Pedro Hernandez and his wife Isabel are of Purepecha Indian descent and have continued the cultural tradition of his family to love and use clay. They create pineapples, candelabras, towers, animals and other vessels. His work is among the finest in his village of San José de Gracia, Michoacán. His pieces are intricately decorated with hand formed clay details representing the nature that surrounds him. He incorporates birds, seeds, agave leaves, corn and other natural elements that inspire his work. Pineapples were originally created to store seeds between the harvests of the nearby farms that grow all sorts of berries. Today they are an art form of their own. Many see them as a sign of welcome.
Pedro feels so strongly about the preservation and promotion of the famous Piñas from San José that in spring of 2008 he founded “Tsitsiki” Museo Comunitario. The museum is situated in the courtyard of his home and was built by Pedro and his family. Each spring, master craftsmen from the village are invited to participate in a concurso that is judged by 4 respected “Cultural Center” judges from Morelia. Twelve pieces are awarded cash prizes and are on display in the museum for a year.
COSAS buys directly from hundreds of artists all over Mexico and Guatemala. We offer the widest selection of museum quality folk art, accessories, textiles and jewelry, and David Marsh furniture. COSAS is open Friday and Saturday 11-5 and by appointment. You can also shop http://cosasonline.com any time where most items ship free (although many of the larger items are not on the website). COSAS 39360 I-10 West, Frontage Rd. Boerne. 830 249-1500
When George Brin retired from fifty years of active litigation practice several years ago to concentrate on work as a mediator and arbitrator, he found himself with considerably more time to pursue his interest in the arts. His son, an industrial designer and luthier in Connecticut, introduced him to the interesting concept of creating stringed instruments utilizing sound bodies that have been part of the American tradition of folk music. Since then, George has made stringed instruments, primarily “necked" dulcimers, with such varied sound bodies as antique copper and brass bowls, vintage candy, cookie and biscuit tins, and several varieties of gourds. In this process, he has “married" these bodies to shaped necks, fret boards and sound boards that he has crafted, constructing them from beautiful hardwoods from all over the world.
Each piece is accompanied by information about the wood chosen for its construction. “I love the fact that each of these instruments has its own, unique sound character and that I never know what that is going to be until I string it up and make that first strum. I have favored dulcimers because they employ a diatonic scale that makes them incredibly easy to play, even by people with no musical background."
Plans for the future include building other stringed instruments such as ukuleles, banjos and tenor guitars and exploring new and interesting types of bodies to give each of them its own sound signature. “The dulcimers will always be my favorites and I am thinking about growing my own gourd varieties to optimize their sounds." George is also available to make custom instruments for people who may have a treasured container. "I feel very grateful to have been invited to show my instruments at Gallery 195 on Main Street in Boerne and to see them on display alongside the work of so many so many truly gifted artists". www.gallery195.com
Pauly Tamez is an artist residing in Boerne and paints impressionist landscapes and still life, using oils and watercolor. Much of his time is spent doing studies en plein air around Boerne, from the Texas Hill Country to West Texas, and Big Bend National Park. He is available for commissions, and welcomes anyone who paints or would like to paint to join him as he paints around the Texas Hill Country. “My paintings are an impressionist view of the landscape and flora around Texas. I focus on color, light, and shadows, and love to spend time observing the colors of the sky and the way it constantly changes, especially around sunrise and sunset. I am fascinated with the Northern sky at sunset and the southern sky at sunrise. And I enjoy the light the sun will create on the ground when it is low on the horizon.”
PauIy also loves water, especially moving water - the reflections, as well as shadows and light both on top and underneath the surface. The many creeks and rivers in Texas allow him to observe and paint water flowing slowly in shallow creeks or cascading quickly over limestone shelves. “I have been greatly influenced by my mentors, David Caton and the late Bill Zaner, both accomplished Texas painters. I am also influenced by artists such as Frederick Church, Mark Johnson Heade, Porfirio Salinas, and Julian Onderdonk." http://ptamezart.com/
