Presentation: The state of Oaxaca is famous for brightly-colored, often whimsical wood carvings (Alebrijes) made by talented artisans. The selling of Alebrjes is a major source of income in several communities. Although this is a new craft invented in the twentieth century by monolingual Spanish speakers, wood carving aesthetics are often attributed by wholesalers, shop owners, and artisans to indigenous traditions. This talk explores the making and marketing of Alebrijes in the past and present. Two artisan families will display their pieces and briefly talk about their work.
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