Thursday, January 15, 2015

Huichol Yarn Pillows


The Huichol (pronounced Wee-chol) people inhabit the most remote parts of north central Mexico.

These once nomadic descendants of the Aztecs are now an agrarian society farming in a difficult mountainous homeland.

Originally intended as ceremonial offerings to the Spirits to insure a bountiful harvest, yarn paintings continue today as a testament to thewhole of their religious and cultural beliefs. Filled with the iconography of their organizing mythology, these compositions are teeming with color and life. In simplest terms, these works document their life and relationships to the life forces of the spiritual world.
Fourth grade students applied their newly acquired knowledge of Huichol art to create a personalized yarn painting.  They exercised their ability to sew on burlap and turned their two-dimensional sewing into a three-dimensional pillow!
Students were challenged to fill at least half of the area of their burlap with yarn-not an easy task.  These fourth graders stepped up to the plate and succeeded with flying colors!  Their beautiful pillows are currently on display in the treehouse.

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