Huichol Art
Huichol Item 293
$725.
2ft. x 2ft.
Hand twisted yarn and archival wax on board.
2006
Narrative
This scene takes place at the homestead of a traditional Huichol. In the center is a fire, representing the fire deity, Tatei Wari. Tradition holds that when there is to be fiesta, all participants will make a counter clockwise pass around the fire - as seen by the footprints. At the bottom center is a building called the Calihuey (temple). Here, ceremonial objects are stored when not in use. During the nighttime spirits and deities come and visit this building. This is a private family calihuey and is not communal or the type found at the sacred places. The building was made using stone walls and a thatch roof. On the roof we see a pair of muwieri flanking a votive arrow. Muwieri are magic wands which the shamans use for communicating with the gods. They are also used for performing blessing of all kinds, curing the infirm and speaking to the dead. The muwieri on the left is composed of a slim wooden shaft which has been wrapped with colored yarn. Attached are sacred feathers and a serpent rattle. The wand on the right also has a nierika attached, the pink ball. Nierikas are sacred objects for the Huichol and allow communication between man and deity. Other objects found in the calihuey when not in use may include, starting from the lower left: an offertory gourd bowl with maize and candles inside, a dried deer head, ceremonial arrows and a quiver filled with hunting arrows. Above the deer head is a shaman's gourd used for carrying tobacco as seen by the green leaf. Shamans often smoke when presiding over ceremony. We also see a candle decorated with china paper, bow and arrow and a traditional shamans seat called an equipal. To the right is a maize plant, principle source of food for the Huichol. Next to it is a bowl of teguino, a fermented ground maize beverage which is offered to the deities during ceremonies and consumed later by the participants. It has a muvieri with two yellow feathers placed inside which signifies that it is for offertory purposes. Below the fire, the rectangular box is the shamans woven tacuatzi. In it he stores his basic religious instruments which could include a deer tail, his muvieri and sacred arrows. On the lower-right side of the temple we see a tambor "drum" with two miniature rattles attached. Next is seen maize drying on a line. At nighttimes, candles must be lit and water left "blue bowl" for the Maize Deity. Above the drying corn is a basket which the Huichol use for collecting the maize during harvest time. The two flowers mean that the patio must be decorated with flowers when there is fiesta. This pleases the deities. The deer represents both physical and spiritual nourishment for the Huichol as well as a source of offering for the deities. Above the deer we see depictions of peyote, logs for the fire, a bull horn used for announcing the arrival and departure of pilgrims, a vessel filled with sacrificial animal blood and a gods eye - this one representing one year in the life of a child. At the center top is the shamans shoulder bag with a candle and arrow inside. Below, the plant with purple flowers is a source of the flowers used to decorate the grounds during fiesta. Afterwards, the flowers are kept in the temple so that seeds may be available for the following season. To the right of the bag are a guitar and violin. Lively music always follows the somber ceremony. In the upper right corner we are looking into a ceremonial, cut-gourd. We see a wax figure of a "tigre" and an arrow formed inside. This too is found in the calihuey. Later it will be taken and deposited at some sacred place. The two serpents represent "sons of the sacred ones" and come to visit during the nighttime calihuey, the maize and other ceremonial objects. At the upper left are other foods sources of the Huichol. They include a wild pig, iguana, catfish and a chichalaca - a wild bird about the size of a hen. Below the bird is depicted a traditional net used for snaring deer. The catfish, with its whiskers, the javelina and chichalaca are all considered sacred animals for the Huichol and some of their blood must be saved for future ceremonial purpose. Below the deer trap is a baby cradle - usually suspended, to keep the scorpions and wild animals off. To the right is a god's eye representing five years of a child's life. To the left of the fire is a bowl of maize atole - food. Above are two types of squash and an ear of corn. These will be eaten after the ceremony and would not be kept in the temple. Below the catfish is another type seat, used for ceremonial purposes.
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