Q: What was the first folk art figure you brought back from Mexico?
Mask from Oaxaca
A: In Oaxaca I bought a large carved wooden dragon mask with a Conquistador’s face carved and painted on its back. My intent was to depict the dragon in a subsequent “Domestic Threats” painting (the series I was working on at the time). The dragon still hangs in my living room in Alexandria, VA.
This first trip in 1992 was a revelation and marked the start of my on-going love of Mexico: its people, landscapes, ancient cultures, archaeology, history, art, cuisine, etc. There would be many subsequent trips to Mexico to learn as much as I can about this endlessly interesting cradle of civilization.
Comments are welcome!
Posted on September 29, 2018, in 2018, An Artist's Life, Creative Process, Domestic Threats, Inspiration, Mexico, Pastel Painting, Working methods and tagged Alexandria_VA, ancient cultures, archaeology, art, Bryan, carved, collecting, conquistador, cradle of civilization, cuisine, Domestic Threats, folk art figure, history, interesting, landscapes, living room, love of Mexico, mask, Mexican folk art, Mexico, Mexico City, Oaxaca, painted, painting, people, reading, revelation, wooden dragon. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
barbararachkoscoloreddust.com 
Conquistador images… on the back of a dragon…
Great stuff!
Any suggestions on exploring Oaxaca?
Thanks, Miles. It’s been many years since I visited Oaxaca, but Monte Alban, Mitla, and Yagul are ‘musts’ if you’re interested in archaeology. The museums are pretty terrific, too, especially the Rufino Tamayo, the Manuel Alvarez Bravo Photographic Center, Museo do las Culturas de Oaxaca, etc. Also, see Santo Domingo Church and the Benito Juarez Market. My favorite place to have a margarita used to be el Presidente’s patio bar, but it looks like the hotel must be under new management since I was there. Oaxaca is well-visited so get yourself a good guide book, stroll the streets, and enjoy!