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"I want you to know what the artwork represents to the artisans. Their skills have been passed through the generations because these traditions are too important to lose." The creation of fine handcrafted artwork is a centuries-old tradition among the Purepecha Indians. These ancient traditions include hammering copper and carving wood to make the necessities of everyday life, as well as weapons used by Purepecha warriors. Many things have been written about the artwork, but not enough recognition has been given to the artisans who create it. Every piece of art contains part of the artisan's spirit; the mind, skills and pride of the artisan, as well as Purepecha Indian tradition and history. |
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History After Spain conquered Mexico, a leader was sent -- Nuno de Guzman -- who sought gold from the Aztec Indians. Guzman ravaged the local Indians, who fled to the hills to escape him. When the Spanish king learned about the devastation, he sent a priest --Bishop Vasco de Quiroga --to Mexico to heal the damage. |
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Quiroga arrived in 1532, bringing with him Spanish artisans who contributed new techniques to the creation of traditional works. He showed that the techniques could be used to produce art, as well as necessities. And he suggested that Purepecha villages could specialize in different types of art, depending on the natural resources available in the region: copper, textiles, wood, iron, and others. This distinction among regions in Michoacan still exists today. And the Mediterranian influence of the Spanish artisans is apparent in many of the pieces produced by the Purepecha Indians. Quiroga's legacy lives through his influence on the work of Indian artisans and through many monuments built in his honor. He is so revered among the Purepecha Indians that they call him Tata Vasco, "father Vasco." |
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To read more about the history of the Purepecha Indians, please see: |
