cross art

Rays of light emanate from a beautiful cross. Meticulously carved by hand, this elegant cross makes a powerful statement of faith. Ruben Beltran works in richly-grained Mexican huanacaxtle, or parota wood.

Chaac, the Maya lord of rain, sits on his throne with arms crossed in front at his chest, regarded as an unusual depiction for this deity which artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association replicate from a sculpture dated 250-800 AD. This anthropomorphic image fuses reptilian or amphibian characteristics with that of an elderly human. The artisans sculpt this ceramic piece with sublime detail, including a throne separately from the sculpture.

A Maya woman sits with legs crossed as she works on a backstrap loom. Rocking back and forth she controls the tension as she creates an expanse of cloth. "This movement represented the human heartbeat, thus weaving was a sacred act for the ancient Maya, and weavers were considered the 'mothers of creation,'" Nicolas Chavez Sojuel explains. He works in fragrant cedar wood to depict his subject as realistically as did the pre-Hispanic ceramists of Jaina Island more than a thousand years ago in their "Female Figure with Loom." Deftly carving intricate details with superb realism, the Guatemalan artisan dresses the woman in a necklace of pinewood beads.

Growing up surrounded by a family of artisans, J.S. Anderson devotes his artistic career to exploring the new possibilities offered by polymer clay. Working with Meili W., he diligently forms the clay by hand into tubes that feature colorful and imaginative designs. Cross sections are cut from these tubes and carefully applied around the body of this rattlesnake sculpture. The fierce snake coils in an alert posture, elaborated with elegant designs and patterns that include bird motifs along its body. J.S. Anderson has worked for 25 years to perfect this millefiori-style technique, which has allowed him to create intricate and amazing designs on his sculptures. Each pattern on this sculpture is diligently arranged by the artisans through a painstaking process to ensure perfection.

Seated with legs crossed, a Maya bird man gestures with his hands as he speaks. Nicolas Chavez Sojuel works in fragrant cedar wood to depict an image from the archaeological site of Palenque. Dating from the 8th century, the beautiful necropolis was the westernmost point in the ancient Maya empire. The original bird man was sculpted of terracotta and painted in shades of blue. It was discovered in Tomb One and is on display in the site museum.

The headdress is detachable for shipping.

A Mayan midwife is realized in cedar atop a pinewood base. Guatemalan artist Nicolas Chavez Sojuel hand-carves this sculpture, detailing the midwife's elaborate jewelry and headdress. She sits with legs crossed, a child held close to her breast. For the artist, this sculpture presents a view of quotidian Mayan life, as the midwives would often take their children along with them as they worked.