OAXACAN WOODCARVlNG: Innovation Meets Tradition. - Review - video recording review

Arts & Activities, May, 2001 by B.H.

[A-V/VISUAL/CD-ROM]: OAXACAN WOODCARVlNG: Innovation Meets Tradition. Video/27 minutes/$39.95. Level: Grades 4-12. Crizmac Art & Cultural Education Materials, Inc., P.0. Box 65928, Tucson, AZ 85728-5928, (800) 913-8555.

This beautiful video takes you to a small village near Oaxaca, Mexico, where you will watch woodcarver Zeny Fuentes prepare a chunk of a tree trunk for carving. While discussing the copal wood and its special properties, he refines the shapes for the body, head and feet of an armadillo, then nails and glues the different parts together. Having created his traditional wood carving, Fuentes finally paints his creature with colorful decorative patterns. The son of a renowned carver, Fuentes was influenced by the rich tradition of his Zapotec heritage. The video concludes with many of the whimsical animal forms that attest to the versatility, creativity and skill of Fuentes. A short teacher's guide provides a summary of the video, learning objectives, vocabulary, discussion questions and ideas for studio art lessons.--B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 398 on the Reader Service Card.