La Vida en Oaxaca

October 18/07 to February 10/08

Artists exhibiting include:

Dr.GAY CULVERHOUSE: An award-winner, Gay Culverhouse studied fine art photography and
filmmaking at Columbia University and Manhattan’s International Center of Photography, one of the
most extensive schools and museums of photography in the world.

A lifelong art collector and researcher of the human condition, Culverhouse documented through her
lens the people, habitat, native craft-making, sculpture, architecture and cultural events of Oaxaca,
Mexico, which is the historic home of the Zapotec and Mixtec tribes. The area contains more
speakers of indigenous languages than any other Mexican state and is remarkable as the birthplace
of notable writers and artists, politicians and athletes.

Her 40-photograph exhibition is being shown for the first time at Wall Art Gallery. Entries were
carefully culled from hundreds of photos taken over four separate trips to the area. All were
composed through the lens without digital manipulation or enhancements.

Through her photography, Culverhouse provides us a true sense of this extraordinary place, one that
celebrates tradition, folkart and religious festivities and produces artists who work in the fine art of
Barro Negro – or black clay – pottery, native Mexican sculpture, rug weaving and alebrijes, vibrant-
colored wooden figurines.

ZENY FUENTES: A Zapoteca Indian and fourth generation woodcarver from Oaxaca, Fuentes began
carving and painting when he was seven years old. His father learned the craft from Zeny’s
grandfather and passed it on to his four sons, all of whom are fine carvers with unique styles. Only
Zeny paints his own carvings, using acrylics.

In the 1930’s, families carved toys for their children and masks for religious festivals and carnivals.
Copal wood, which is indigenous only to Oaxaca, is primarily used for these carvings. Cedar and
zompantle are also used for carvings. In the 1980’s, the demand for Oaxacan carvings became
popular and, in 1992, the Smithsonian featured well-known Oaxacan carvers and their works. Soon,
American folk art dealers flocked to Oaxaca for these unique woks of art. uentes has demonstrated his carving process and exhibited his works in museums, galleries,
schools and at educational conferences throughout the United States. The fine quality of his work is
recognized by collectors in America and abroad.

FRANCISCO TOLEDO: Referred to as the “Picasso of Mexico,” Francisco Toledo is considered the
most important living Mexican artist today. He studied at the Escuela de Bellas Artes de Oaxaca and
Centro Superior de Artes Aplicadas del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. He founded the Museo de
Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca, Patronato Pro-Defensa y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural de
Oaxaca, a library for the blind, a photographic center, and Eduardo Mata Music Library.

Toledo's creativity is expressed in pottery, sculpture, weaving, graphic arts, and paintings. His work
has been exhibited in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Belgium, France, Japan, Sweden,
the United States, See his incredible website for details --
http://www.franciscotoledo.net/flash/interim.htm

Kites by Francisco Toledo will be on exhibition at Wall Art Gallery beginning October 18, 2007.

OTHER WORKS EXHIBITED:
Wood carvings, ceramic figurines, black clay [Barro Negro] pottery and hand-woven rugs by native
Mexican artists will be on display through January 5, 2008 to February, 2008