Oaxacan Folk Oaxacan Folk ArtArt

• Oaxaca is Oaxaca is located in the located in the mountain valleys mountain valleys of Southern of Southern Mexico.Mexico.

• The Oaxacan The Oaxacan people farm the people farm the land, raise land, raise animals and animals and make art.make art.

• Many artists work with clay, metal Many artists work with clay, metal and wood.and wood.

• Eighty percent of the people work Eighty percent of the people work as woodcarvers.as woodcarvers.

• The tradition of The tradition of carving began carving began years ago when the years ago when the poor people made poor people made toys for their toys for their children out of children out of wood.wood.

• Over time, the Over time, the carvers became carvers became very skilled and very skilled and began carving began carving finely crafted finely crafted pieces of artwork.pieces of artwork.

• The Oaxacan carvers are best The Oaxacan carvers are best known for their colorful, vibrant, known for their colorful, vibrant,

festive animal sculptures.festive animal sculptures.

What is Clay?What is Clay?• Fine-grained, firm earthy material

that is plastic when wet, brittle when dry, and very hard when

heated.

Teacher Sample Reference PhotographTeacher Sample Reference Photograph

In Chinese art and martial art, the tiger is depicted as an earth

symbol, representing matter and

spirit.

Teacher SampleTeacher Sample

References:

www.artlex.com

“Oaxacan Woodcarving; Innovation meets tradition”.