Welcome to
AmatePaintings.com, Internet's finest Papel Amate Paintings. Original,
unique, representative of the people of the Alto Rio Balsas Villages of
the State of Guerrero, Mexico. True folk art.
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Fine Mexican Folk Art
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AmatePaintings.com
features fine
original paintings and drawings from the Alto Rio Balsas villages of
the State of Guerrero. This art is on the handmade
Papel
Amate from San Pablito in the Sierra Norte in the State of Puebla. The
paper is made from the made from the bark of the amate (a variety of
ficus) & other trees with various qualities. We feature mostly
the
high grade whiter paper. We offer choice paintings personally collected
over the last 20 years.
These
paintings are created in 39 villages
that are colletively known as the Alto Rio Balsas.
The Nauhatl is the primary language.
The area has had a fierce independence.
The Ecuadorans
that immigrated to Mexico via the Rio Balsas & became the
Purepecha
people (Tarascans) of Michoacan chose not to govern the area because of
its heat, dryness, & poor soil.
Papel
Amate has strong links to Mexican history, being used for 1000s of
years to record histories, calendars, regulations, etc. These were
recorded in a style of painting that is similar to our contemporary
Papel Amate paintings. They can be called naive,
primitive, ethnic & other terms that indicate that the painters
are
not formally schooled in art: do not use perspective or shadowing;
& use their own lives & surroundings as subject matter.
Some
of the earliest fine art (1500 BC) in jade, ceramics, etc. were created
here, evidenced by Olmec-type jade ornaments found here. They had at
least a trade linkage to the Olmecs of the Gulf coast where their jade
art has been found. Jade is found in western Mexico, not in the Olmec
area. Some archeologists
believe the Olmecs may have originated here. Also others say modern
maize may have been hybridized here.
Amate
Paintings are a joy to own. They are vibrant with color and the scenes
of daily and fiesta life that are still very common in rural Mexico.
These are not fantasies or abstractions they depict the actual objects
& scenes in these villages. Each time you look at one of the
paintings you will probably notice different fascinating details and
subleties. They provide unique decorating enhancements
to your home, office, business.
LivelyArts Gallery's Philosophy and Background
The colors, light, and diverse cultures of Mexico resulted in
wonderful artists over thousands of years. There are two distinct
streams of art that flow together, contemporaneously in Mexico.
One stream reflects the European influence in Mexico. This
stream
has produced world-class contemporary artists in the rich painting
traditions of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo. Others paint
more modest but very nice landscapes and abstracts. Mexicans have
extended these European traditions to new dimensions, particularly
large scale murals. They often express the strong political
consciousness in Mexico. Others have portrayed the eclectic variations
on Roman Catholicism mixed with traditional
beliefs that are found in Mexico
The other very exciting stream of art comes directly from the
ordinary people and has native roots that reach back long before the
Europeans arrived, long before the tyrannical Aztecs. While influenced
by modern materials and markets, there is still a depth of liveliness,
color, and culture that can shine through. In the best work, one can
sense the great power, with whimsy, that has sustained the native
peoples of Mexico in the face of domination by their own and foreign
rulers. The LivelyArts Gallery (parent
of amatepaintings.com) specializes in selecting the finest of this folk
art to bring to buyers worldwide.
It is very distressing to us to see the poor quality of amate
paintings offered by others on the web and eBay. They are usually the
worst tourist designs and paper and certainly not worth their low (or frequently to high) prices.
We take great pride in the quality and excellent value of our
offerings.
The staff of LivelyArts Gallery and the cooperating galleries
in
Mexico have been immersed in collecting and selling in this art for
many years. It is from this art that we select only the finest, most
interesting and most charming original art for your office or home. We
derive great pleasure from the art in our personal collections and are
pleased to offer comparable art for your continuing pleasure.
Copyright © 2004, AmatePaintings.com. All
rights reserved.
