Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees

This a beautiful and colorful book about Oaxacan Woodcarvings. It illustrates their vivid history and humble beginnings by folk-artisans in Mexico. Latin American crafts are special because they're created by people who have a passion for life. They express it in their art with vibrant colors and whimsical expressions.I sincerely appreciate the work that goes into creating these figures. This book captures all of the above... Read Full Review

I picked this book up just recently and was rather delighted by what I found. Vicki Ragan's photos are lovely, but it is Shepard Barbash's text that is the real delight here. How many of those who buy this book will be like the lady below who, apparently without reading the text, complains that the book does not feature all her favorite artists and all the little alien figures which she is sure are the most important images... Read Full Review

This is a wonderful little book with a wealth of information and pictures that document the whimsical wood carvings of Oaxaca(pronounced WA-HA-ka), Mexico.The folk art depicted are beautifully detailed figurines, lavishily decorated hand painted carved wood. The book explains the entire process and how the works are often family projects where all family members participate in order to sustain the family. If you are a... Read Full Review

Oaxacan Woodcarving is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about both the woodcarvings and the culture of the woodcarvers. The well done photos combined with very personal stories made the book easy to read. I found myself wanting to know more about the village and the people. During a trip to Oaxaca, I found the book to be invaluable. The author's insight into the people who created these delightful... Read Full Review

This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to know more about Oaxacan wood carvings from Mexico. I teach Spanish and assign a project where the students have to research and make a replica of one of the wood carvings. This is the book that I recommend. It divides the carvings into four categories and explains characteristics, history, and more. Many great photos are included also.