Guest Artist - Jorge Vasquez of Bree Jezz, Tilcajete
In my studio I have over a hundred art books and many images from my artist influences. They inspire and inform not just my painting and drawing but also my seeing and thinking.
In December I connected through Instagram with Jorge Vasquez, an artist in Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico. We messaged about his alebrijes, intricate spirit infused works made of copal wood and acrylic paint. The work from his studio is exceptional, and I commissioned a piece. Jorge kept me informed with photos of the process, from the original log of copal (and machete used for the first acts of carving) to the final intricate painting. All those photos and texts back and forth during the creation were an experience in their own right. In late April the piece arrived and I unpacked it with trembling hands I was so excited to finally hold it.
It’s been in my studio since. It is the most intricate, powerful object in the studio. My family says it is the most breathtaking object in the house. Photos barely begin to do it justice. I don’t have a permanent location for it in my studio, because I prefer to reverently move it back and forth between my art work bench, when I am in my day-job mode at a standing desk in the other corner, and to the standing desk when I shift to art and need the work bench.
I set up several of my stretched watercolor sheets as a backdrop for this sculpture (you can see a drawing in progress on the sheet beneath it’s paws), and included my cellphone in one, for scale. The piece is just under a foot tall.
The artists of Oaxaca are feeling the crushing influence of COVID-19, as tourism has shut down and many of their local businesses are closed. Some have built a part of their business online, but the majority of their business, like many artists, comes from face-to-face and hands-on experience of their work. This is sadly not possible now, and no one knows how long the economic impact will continue.
If you have ever wanted to purchase one of these beautiful pieces, and you maybe have some income that you’re not spending on a trip right now, this might be the time to help keep this art form thriving, and help support the families who have generations invested in this work. I would be delighted to share more detailed images for you to view - just message me - and I would love to introduce you to Jorge Vasquez. And you can view more of their work on their Facebook page.
