The Folk Tree

The Folk Tree in Pasadena is pleased to welcome three of its favorite artists from Mexico, who offer demonstrations during the holiday season beginning Thanksgiving weekend and continuing through Christmas, 2008.

The artists include Joel Garcia, papier mache artist (Mexico City), Jacobo Mendoza, weaver (Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca), and Eleazar Morales, wood carver (Oaxaca).
All three individuals are masters of their craft and create unique and distinctive works
of art.

In an article about Joel Garcia, Amanda Parsons writes, "From the age of eleven, Joel Garcia lived and apprenticed with his brother-in-law, Miguel Linares. He studied under Linares family scion, Pedro Linares, whose innovations elevated papier-mache from a street craft to an internationally valued art form. Joel's creations are a revelation.
He has refined his technique until his pieces have the luster and detail of fine porcelain, but maintain a whimsy and character all their own. While respecting the traditional,
he is creating new art forms; a horned chair with a devil-calavera (skeleton) perched on the throne, experiments with combinations of animal and mythical characters and caricatures." Joel's colorful and fanciful figures are constantly surprising and fresh.

Jacobo Mendoza began his weaving career at the age of eight, guided by his famous father, the late Emiliano Mendoza. In his rugs, Jacobo uses only fine, vegetable dyed wool, which is hand spun by his wife, Maria Luisa Vasquez. He often works with geometric patterns. He initially found his designs in pre-hispanic motifs in the Zapotec ruins of his region, but now his creations are original in concept. At age 38, Jacobo is already passing his skills onto his ten year old son, Jacobito, who has embraced the tradition enthusiastically.

Wood carver Eleazar Morales trained with his older brother Susano. He focuses on the animal world, both domesticated and wild. Eleazar's carved creatures are sometimes painted realistically, sometimes almost psychedelically, but they are always highly expressive. Whether truthful or not in their coloring, his pieces are amazingly lifelike in form and stance. He lives with his wife and two children near the city of Oaxaca.

The Folk Tree is located at 217 South Fair Oaks Avenue, minutes walking distance from the Gold Lineís Del Mar station, and just south of Old Pasadena.Ý Hours are: M-W, 11-6; Th-Sat, 10-6; Sun, 12-5.Ý For more information and EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS, call 626/795-8733 or 626/793-4828.