Huichol Yarn Paintings - AKA continuing yarn-based obsession

Hey there! It's been a couple weeks and I would like to reassure you that I am still here.. gathering ideas.. plotting. Okay, not really plotting, but I really AM working on things when I am not blogging.

I will do my best to make posts weekly from now on. The semester is already to midpoint and I am kiiind of freaking out a little bit.. Spring break is after next week. No panicking, Kanak!

In my Art Education class (the final one, by the way.. after this I only have painting and review courses..eeeeeeeee) we are working on Huichol yarn paintings. I LOVE THIS PROJECT SO MUCH.

Background: We started our exploration into the traditional craft of yarn paintings by learning about the Huichol people. The Huichol Indians are a very small tribe living near the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico.
Traditionally the paintings depict myths and ceremonies but in modern day Huichol art the scenes are more expressionist and fantastical in nature.

The Huichol people have certain symbols and motifs in most of their art. We learned about the 'trinity' of the Huichol religion.

Deer: the most sacred of the animals - blood of the deer symbolizes fertility.

Corn: corn is the source of all life

Peyote: how the Huichol people communicate with their gods. Older yarn paintings often depict peyote visions and ceremonies with shamans and gods.

These three elements together create and support all life in Huichol culture and religion.

Our professor wanted us to focus on three elements similar to those the Huichol revere: Man, Nature, and the Environment. This created relevance for the lesson and provided opportunity for brainstorming. We had to create an image and tell a story with our design in the style of Huichol yarn paintings. **I can't believe this type of art only started in the '50s. Pretty astounding, and refreshing to see the 'old' images and symbols retained in more modern art.

Visual requirements:
1. Outlines of all shapes must be in contrasting colors
2. The border color must be contrasting from surrounding colors
3. Create rhythm with yarn direction and orientation (also creates texture and patterns)
4. Tell a story with your shapes and designs

Materials:
1. Cut particle board (or wood) squares/rectangles to size
2. Wax (my teacher was utilizing toilet rings which are made of wax and CHEAP as a replacement for beeswax)
3. Crock pot or hot plate for melting wax
4. Paint brushes for wax
5. Yarn of all colors, shapes, sizes, glitter (NO), you name it
6. Scissors
7. Paper
8. Pencil

Hope and Rascal - coming together again!

Process:
1. Our first step was to write up a story that we wanted to depict. I wrote about when I  witnessed the birth of a horse. In typical little girl fashion the horse and I became friends and I called him 'Rascal' (even though his name was Braveheart and he was a PRIZED foal). I wanted to commemorate that amazing event in my yarn painting... so I am :)

2. Draw out the story you chose to depict. Using pencil, create large shapes to tell the story. Remember: these shapes will be outlined so leave adequate space for background elements, details, and of course experimentation.

3. Apply heated wax to one side of board. Try to apply even amounts of wax, focusing more wax on the edges and corners. Yarn tends to pull away from those parts more often than from inside the borders.

4. Trace drawing on top of cooling wax with pencil. If you didn't do a preliminary sketch you can also draw directly onto the wax to create designs and shapes (pretty cooool).

5. Begin applying yarn to border. The border serves as a good starting point because students will be very tempted to pull the yarn taut and that is not going to hold to the board. (I've made that mistake plenty of times already). Students will also get 'a feel' for how fast they can work without pulling yarn off the wax or stretching their yarn too far.

6. This is where finesse comes in.. instead of merely outlining shapes try wrapping the yarn in circles, following inner lines, going in patterns and so forth. Yarn movement and orientation creates texture. I wanted a smoother finish so I have been following my guidelines with the yarn. Everyone is different but the process is essentially the same. I see lots of potential for this project with students with special needs and as an aid to develop fine motor function.

Day two: Making progress! Rascal is looking radiant :)

I haven't gotten very far on mine.. I'm kind of a detail freak and I want things to look just so, but I can see students really enjoying this activity and loving it as well. AND I am going to bring it up to my camp director this summer because we only have LIKE 500 POUNDS of yarn in the craft cabin... Weaving and Huichols? I think yes. Luckily we also have wax from candle making and batik - It's a very real possibility for an activity. 

I would LOVE to do this with campers :) It would be something more thought-out to take home to mom and dad... and I could learn a bit more about each kid. They would have to tell me their stories. I'm getting excited just typing this!

Here are some more resources on the Huichol people:

Shamanism and the Huichol Culture

The Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Visual Arts

Abbreviated history of Huichol yarn paintings

As a side note, we have been doing much more hands-on activities in my ArtEd class and I am LOVING it. I get to go directly from ceramics (which I consider very much a learning curve.. but I'm getting used to it) to craft, drawing, and collage projects which are my strength. It's been a good week thus far. I feel revitalized and I am of course excited to be making ponies because I am a ridiculous person.

Another post is on the way... get ready!

Ms. K