sculptures of women

Dressed for the charreada, or Mexican rodeo, this elegant catrina is dazzling. Mexican artisan Luis Morales crafts the statuette by hand from clay and paints her magnificent red and gold costume in stunning detail. Women have traditionally had a role in the event by demonstrating their horsemanship with choreographed, synchronized maneuvers. The elegant figure is inspired by a satirical etching created by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada around 1910-1913. With his etching, Posada poked fun at those Mexican natives who tried to emulate the fashion and habits of the European aristocracy. Today, la Catrina has become the instantly recognizable icon of Día de los Muertos (Mexico's Day of the Dead).

The mariachi, a distinctive musical style, is a musical group comprised of singers dressed as the traditional charro, or elegant gentleman cowboy from Jalisco. Women mariachis, however, do not dress as escaramuzas, the feminine counterpart of the charro, but adapt the men's dress. The narrow pants with their ornate silver buttons become a long skirt. The short jacket, white shirt and tie remain the same as does the fancy sombrero, and she traditionally wears silver earrings with her hair pulled back into braids or a ponytail. Working in ceramic, Luis Morales depicts a catrina as a mariachi.

The word catrina is widely used in Mexico to mean "elegant and polished." Lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posadas created the skeletal Catrina, who was later immortalized in the murals of Diego Rivera.

From the handicrafts mecca that is Tlaquepaque, Mexico, comes this vibrant hand-painted skull by Maria and Esteban. Dark eyebrows frame a smiling cerulean face while small maize-colored flowers and festive peacocks in tangerine and fuchsia adorn the back and sides. Bold explosions of color characterize Mexican folklore, and this decorative skull is an excellent example of this tradition.

From the handicrafts mecca that is Tlaquepaque, Mexico, comes this vibrant hand-painted skull by Maria and Esteban. Dark eyebrows frame a smiling rose-colored face while small pink-tipped white flowers and festive peacocks in orange, cyan and sky blue adorn the back and sides. Bold explosions of color characterize Mexican folklore, and this decorative skull is an excellent example of this tradition.