Mayan Embroidered Folk Art Tapestry 15-18: "El Soologico" (The Zoo), Josefina Quino

Hand embroidered. Size approximately 18" x 18". 

Background material is cotton and handwoven on a backstrap loom. Backside of fabric has the name of the artisan who made it and the theme or title of the embroidery.

   

These wonderful embroidered tapestries are the folk art of today - where traditional Mayan skills and themes have sound a new medium of expression.  This project was started in 2001 by Ramalle Gonzoles, who ran Foundations for Education. She shared the idea with a group of women, mothers of students in her sponsorship program. They worked together to develop these beautiful products that help provide additional income to the families and support the education of their children and grandchildren.  The independent women's group is Artesanas Mayas located in Panimatzalan, near San Andres Semetabaj Sololá. Ramelle and I visited them in 2011.