Huichol Art
I. Who are the Huichol?
A. Territory is the west coast of Mexico around Nayarit.
B. They are related through Nahuatl language to the Aztecs, and northern neighbors.
1. The Huichols found by conquistadores were composite , varied societies made up of the fragments of imploded tribes after 1722.
2. They say they are descended from the dog.
C. In 1977 populations believed to be 13 - 14 thousand.
D. Religion is life.
1 . Men and women struggle for completion (corollary of vision quest).
a. Completion takes about ten years.
b. Completion can begin at ten years old if the person is motivated.
c. Completed men become Shamans, completed women become master textile workers.
2. They seek inspired knowledge from the various place gods they petition.
a. Charms are left at the shrines of the gods, often they are arrows. Women often attach an embroidery to their arrows.
3. To become completed it is necessary to consume Peyote.
a. Travel to hills near San Luis Potosi where Peyote lives.
b. The consumption causes the mind to be open to visions.
c. Varying amounts are consumed, from 5 - 25 buds.
d. Everyone eventually takes it, even nursing babies.
II. What is their art like?
A. Offerings left to propitiate the Gods, petitions made so as to affect outcomes.
1. Grandmother Growth, an idol placed at a children’s bathing spot.
a. To make sure children grow strong and healthy.
b. To make sure the spring never dries up.
2. Beaded bowls and figurines made of gourd or wood, beeswax, beads.
a. Usually made by women in traditional times.
b. Sometimes strings of beads are impressed.
i. Bowls may be completely or partially lined with beads.
c. Interiors of gourds are frequently painted a solid background color.
3. Red deer effigies.
a. Root end of sapling which look like muzzle and ears and antlers.
b. Bark is removed, painted or stained and ornaments added, frequently feathers.
4. Embroideries.
a. Most frequently left in association with other votives.
b. Left by women and girls seeking completion.
c. finest and most sophisticated designs are executed by completed women.
5. Sacred boards.
a. Usually round and no more than 10” dia.
b. They were hung with arrows as votives.
c. They sometimes were used as bases for offering bowls.
d. sometimes pieces of mirror were added.
6. Arrows are perhaps the most frequently left offering.
a. Left by males and females.
7. Gods eyes.
B. Yarn paintings are not sacred in and of themselves but they frequently illustrate sacred stories.
1. They are the modern version of the ancient sacred, round boards.
2. They are usually made by city dwelling Huichols.
a. Plywood and cheap acrylic yarn are available here.
3. They are generally 2’ x2’ or larger and roughly square.
4. Forms are accented by outlining.
C. Clothing and body decoration.
1. Embroidery on white muslin.
a. Cross-stitch is most common for zoomorphic, anthropomorphic, and phytomorphic forms.
b. Running stitch is most often used for geometric designs.
c. Women seldom offer work for sale before they are completed, to do so is bad luck a\\\\nd bad form.
2. Men’s clothing.
a. Made by women related through blood or marriage.
b. Pants, shirt, hat, cape, pocket belt, bag embroidered on white muslin.
c. Belts and bags woven on a narrow, back-strap loom.
3. Women’s clothing.
a. Made by women who wore them.
b. Blouse, skirt, shawl, hat(optional).
4. Beaded ornaments and jewelry
a. Frequently made by men.
b. Woven into belts, bags, bracelets, earrings, and pendants.
5. Face painting.
a. Usually represents celestial deities.
D. Shaman’s chairs and god’s chairs.