that man must collaborate with deities to maintain cosmic order.” For the past 60 years, everything Mr. Mariano creates are codices of the religious symbolism of the Huichol world.
"If you ask me to explain how or who decided that an eagle should be drawn this way, it’s difficult to answer. The creations are based on what we are taught as children; order must be connected to nature and man. That is the symbiotic relationship that permeates all aspects of our life and mythology”, he explains.
The most popular motifs seen in necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are plants, animals, and scenes from their celebrations.
Don Mariano says that one of his most popular boards among foreigners depicts the sacrificial deer for the ceremony, where the shaman has the obligation to make the sacrifice to fulfill his vow to others, as he and his family host the festival and bring offerings to the sacred cave where the spirit of the gods descends.
“I have depicted all of that—the cave, the offering, every detail.” So, can we define Huichol as a mystical artisan? Don Mariano confirms, then gives me a piece of advice: “When you are about to buy a Huichol craft, ask them to make one for you. You will see that they will gift you a god, a kind of guardian angel…”
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