by Mildred Boyd
Michelangelo
once modestly claimed that his only function was to free the statue that
was imprisoned in every block of marble. Similarly, the craftsmen of Ocotlan,
Oaxaca use the natural contours of ordinary scraps of wood to create animals,
reptiles and birds in a fantastic array of shapes and colors. These are
not made from single blocks, however, but legs, tails, ears and horns
are separately shaped and attached with nails or pegs to the torso. From
aardvarks to zebras, large or small, grimly realistic or whimsically amusing,
they carve them all, including a number of delightful specimens Noah would
never have recognized.
A visitor to this village will find workshop
after workshop with shelves crammed with wooden menageries. If he shows
the slightest interest, he will soon be mobbed by men, women and children
from all over town eager to show off their masterpieces, all of them so
enchanting they are almost impossible to resist.
The collection shown here is the result
of several such visits (and lack of resistance) over a period of 25 years.
Some early examples are crude, dyed in realistic colors with details painted
in ink. Yet, however naive in execution, each has its own unique charm
and personality. Gradually, as they were ‘discovered’ and gained
a well-deserved popularity among connoisseurs of folk art, they have grown
more sophisticated in style and finish until the most recent, though still
recognizable as animals, are glossily enameled in dazzling colors and
patterns Mother Nature never thought of.
| Armadillos |
These
two little fellows, only four or five inches long, clearly demonstrate
the evolution in style. Though, admittedly, the bright orange and pink
armor of the earlier version is not exactly what the well dressed armadillo
is usually found wearing, the jeweled turquoise of the later one goes
so far beyond the realm of nature’s probability it could almost
be a new species. Though neither one would exactly blend into the landscape
as the real animals do, each is obviously an armadillo and, in his own
way, quite charming.
| Dogs |
You’ve heard of blue tick hounds and red setters, of course? Well,
they never looked exactly like this, although these are clearly dogs any
knowledgeable Nimrod would be glad to take with him to the hunting field.
The red one with the hang-dog look is obviously a scent hound and has
found an exciting spoor to follow, while the slightly larger blue is a
gaze hound that seems to be on the verge of pointing to the game. These
fellows are about eight to ten inches long and both are in the earlier
style.
| Cattle |
Anyone
to wishes to see a purple cow, or any other color for that matter, has
only to visit Ocotlan, where the rainbow is the only limit. This ten inch
one seems to be an unlikely cross between a red Hereford and a black-spotted
Holstien. It also seems smugly pleased at its own cleverness in having
broken its tether and is looking eagerly about for greener pastures. Or,
perhaps, like Ferdinand, he only wants to sit under a cork tree and smell
the flowers. Whatever it is, let’s hope he finds it.
| Lizards |
Reptiles,
especially lizards, are a popular subject among Ocotlan craftsmen, and
this handsome fellow, nearly two feet in length, is a prime example of
the later, more florescent style. His threatening stance, along with the
enormous eyes, flaring nostrils, lashing tail and red maw give him a look
of draconic ferocity. From his cunningly pleased expression, he is apparently
about to pounce on some unsuspecting prey. Yet the turquoise body and
the coral, yellow and white in the wondrously swirling patterns of his
scales make him a thing of bejewelled beauty.
| Giraffes |
The
use of the natural twist in a single piece of wood to create the sinuously
curving neck and head of this magnificent creature raises mere craftmanship
to true art. Though the sight of a red giraffe with diamond shaped white
spots on the Serengeti plain might cause quite a sensation among the great
white hunters of Africa, the wide, stiff-legged stance and the high-arching
neck as he reaches for a tasty mouthful of tender leaves are convincingly
realistic. Standing nearly three feet tall, this masterpiece is one of
the finest examples of the intermediate style.| Elk? |
At
first glance, this blue animal with white spots might be mistaken for Paul
Bunyan’s blue ox, Babe. He might also be an elk, a deer, or possibly
a moose. None of the details seem to add up to a true picture of any real
animal, though he is clearly a shy denizen of the forest. With eyes wide
and nostrils flaring, he is wary, alert and ready to bolt at the slightest
sign of any possible danger. The most intriguing feature here is the clever
use of small, bushy twigs to create the magnificent rack of white striped
antlers that is his crowning glory. | Horse |
This
is no fiery steed, dainty head held high on an arched neck and ready
for any deeds of derring-do and errantry on offer. Our 18 inch long
friend is far more plebian, a mere work horse, though, surely, no ordinary
Dobbin ever sported such a bright red coat or wore elegant green and
white chevrons on his legs. Still, he strides eagerly along, eyes straight
ahead, ears and tail held jauntily, confident that there will be a cozy
stall, a good rubdown and, perhaps, a nice bucket of oats awaiting him
after his long day’s work.
| The Lion and the Squirrel |
The
lion and the Iamb may, as predicted, someday lie down together. The lion
and the squirrel seem even more unlikely bed mates, even if, as in this
case, the squirrel has the advantage of being slightly larger than the lion.The King of Beasts, his orange mane well groomed, sits proudly at his ease, probably watching as his wives do all the work of catching and killing some poor wildebeest for His Majesty’s dinner. The mottled squirrel, while seemingly not unduly alarmed at the proximity of such a predator, is still keeping a wary eye on his companion. Both are eight to ten inches tall and are fine examples of early works.