Saturday, Sunday, August 25,26, 12-5pm
Galeria Atotonilco
Free

Trees of Life in Mexican Folk Art, Galeria Atotonilco - opening

By Susan Page

Some form of the “tree of life” has been found in all Mesoamerican cultures including the Aztec, Maya, Mixtec, and Olmec, and continues to be a strong theme in Mexican folk art today. It is a symbol of the abundance of the universe, depicting the connection between heaven and earth, the four sacred directions, and the lineage of humankind.

The central idea of the tree of life is the unity and connection of everything and everyone in the universe. Mystics from all religions report that enlightenment, or the highest sacred vision, is the realization that separation is an illusion, that in fact, everything in the universe is part of “being,” the way a drop of water is a part of the ocean. Trees of life are a graphic representation of this unity. They reach from the heavens – often with angels or some depiction of God at the top, to creation with Adam and Eve, to deep into the earth, depicted by gardens with deep roots, or sometimes as hell!

In contemporary Mexican folk art, the Tree of Life has become a kind of “canvas” for artists to present a variety of subjects, from daily life in the village, to indigenous dress and traditions, to folk art from all parts of Mexico. Many include religious themes such as the story of Adam and Eve or the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some show off the mermaid who, because she represents both land and sea, becomes a symbol of the duality of the universe.

Contemporary Artists
Gallery owner Mayer Shacter recently returned from two villages famous for their trees of life: Acatlan and Izucar de Matamoros, both in the State of Puebla. In Izucar, the most famous family is the Castillos, several of whom still do exquisite work. Their trees of life are striking, painted with minute, intricate designs and can be expensive. We purchased some stunning Castillo pieces for collectors. The other Izucar family whose work we love is the Balbuena family, who create colorful works in the Izucar tradition that are much more affordably priced and that brighten any table setting or room with a piece that honors a venerable Mexican tradition.

The trees of life in Acatlan, Puebla, were started by Heron Martinez, who worked prodigiously throughout the last half of the twentieth century and died in 1990. His work is highly collectable. He had no direct descendants, but several families have carried on the tradition he started in their own workshops. The work is distinctive because the clay is burnished and left with its natural color, which ranges from brown to dark red. Acatlan trees of life are beautifully proportioned, with themes such as mermaids, peacocks, or Adam and Eve.

All are invited to the gallery open house, Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26, noon to 5 PM each day. The event includes refreshments and the opportunity to view the Shacter’s extensive private folk art collection.