NEW YORK, NY, May 26, 2009 – The newly-revised hardcover
book
“Mexican Folk Art from Oaxacan Artist Families”
celebrates the ancient cultural traditions carried on today
in the villages of Oaxaca, in south-central Mexico –
the state which boasts the 2nd highest number of indigenous
inhabitants in the country. Written and photographed by
New York mother and daughter team Arden Aibel Rothstein and
Anya Rothstein, the extraordinary guidebook for travelers
doubles as a valuable exploration of one of the world’s
richest thriving indigenous cultures. Published by Schiffer
Books, and priced at $39.95 suggested retail, the new 260-page
edition of
“Mexican Folk Art from Oaxacan Artist
Families” is available online at
www.schifferbooks.com
and
www.amazon.com.
Readers are introduced to 100 artists from 50 families, the
majority of whom live in 13 villages surrounding the city
of Oaxaca which are easily accessible by car or bus. A warm
and hospitable people, the artisans welcome visitors into
their home workshops, and the book provides addresses and
maps for travelers who wish to meet and see them at work.
The new edition of the book brings their stories and works
of art vividly to life with 700 color photographs, family
trees, and descriptions of the types of art featured. For
a look inside to see all the book has to offer, please visit:
www.oaxacanfolkart.com.
Crafted from natural materials, the artisans’ works
include pottery (terracotta, black, green-glazed, and multi-color-glazed);
weaving (rugs, wall hangings, belts, blankets, etc.); alebrijes
(fancifully painted wood carvings); baskets; embroidery; tinwork;
jewelry; and a range of items themed to the annual “Day
of the Dead” (Dia de los muertos) celebration. Incorporating
striking blends of indigenous myths with ancient patterns
from Mixtec and Zapotec ruins, many of these folk art traditions
date back hundreds of years.
The new edition of
“Mexican Folk Art from Oaxacan
Artist Families” comes at a pivotal and challenging
time for Oaxaca both economically and culturally. Now that
travel advisories have been lifted, both authors’ fervent
wish is that their book will inspire travelers to visit this
welcoming, culturally rich region. If so, they’re sure
to fall in love with the Oaxacan people and their centuries-old
traditions, which continue to evolve with new and wondrous
artistic expressions today.
What the Experts Say:
The central valleys of Oaxaca are wonderfully rich in popular
art, as this book makes abundantly clear. The book's aim is
admirable: it connects visitors directly with makers and creators.
Addresses, maps and family trees are an invaluable asset.
Lovers of folk art welcome this book, as do the many artists
represented here.
About
the Authors
The Rothstein mother-daughter team has collected and studied
Oaxacan art during the course of many trips from their home
in New York City. Arden Aibel Rothstein (a psychoanalyst and
clinical psychologist in private practice, and a faculty member
of the NYU Psychoanalytic Institute, NYU Medical Center) developed
a love for Oaxaca and its indigenous folk culture when first
she spent three summers in Oaxaca as a teenage student. She
returned over thirty years later with her husband and daughters
in 1998 and the love affair was rekindled. In the book’s
acknowledgment, Arden pays homage to her own parents who first
gave her the freedom to travel and explore indigenous cultures.
Anya Rothstein, only 15 when she collaborated with her mother
on the book’s first edition, is starting her senior
year at Brown University in fall ’09.
Since the book’s first publication in 2002, Arden established
an organization called Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (
www.fofa.us).
The organization’s mission is to preserve and promote
Oaxaca's cherished heritage by helping to sustain local artists
through what continues to be a very difficult period economically,
and to encourage young artists to embrace and further develop
their artistic traditions.
