Fiber Artist Extraordinaire

My husband and I visited the Amerind Museum and Art Gallery between Benson and Wilcox, AZ recently.  By sheer luck we happened to be there the same day pottery artists from Mata Ortiz, Mexico were teaching and displaying their beautiful work.  

Porfirio Gutierrez, artist-weaver

Also at the museum was a native weaver from Oaxaca, Mexico, Porfirio Gutierrez.  Gutierrez is not only a weaver in the Zapotec tradition, but an artist as well in every true sense of the word.  Willing to visit, teach about weaving techniques and show visitors the traditional symbolism in his weavings, he is the perfect ambassador for the family weaving firm.  He took quite a bit of time to answer my questions about weaving  and dyeing wool with real interest and not just a desire to sell his work.  Here is a man who loves his craft.
 

I used images from the artist's website.  They are difficult to really appreciate here, so be sure to visit the site to see them for yourself.  

The colors are vibrant and the workmanship meticulous.  

The hand-dyed fibers he weaves with are all given their hues from natural pigments found in plants and insects.  These are no wimpy colors, however.  His pieces are vibrant with color.  Paired with the patterns of life and spiritual belief Gutierrez weaves with, to me they are pure eye candy.  I hope to be able to afford one of his art pieces someday; when I do, it will be one of my treasures.

Purposely asymmetrical, this piece expresses the artist's creativity. 

I believe that a true artist is confident enough in their work to be open and willing to share their expertise with others.  When someone who proclaims themselves to be an artist is secretive and closely guards their knowledge, I feel they are hiding behind a fear that others may 'steal' their ideas and thus their uniqueness.  Gutierrez happily shared with me the pieces he had made that expressed his personal creativity beyond the traditional patterns like a textile missionary.  His generosity is genuine and no amount of sharing what he knows will diminish his work.  

Porfirio Guterrez can be found on Facebook or the website HERE.  Enjoy!