Wax Nativity Set

This amazing Nativity set, is made of modeling wax, and is from the state of Michoacan. The work is so perfectly finished, unfortunately I'm not as a perfect photographer.

"Wood Nativity set"

This beautifull Nativity Set, exhibited in the Museo Nacional de Culturals Populares is made of wood, and is made by a Oaxacan artist.

Nativities sets are very popular here in Mexico. Depending on the region, you may find them of so many different materials, like wood, clay, corn leafs, shells, among many different materials.

They were an important tool for the evangelisation, and as well other traditions like the posadas, and the piñatas, are now an esential part of the Mexican folk art.

"Nativity sets"

This beautifull Nativity set, is made of clay, of the region of Oaxaca. Some of the most talented folk art artist come from this part of the country.

This Nativity set, is being also exhibit in the Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares, in Coyoacán, Mexico City till February 4th.

"Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda" (celebration of the day of the death at Diego Rivera's Museum)

This picture is part of the representation of a famous Diego Rivera paintings called"Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda" (Dream of a Sunday afternoon in the Alameda) but the representation with skulls is part of the exhibit that is being held in the Musem "Diego Rivera Anahuacally" as a part of the celebration of the day of the death.

Skulls made of cartoneria (papier mache) are of reall size and represent this important paint of Rivera.

If you have the opportunity you must visit it (held until November 28) in Mexico City.

"Celebration of the day of the death" at the Dolores Olmedo Museum

Celebration of the day of the death

Another objects created specially for this time are the sculptures in papier mache, in Mexico it's called cartonería.

For this celebration, you'll find a lot of skulls, and skeletons, in this material, many museums, decorate this festivities with some thematics skeleton.

Here are some pics, of the Dolores Olmedo Museum, where they held an exhibit of the Mexican history.

This pic is about the aztecs, finding the symbol (eagle eating an snake above a cactus) where they must build their city. This symbol is now part of our flag!

The Celebration of the Day of the death in Mexico

The Celebration of the Day of the death is one of the most important celebrations in our country. It take place on November, the 1 and 2. The 1st day is dedicated to remember and celebrate the little boys and girls. And the 2nd of November to the rest. Many places in Mexico celebrates these days, and it's a real fiesta.

In Mexico there is the believe that in the "day of the death" -November 2-, our loved ones who aren't with us any more, come to visit us in this day, the tradition is to have a place (a table) specially served for them, with their photo, some saints, candles, "pan de muerto - (bread of the death-specially made in Mexico for this festivity) and the food they love to eat when they were alive, among many other things like candies ),and candles salt, etc. These place, is called "ofrenda", like a little tribute to the loved ones.

There are some many things created specially for this celebration. The candies, for the ofrenda are no exception, "calaveritas de azucar" (sugar skulls) are specially made for these speciall ocassion. They are mainly made by sugar, in many places in Mexico, for example in Toluca, this art is called the art of "alfeñique". You can find them in local markets, in many sizes!!

About the day of the dead- "it's an examle of the complex inheritance of mexicans, whis incorporates pre hispanic and colonial elements as well as visual expression arisign after the Mexican Revolution". "It is the center of the collective imaginatino of the nation, extending far beyond its borders" - Alejandro Negrin -

This is a little pic of some sugar skulls, I love them, so collorfull and tasty!! yummie!

"Borola"

Borola,(the sculpture with red dress and blue hat) is one of the famous character created by Mr. Gabriel Vargas, in the Burron's Family.

She's strong, and inteligent, but at the same time, so fememine.

She's also part of the exhibit "Tribute to Gabriel Vargas",held in the Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares, in Coyoacan Mexico, till November 28.

She's papier mache sculpture.

Tree of Life Burrón's family

This tree is a tribute to one of the best cartoonist in Mexico, Mr. Gabriel Vargas, who pass away in May 2010. He create a comic, called "Familia Burrón"(Burrón's family). He recreated the way of life in Mexico City for a long time, and with a big sense of humor.

The tree of life is one of Mexico's most recognized folk art. Originally they are made out of clay in the state of Metepec, Edo. de Mexico.

For me it was logical to mix these great ideas, the tree of life in one side, with the great characters that Mr. Vargas create, the family Burrón. The size of the tree is about 8 x 8 cms.

This tree is now part of the exhibit "Tribute to Gabriel Vargas" that is being held in the Museon Nacional de Culturas Populares, in Coyacán in México City.

This exhibit ends on November 28.

Hope you like it!

Invitation to an exhibit in MNCP in Mexico City

The hard process of crating a silver jewelry... a happy bunny!

I have a few time in this matter, just 3 years of studing this amazing world of the jewerly maker.

It has been a long since my first time at school, when my teachers taught me to hold a jewelry saw. It was very hard for me because I was used to work with soft materials, like clay, plasticine, paper, but working with metals is just another world.

The strengh of the metal, in this case was brass, was something I didn't imagine, and some many times i broke the blades!! and trying to trace a straight line with a jewelry saw was one of the most challenging task to do.

But to discover your my own desings in this material, was just amazing! something you can wear, deserves all the hard work it takes.

This was some of my first work, by "cutting" the sheet of brass, in spanish it's called "calado", that means to perforate de sheet of metal. I will search, how to say it in english.

Here is an example of one of my first pieces in brass, the title of the piece is: "happy bunny"

"My silver jewelry exhibited in the 3rd. Hispanic encounter of silversmith" in Zacatecas, México

Victoire de Castellane a great imagination, and a great inspiration!

This video, is an interview of Vogue Spain, to Victoire de Castellane, the jewelry designer for Dior.

I consider her, the best jewelry designer of this time.

The imagination, the colors she used are just amazing, and the inspiration, as you make check is in this video, can come from everywhere.

Enjoy!

Inspiration

In a visit to a beach, i found this "alga" (seaweed).

Opera Theater in progress 2

Here is a second pic of the theater, with some details, like the pair of angels, in gold, and some color, still waiting to be finish is the scneario, the courtains, and the singer! :D

The papier mache, not just a kids game

For a long time I have had this question, about the difference between art, and handcrafts, what is the line between one and other? is it the material? the technique? is it the place of the exhibit?

Both are hand made, and some art pieces, f.e. photos, can be
made in limited edition, than can go from 10, to 100 pictures, and the same can happen to jewelry, sculpture, etc, so what is the main difference between one an another?

I consider the main difference is not the material, they can be geougous clay sculptures, that are not less valuable than the marmol ones, and one painting is not less valuable if it is painted in acrilic, rather than in oil, even if the oil, like material is more expensive than the acrilics.

Other people may say that the durability of the piece, can be an important factor, but we know that many ancient cultures, worked with "fragile materials" like clay, that we can find now a day, and papier mache, refereing to durability is and old techinque that has prove its durability if it's well done.

I think mainly the design, the novelty of the creation, is what matters really.

Some times, it happens to me, that many people consider sculptures in "papier mache" less sculpture than if they were made of another material.

The piece design for me is what really matters, and if it's true that the "papier mache" gives the opportunity to work, with no expensive materials, like paper and glue, it's also true, that the desigh, and the expertise to manipulate this material, beyond the basic forms, can only be achieved after several years of work.

Or what do you think?

"Long Furry necklace"

This is a necklace I made, combining different materials.

About the Mexican Alebrijes

First of all , what is an Alebrije?

the Alebrijes are papier mache and wood, colorfull monsters (half one aninal, half another) made by some talented artisans in Mexico.

Basically you can find them in Mexico City, and also in Arrazola,Oaxaca.

I have heard that the original creator of the Alebrijes, was Don Pedro Linares, who lived in Mexico city. He used to work with the "cartonería" (papier mache technique) and was used to make a lot of different figures, like skulls and skeletons for the celebration of the Day of the Death, among other sculptures in papier mache.

But the story tells that it was one day that he got very sick, and had a very high fever, that make him allucinate. In this allucinations the alebrijes were born, as strange collorfull animals, that he later will realize in paper.

And then some talented Oaxacan artisans came to Mexico City, and discover Don Pedro Linare's work, and then made their own version of them, but in "copal" and carved them in wood. The Zapotecs, have had a long tradition in carved wood.

It's said that Mr. Manuel Jimenez, was the first artisans who begin to elaborate them in wood.

The creativity of Mexican Artisans is endless.

Here are some pics!

About papier mache and cartoneria

In Mexico, as in many other countries, the papier mache, is an old technique, brought by the Spaniards, and very well asimilated by the new Mexicans.

Nowaday this techinque in Mexico is called "Cartonería", and is used mainly to conmemorate many of Mexican Festivities like for example de famous "Piñatas" that were made for the Posadas (Celebrations before Christmas that goes from December 16, to the 24).

The piñatas were made mainly with the form of a star, with 7 points, that represents the 7 capital sins, wich you destroy when you broke the piñata, even when you look the "star" (piñata) as nice an pretty you resign to this, and the gift for this resign, is the fruit and candies inside of the piñata.

Skulls, and skeletons, are other important pieces realized for another important Mexican celebration "The day of the Death". Celebrated on November 1, and 2. In this time, we remember our loved ones who are not longer living in this world.

Another important pieces are the "Judas" big images of devil, and some not wanted people, that are burned during the festivities of Corpus Christi.

You can find many of "cartonería" pieces almost in every time of the year, so if you have the chance to visit Mexico, you can sure find one of them.

Polishing the silver cross

Polishing at my workshop

"Opera Theater in progress"

This piece is going to be an opera theater, with a great singer on it.

The work in papier mache, is about applying layers of paper, to give the form and structure to the piece, and then sand it. I'm in the process of the sanding, and after that, the fun will begin. For me painting the sculpture is the part that give the piece life!!

Alebrije's mask (mascara Alebrije)

This mask is inspired in the famous crafts "alebrijes".It's part leopard, part snake and part buttefly.

Board for the Mexican Revolution chess set/ Tablero para ajedrez Revolución Mexicana

This board is all hand painted, inspired in some famous photos of the Mexican Revolution, in my version.

Este ajedrez, pintado totalmente a mano, esta inspirado en algunas conocidas fotos de la Revolución Mexicana.

Mexican Revolution Chess Set/ Ajedrez de Revolución Mexicana

This Chess set is inspired in the Mexican Revolution. This year is the conmemoration of 100 years of it. In one side we have Porfirio Díaz, her wife Carmelita, and his advisors the "scientist", the tower are like an European type (he admires European culture) and their white horses.The pawns are the "federales".

In the other side is President Fco. I. Madero, "la Adelita" (This is a symbol of many very brave Mexican women who went to war to fight with their men)and Emiliano Zapata, and Franciso Villa, the tower is a mexican plants "magueyes" and the black horses.

The pawns are all the country people.

This chess set has been exhibited in the William Spratling Museum, in Taxco, Gro here in Mexico, and in some exclusive Galleries.

Este ajedrez está inspirado en la Revolución Mexicana. Este año celebramos el 100 aniversario de ella. De un bando tenemos a Dn Porfirio Díaz, con su esposa Carmelita, y sus consejeros los "cientificos", la torre es de estilo europeo (cultura que admiraba mucho Dn Porfirio) y sus caballos son blancos. Los peones son los"Federales".

Este ajedrez ha sido exhibido en el Museo Guillermo Spratling, en la Ciudad de Taxto, Guerrero, México, asi como en exclusivas Galerías.


¡¡ Viva México!!

Board for the Medieval chess set / Tablero para el ajedrez medieval

This board is all hand painted, inspired in some old churches glasses and images of the medieval times.

Medieval Chess set, Ajedrez Medieval

This was my first chess, and i have always love the history, and the past times, the casttles, the medieval paintings, among many other things. So I've decided to do my own version of the "Moorish against Christians".

These like the other chess sets has been exhibited in the William Spratling Museum, at the City of Taxco, Gro., here in Mexico.

Board for the Egiptians vs Romans chess set

This hand painted board is inspired in the Roman paintings of tiles. It was really difficult for me to do all the tiles to achive that effect. I hope you enjoy it!

Este tablero fue inspirado en las pinturas Romanas, hechas de pequeños mosaicos. Fue realmente un reto el poder realizar ese efecto. Espero lo disfruten!

"Romans vs Egiptians Chess set" "Ajedrez Egipcios vs Romanos"

This chess set is inspired in the old movie "Cleopatra", when I first saw it I was a little girl, and the image of a strong young Queen, seems very powerfull to me.

My chess set was born with the inspirations of this passionate story of war and love, between Cesar and Cleopatra.

"little wreslter pendant"

This little wrestler, like the lupita doll, move his arms and legs. It's inspired in the Mexican pop culture of the wrestlers, like the Blue Demon, Santo among others.

He's all hand made modeled with paste, and then hand painted.

Hope you like it!

Ring of crochet flower

Another ring but this time of a flower, imitation crochet techinque but in silver

Flower ring

This flower ring is the same set of "herrería primavera", but for a ring. I sculpted in soft wax, and then do the process of lost wax, these are some of my first jewelry in silver.

Love to hear your comments about it!

lulu doll

She's lulu a faerie, she's inspired in both, Lupita doll and art Deco epoque with all the glomour of the the time.

She's not ready yet, I'm going to make her arms and legs move, and still is missing a necklace to wear, I'm thinking of the possibilities to combine!

Hope you enojoy it!

Some of my sculptures, jewelry and paintings are available for sale, if you're interested, pls contact me at:

veroperez@asconsultores.com.mx

If you have any comment about my work, or have project for an exhibit, i'll be glad to know.

Thanks for your vist

N’hésitez pas à me contacter pour discuter de mon travail, de mes projets ou de ma prochaine d’exposition ....


Merci de votre visite.

Veronica Perez

"Primavera de Herreria" "Spring ironcraft"

This a best photo of the jewelry set that has been exhibit in Zacatecas Mexico in November 2009, in a latinoamerican encounter of jewelsmiths.

Tecnhique: lost wax.