Yaag Chei - Tree of life and sacred Macaw ritual rug

Yaag Chei - Tree of life and sacred Macaw ritual rugSize: 66x103cm; 26x40. 5in A collectors tapestry piece woven by my cousin Justino Martinez Mendoza using hemp warp, wool weft mixed with henequen all dyed with natural dyes. Justino is an multiple award winning weaver, his wall in the sacred room of his house is plastered with state and national awards, he is definitely a rising talent in the Zapotec weaving community. Many local rug dealers seek his work and international textile collectors are

temazcal sessions

The diamond pattern represents the medicine of the snake

Natural dyes

M C Escher's work (shown in the last image) denotes this same journey of transformation

prickle pear cactus

The remaining of this rug represents the oceans of the world

y al final dió su vida por una causa verdadera

The boldness of these colors are the colors of the trees that hold the sky above our heads

and Xiuhquilitl (indigo)

that honours the agave plant as a sacred plant that provides the most gifts for humanity

akin to the struggle of our body against gravity

a young weaver who embarked on weaving large rugs early on and is moving towards weaving more intricate designs