Mexican String Art

Mexican String Art

Mexican String Art Item 163

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12 x 12 inches / Hand twisted yarn

2004

Narrative

This scene takes place in Tecata, Jalisco - a sacred place. According the the Huichol: When a shaman becomes "sick" he must go to this place and sacrifice a ram. The shaman, seen sitting, has placed three candles on the ram before slaying it. These candles he offers to the gods. With outstretched hands he holds a feathered muvieri or magic wand as he prays to the gods. On the lower left we see a god receiving the blood offering. In front of him are seen two arrows and a candle which represent his possessions. Below the ram is a decorated gourd bowl with corn used to catch the blood from the sacrifice. In this manner the maize god receives his blood offering or "feeding". At a later date the shaman will plant this corn, when performing another ritual. Above the shaman is peyote which means that the shaman will ingest this psychotropic plant before commencing with the ceremony and praying. He continues to pray and sing to the gods as his assistant sacrifices the ram. To the left of the peyote is a post where the animal was tethered until the hour of sacrifice. Above the ram is an orange bottleneck gourd and a brown vessel with a candle inside of it. These are filled with a fermented corn beverage and is being offered to the deities by the shaman. Other objects brought by the shaman include his votive arrow, cane of the ancient one's and a rectangular box used to store his religious paraphernalia. It is said that the magical cane impart special powers of long life to those who have received permission from the gods to use it.

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