Our Mission
We promote Mexican culture through popular art and traditions to create awareness, empathy, and community between Mexico and the US.
Our Vision
Mexican Folk Art Collective is a bridge and facilitator of cultural educational spaces through folk art and Mexican traditions.
We are a group of artists from different towns in Mexico and Mexican artists living in the USA. Through pottery (barro), cartonería (a traditional technique stronger and smoother than papier-mâché) sculptures and masks, textiles, corn husk creations, fashion design, dance, and music we are happy to share our culture and traditions with you. Some of us work in a family studio, some of us have a traditional heritage passed down from generation to generation, and some of us are experimenting with a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques, but we all respect and appreciate the work of each other.
We want to share with you what is behind our traditional art forms by talking about our cities, our towns, our studios, and our inspiration.
Thank you for supporting us by sharing our website with one of your friends.
Events:
4th Annual Driftless Region’s Día de Muertos
15270 Haucke Ln, Viola, WI
October 5th, 2024
Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most important traditions in Mexico. The festivity commemorates deceased loved ones by honoring and remembering them through ofrendas or altars decorated with traditional elements and items that represent those who have passed on to welcome them and guide their souls on their journey back home.
The Driftless Region’s Día de Muertos Celebration is a free, one-day outdoor event offering modalities to celebrate and learn including engagement in Mexican folk art, traditions, food and community. A collective Día de Muertos ofrenda is constructed during the event. This year, the ofrenda will honor those who have worked in the food system, including farmers, food workers, chefs, food system activists, and everyone in between who spent their life in service to the beautiful work of feeding people. We invite attendees to honor the beloved people in their lives who have passed away by bringing a photo, food, or other meaningful item to place on the community ofrenda.
There will be Mexican folk art and food for sale.
No pets allowed. Camping available. Contact joy@driftlesscuriosity.org to register for a camping site.
This event is FREE and open to the public! To learn more, visit https://driftlesscuriosity.org/day-of-the-dead/
Papel Picado Workshop
McIntosh Memorial Library, Viroqua, WI.
205 S Rock Ave, Viroqua, WI 54665
September 5th, 2024
On Thursday, September 5th, come to the Viroqua Library and learn how to make papel picado! The art made on this workshop will be display at the 4th Annual Día de Muertos Celebration on October 5th.
Mexican Fiber Arts
Natural Dyes, Traditional Weaving & Embroidery
by Nadia Figueroa, and Andrea Muñiz
April 19th-21
Driftless Curiosity Inc.
15270 Haucke Ln
Viola, WI 54664
Details:
This unique 3-day offering is a collaboration between the Mexican Folk Art Collective and Driftless Curiosity – the organizations who brought you the Driftless Region’s Día de Muertos Celebration. Nadia Figueroa, Andrea Muñiz, will lead workshops on natural dyes and traditional weaving. On Friday, they will use dried marigold petals from the 2023 Dia de Muertos Celebration, as well as other natural dyes like walnut, indigo, and grana cochinilla, to teach color recipes that have been passed down for generations in Mexico. On Saturday and Sunday, they will teach two simple designs using traditional weaving techniques and embroidery. Each participant will go home with a piece they create. Nadia is a fashion designer from Mexico City who specializes in “slow fashion” and has dedicated her time to researching the original dye recipes of the Florentine Codex from the Central part of Mexico. These artists will collaborate to share their expertise in Mexican Fiber Arts. Instruction will be given in Spanish and translated into English, with multiple translators available to assist throughout the weekend, making this offering a great language immersion experience as well!
Natural Dyes Only
4/19/24
$60
Mexican Fiber Arts Full Weekend
4/19/24 – 4/21/24
$180