patio art

According to the beliefs of most pre-Hispanic cultures, a smiling sun warms the earth for life to be born and renewed. Georgina Cabrera incorporates Aztec motifs such as maize, flowers, priests, and warriors in kaleidoscopic alignment, blending her own ingenuity, her family's trade, and her country's tradition. Accents of color brighten the ceramic piece, making it the essential adornment for a patio or garden.

Based in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Cabrera works with a special clay sent to her by her relatives from her natal Otumba. The clay comprises of three different types of clay blended with plumilla (the flower from reeds along the local riverbanks). Once the clay has taken form, it is left to dry in the sun for up to five days before baking at approximately 450° C. Finally, Cabrera uses acrylics to hand-paint the piece, providing the adequate accents for the viewer to appreciate the impressive symbols of a long admired civilization.

A proud Cabrera states: "I love to transmit my ideas through my products for people to get to know my work."

This comfortable hammock in black and ivory is destined to enhance your treasured moments of sweet relaxation. Skilled Maya Artists of the Yucatan hand-weave this hammock using the same techniques as their Maya ancestors.

Long before the Spanish arrived upon the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Maya preferred to sleep and rest in hammocks. They considered the hammock to be like the loving embrace of a mother, due to the comfortable manner in which the body is held and swung within its cradle. Maya Artists of the Yucatan seek to preserve time-honored customs while also offering stylized versions of the original Maya hammock. For them, the hammock is a work of art. Their hammocks are incredibly comfortable, easy to maintain, and may be stored just about anywhere.

Please note: The accompanying extension ropes may vary in color from those shown in the images.

Balinese artisan Nik specializes in crafting unique ornaments and sculptures from a variety of materials. Here she creates a sleek gecko from steel, painted by hand and detailed with gold-toned wire. The lizard is a perfect accent for home or patio.

Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales creates an Eastern screech owl scanning his horizons in this ceramic figurine. This lovely bird is hand sculpted and hand painted with meticulous detail to capture the species likeness. Ready to be posed in your home or patio, the aluminum wire legs and feet can bend to position the bird to your liking.