Therese Whitcomb (1 results)

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 1983 Founders' Gallery, University of San Diego (San Diego, California), 8 1/2 x 11 inches tall stapled paperbound in pink printed covers, copiously illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps, [43] pp. Very slight rubbing and edgewear to covers. Otherwise, a very good to near fine copy - clean, bright and unmarked - of this rare exhibition catalog. ~SP38~ [1.0P] A catalog issued to accompany an Exhibit in Founder's Gallery, University of San Diego, June 15, 1983. It focuses on the foliated clay sculpture known as the Arbol de la Vida, or Tree of Life, ritual, decorative and utilitarian ceramics produced in small workshops in the Mexican town of Metepec for more than a century. The manufacturing of these clay tree sculptures with the biblical theme of the Garden of Eden in fact began in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla. However, its production later spread to other areas, particularly to the town of Metepec, in the State of Mexico, where the trees of life have come to be considered emblematic of and are now part of a tradition unique to that place. Metepec artisans use clay working techniques dating back to pre-Hispanic times to make the trees. With the arrival of the Spanish and evangelization, a part of the cultural heritage of the indigenous people was destroyed. From then on, pottery work in the region focused on characters from the Catholic tradition. However, it received ornamental aspects typical of the original indigenous traditions.