Learning the art of the Huichol Indians
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At left, Joyce Susswein, front, Phyllis Rose and Elizabeth Sherwood work on their own Huichol-style (WEE-chol) artwork. They learned the technique through the Nuestras Raices (Our Roots) program held recently at the Nanini Library, 7300 N. Shannon Road. The Huichol Indians of west-central Mexico are noted for their bright bead patterns created by applying beeswax to surfaces such as river stones, then applying glass beads in an array of traditional patterns and images.
Instructor Monyka Salazar, center, shows Jackie Jacobson, left, and Phyllis Rose how to apply beeswax to a surface, such as stones, bottle caps and gourds, ahead of creating a design. Salazar is also a Spanish teacher at the Tucson Waldorf School. Original, intricate Huichol designs can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Joyce Susswein uses a needle to thread the glass beads then slide them on to a beeswax-coated rock. Once the wax hardens, it holds the design in place.
At right, some of the items that can be used as bases include river stones and bottle caps. Teacher Monyka Salazar also used colored yarn to create designs on wax-coated surfaces.
