clothing

Highly revered and beloved by the Mexican people, the Virgin of Guadalupe inspires Ana Maria Gonzalez to create a collection of decoupage crosses in her honor. In 1999, Pope John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe patron saint of the Americas, and she is celebrated on December 12. Her well-known image miraculously appeared on the Saint Juan Diego's robe, where he was carrying Castilian roses as proof of her appearance to him. Guadalupe sent him to the Spanish bishop to convince him to a build a church in her honor. In this cross, Guadalupe is welcomed into Heaven by God and His angels.

Chola is a term referring to indigenous and mestizo women from the Andes that now applies to all who wear the traditional costumes established during the initial process of mestizaje (mixing of cultures) in the current Andean region. Peru’s Gerardo Fernandez creates a breathtaking Ayacucho tapestry expertly handwoven from wool depicting three cholas in abstract style. “The women are wearing typical hats and colorful skirts. Each figure is carefully detailed, capturing the richness of the textiles and the bright hues that characterize their attire,” says Fernandez. The eco-friendly tapestry is colored with natural dyes obtained from organic sources like cochineal and tree leaves, bark, roots and fruits.

This charming wall cross from the Contreras Family is made of ceramic and painted by hand in the time-honored majolica style. The cross features a dainty folk art Maria doll in colorful costume against a background of emerald green.

The charming doll originated in Mexico City when many Otomi and Mazahua people migrated to the capital in the 1970s. Due to their unique traditional clothing, the women became known as "Marias." An educational program was established for them and artist Diego Rivera's daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marin, encouraged crafting these popular rag dolls as a way to generate income in the 1980s. Artisan women took the idea home to their Mazahua and Otomi towns and the dolls became popular throughout Mexico and abroad.