Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees (Paperback)

by Shepard Barbash (Author), Vicki Ragan (Photographer) "Fiestas are the fullest expression of a Oaxacan's belief in the promise of magic, of fable, of something stronger than death..." (more)
Key Phrases: carving boom, carving villages, San Martfn, San Martin, Day of the Dead (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Increasingly prized by collectors worldwide, Oaxacan woodcarvings are among the most popular form of folk art available today. These fanciful, brightly colored figures created by rural Mexican woodcarvers reflect the myths and traditions still very much a part of the carvers' daily lives. A spectacular gallery of over 160 full-color photographs beautifully portrays these artisans and their work, while an informative text examines the intricacies of the carvers' craft. The only volume devoted exclusively to this distinctive and magical art form, Oaxacan Woodcarving will inspire and inform anyone with an interest in folk art, photography, or anthropology.

About the Author
Shepard Barbash is a freelance writer and former bureau chief in Mexico City for the Houston Chronicle, whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Newsday, the San Francisco Chronicle, and a variety of other publications.

Vicki Ragan is a photographer whose works are in the permanent collections ol the Brooklyn Museum of Fine Art in New York, the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona, and Polaroid Corporation's International Art Collection in Amsterdam. The aut

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811802507
• ISBN-13: 978-0811802505
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #612,018 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oaxacna Wood Cravings, April 29, 2000

By	Antoinette D. Parry - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to know more about Oaxacan wood carvings from Mexico. I teach Spanish and assign a project where the students have to research and make a replica of one of the wood carvings. This is the book that I recommend. It divides the carvings into four categories and explains characteristics, history, and more. Many great photos are included also.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative but disappointing., October 19, 2000

By	Janicez (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This book is very informative for those interested in learning more about the artists behind the woodcarvings. However it only represents a few of the carvers and the photos while excellent quality will be a disappointment to those who may own or have seen many of the other wonderful carvings that these artists create. The photos seem to concentrate mainly on human style figures and although it does contain quite a few photos of animal figures most are those more on the conventional side. The more elaborate and colorful figures are not represented, neither are some of the more exotic animals like dragons, giraffes, and armadillos. There is nothing at all on the small `alien' monsters which are now considered the trademark emblems of this area. For those wanting a book to show friends just what these artists can do it will be a bit of a disappointment, however since it's the only book available at present there is little choice.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Wooderful" Treasure, August 19, 2000

By	Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a wonderful little book with a wealth of information and pictures that document the whimsical wood carvings of Oaxaca(pronounced WA-HA-ka), Mexico.The folk art depicted are beautifully detailed figurines, lavishily decorated hand painted carved wood. The book explains the entire process and how the works are often family projects where all family members participate in order to sustain the family. If you are a collector of folk art this book is a good reference source as it tells you which names are most collectible. One of the more interesting Oaxacan carvings are the "alebriges" which are figurures that may have animal and human traits but are created in such a fashion that it looks like it may be from another world with its extra parts of anatomy and exaggerated form. The three-dimensional carvings are delightful pieces of folk art. Anyone interested in the folk art of Mexico, planing a trip to Oaxaca, teacher or student involved in art would enjoy this book. Easy to read and photographed to reproduce the intricate works that are so colorful this book is a valuable source of information for all interested in these now famous wood carvings from Oaxaca.