Fantabulous Folk Art…

Mola Art

Situated in the Caribbean Sea a few miles off the north coast of Panama, the San Blas de Cuna Islands are the home of the Cuna, a traditional society of Native Americans.

Let’s Let’s VisitVisit

These tropical islands are These tropical islands are small and many are small and many are surrounded by coral surrounded by coral

reefs. The islands are reefs. The islands are part of Panama, but are part of Panama, but are

primarily run by the Cuna primarily run by the Cuna tribe.tribe.

• In 1513, Spanish In 1513, Spanish explorer explorer Vasco de Vasco de BalboaBalboa invaded invaded Panama.Panama.

• The Cuna fought The Cuna fought him for the him for the mainland.mainland.

• Around 160 years Around 160 years ago the Cuna ago the Cuna escaped to San escaped to San Blas Island in Blas Island in cayucos.cayucos.

How did the Cuna come to liveHow did the Cuna come to liveon the island of San Blas?on the island of San Blas?

Who Are the Cuna?

•Strongly knit tribal society•Moral and matriarchal society•Daughters are prized•Divorce is uncommon•Have a tradition or ritual for every event•Traditions are passed down orally or through molas

A day in the life of the Cuna MENA day in the life of the Cuna MEN::• Paddle to the mainland in Paddle to the mainland in cayucoscayucos to tend their to tend their

fields.fields.• Fish for lobsters, red snappers, swordfish, Fish for lobsters, red snappers, swordfish,

sharks, and manta ray.sharks, and manta ray.• Bring home firewood and river water for the Bring home firewood and river water for the

village.village.

A day in the life of Cuna WOMEN:A day in the life of Cuna WOMEN:

• Perform choresPerform chores• Take care of Take care of

family and family and animalsanimals

• Fetch waterFetch water• Cook and tendCook and tend the fires in the the fires in the

sokakkasokakka• Work on their Work on their

MolasMolas

A day in the life of the Cuna KIDS:A day in the life of the Cuna KIDS:

• Kids go to Kids go to school just like school just like youyou

• Unlike the Unlike the homes, schools homes, schools are built of are built of cement blockscement blocks

• Students are Students are taughttaught to speak to speak and write in and write in SpanishSpanish

What is a What is a Mola?Mola?

• Mola is the Cuna Mola is the Cuna word for “cloth”word for “cloth”

• In In reverse appliquéreverse appliqué, , the women layer the women layer fabric and cut fabric and cut intricate patterns, intricate patterns, exposing colors in exposing colors in the underlying the underlying pieces of fabric.pieces of fabric.

• Molas are sewn with Molas are sewn with almost invisible almost invisible stitches.stitches.

Cuna Indian women spend many hours hand sewing these fabulous "molas" to be worn on both sides of their blouses.

•All genuine Molas are All genuine Molas are created and worn by created and worn by Cuna women.Cuna women.

•Many hours of careful Many hours of careful sewing are required to sewing are required to create a fine mola. create a fine mola.

•Designs are always Designs are always original and are an original and are an opportunity for women opportunity for women to express themselves to express themselves and demonstrate their and demonstrate their talent.talent.

•The ability to make an The ability to make an outstanding mola is a outstanding mola is a source of status.source of status.

Why are the Why are the womenwomen so important? so important?

With increased tourism, the demand for molas has grown and has become a source of economic prosperity.

What to do with a Mola…What to do with a Mola…

• Framed as Art Framed as Art

• PillowsPillows

• Place mats  Place mats 

• Bedspreads or Bedspreads or QuiltsQuilts

Mola Mola Criteria:Criteria:

• BalanceBalance• A Central MotifA Central Motif• Smooth, Even, and Smooth, Even, and

Narrow LinesNarrow Lines• Nearly Invisible Nearly Invisible

StitchingStitching• Many Layers of Many Layers of

FabricFabric• Intricate CutoutsIntricate Cutouts• Addition of DetailsAddition of Details

Typical Mola Typical Mola Motifs:Motifs:• GeometricGeometric• Mythological / Mythological /

biblicalbiblical• Animals or marine Animals or marine

lifelife• Dominant Mola Dominant Mola

Colors:Colors:Red or Orange, & Red or Orange, & BlackBlack

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Inspired by Inspired by the things the things they see in they see in their their everyday everyday lives.lives.

Parrots, storks, and Parrots, storks, and turkeys live around turkeys live around these islands & are these islands & are held in high esteem by held in high esteem by mola makers.mola makers.

Nautical themes are Nautical themes are popular to the people living popular to the people living in the midst of a vast sea.in the midst of a vast sea.

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

•How are these two artworks similar? How are these two artworks similar? •How are they different?How are they different?

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

•How are these two artworks similar? How are these two artworks similar? •How are they different?How are they different?

Molas are one of the primary expressions Molas are one of the primary expressions of the visual arts in Cuna society.of the visual arts in Cuna society.