Customer Reviews

Mexican Folk Art: From Oaxacan Artist Families

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great book, that shows over 40 families in Mexico who make Mexican folk arts. There is a short history of each family and pictures of what they craft with the price and address to order it. There are also tons of beautiful pictures :) This is a great book !

This book was such a great resource to assist me in deciding what artists I wanted to visit during my recent trip to Oaxaca. I would not have been able to locate some of these artists had I not had this book.

This is an extensive look at the crafts of Oaxaca amd the families who make them. I used this book as a guide when I visted Oaxaca. It is accurate. Very nice photos.

I've visited Oaxaca City and some of the surrouding craft villages on a trip about 8 years ago. I'm going again in October 2008. I decided to purchase this book so that I could have a better understanding of the various crafts, who makes them and where they are located. I hoped to have more knowledge then the average tourist who might simply go on a tour and only visit the craftsmen they were shown. With the information this book provided I could hire a driver and tell him which places I want to visit. I found the history of how the crafts were started in various families and then passed down interesting. The author mentions that some are going to be more expensive then others and that she tries to provide a range of options within the same craft category (pottery, wood carvings, weavings, etc.). It would have been helpful to have been provided an average price range per craftsman. Once I'm back from my trip this book will be a happy reminder of many good travelling and shopping memories!

I purchased this book because I will be visiting this area of Mexico in the distant future. I wanted to learn more about the Folk Art created
in the Oaxacan area, and did so when I examined this book. The photos and and write-ups provided have given me a great deal of
information about the variety of Art forms produced by many families in this area. A great purchase for an interested traveller!Mexican Folk Art: From Oaxacan Artist Families

This book is important if you intend to visit Oaxaca and appreciate its arts/crafts. It is well documented and gives examples of work and artistic aspects of each featured family. The Authors are thorough; providing valuable information to visitors/collectors interested in buying from Oaxacan artists. There are maps of the city and pueblos locating artists from text (invaluable if you are not with a guide) family trees of artists, a glossary of terms with definitions and a section describing "The Day of the Dead" objects; which many visitors do not understand. The photographs are beautiful and appropriate to each section of craft.
It would also be interesting (if you have the book) to compare your experiences buying a piece from a family member face to face rather than through a gallery or store. When I return, I will bring this book and visit artists I was unaware of. The book is a gem and clearly done with an educated eye and a heartfelt respect for the families and their work.

I purchased 32 copies of "Mexican Folk Art: from Oaxacan Artist Families" and had them shipped, free of charge, to 32 future attendees of a knitting retreat in Oaxaca in March 2011. All 32 recipients have raved about the book and are even more anxious to arrive Oaxaca.