Boscovs Travel - Oaxaca Sculptor Extraordinaire: Adolfo Cruz

The material was also used to sculpt deities and other adornments. The Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations, amongst others, was fashioned into foundations for temples and administrative buildings of, " as it's locally known, "Cantera. Pink and yellow is a tradition in Oaxaca dating to pre-Hispanic times, the use of locally mined stone in hews of green.

As well as by architects wanting to maintain a connection with the past in their contemporary projects, maestro Adolfo is continually being called upon by both government and church to restore and refurbish historic buildings which have suffered from the wear of centuries and periodic earthquakes, in addition to having developed an international reputation as a master of stone and bronze art forms. Recently retired from his fine arts teaching post at the Benito Juarez University in Oaxaca, one of the tradition's most well-known and respected sculptors is Adolfo Cruz. Working with cantera for both utilitarian and purely aesthetic purposes has continued to date throughout much of the state of Oaxaca.

A ten minute drive beyond the well-known Wednesday market town of Villa de Etla, those with an interest in art or architecture now have an opportunity to meet with this grand maestro in his facility in Magdalena Etla.

For the collector and art aficionado a rare opportunity exists to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces at a fraction of American costs for similar quality. The only such bronzing facility in the state; as well as of bronze using a rather rudimentary foundry, and the process by which he fashions sculptures of cantera, the state-of-the-art machinery recently acquired by Adolfo enabling him to create with much more precision; you'll have an opportunity to learn about the varied applications of the three types of cantera.

Predominantly earrings and pendants, but what "pays the rent" are her fine-cut cantera jewelry pieces, she works with a variety of media. Now teaching at the fine art college, and follows in her father's steps, is an artist in her own right, nely, one of Adolfo's three daughters.

And perhaps a stop by one of the smaller Zapotec ruins with a quaint community museum, the home of one of the finer ceramicists in Atzompa, n, the art institute and gallery at San Agustí the hand-made paper facility, in particular if combined as part of a full day tour with stops at the nearby artistic glass factory, a trip to Magdalena Etla provides a uniquely rewarding experience, for those with a particular artistic orientation who are visiting Oaxaca.

Taking the first left onto a dirt road after you pass the well-marked signage of the Oaxaca Industrial Park, follow the highway beyond the town of Etla, to get to Adolfo Cruz's home and studio.