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Nadine (Topanien Gift's Owner) Peru Trip Fair Trade in South Africa Artist in Peru Mexican Jewelry Business Alebrijes, Oaxaca Nadine in Mexico Wall Hangings, Kashmir, India Posada in Huajuapan New York City Ghana Artisans of Mexico San Bartolo Cambodia Exchange Student in Ecuador Rajasthan, India Haiti

 
Enter a land where fantasy and reality collide - the village of San Martin Tilcajete in Oaxaca, Mexico. The wild creatures are made by family businesses employing many family members. However, normally only one family member signs each piece that comes from his family though many people contribute to the creation of the Alebrijes. "As far as I can tell, the signature and the lead artist, is always a man, though many women are involved in the artwork." – Nadine, owner of Topanien Gifts
Topanien Gifts has worked with Joaquin and his family for years to bring you the colorful Alebrijes. Joaquin's showroom is the front half of his home. "Once a year i travel by bus along the highway and trek down a very long and dusty road to reach this home of color, design and folkart." -Nadine Topanien Gifts owner. Nadine pictured with Joaquin and his wife, Laura.
The walls, tables and sometimes, even the floor, is covered with the zany and joyful Alebrijes
Entering the showroom where every year I find delightful new designs along with the traditional designs such as cats and lizards.
Joaquin explains that the Mexican Alebrijes are made from Copal wood. The Copal grows wild around Oaxaca and the wood crafters need not cut down entire trees to practice their art. They use fallen pieces and they cut off limbs of trees maintaining their wood sources.
More and more keep going into my basket.
The Day of the Dead Lovers is a new addition to the Alebrijes as artisans combine their craft and culture with the buyers desires and taste.


Traditionally artisans used the Alebrije art form to craft animal type characters with mixed-up body parts along with intricately painted designs in a multitude of colors. Flying cats, polk-dotted geckos and striped armadillos were and, are not, unusual. However, this year Joaquin's family has added a truly exquisite line of Day of the Dead Lovers. Visit our Alebrijes Page to view and, if you so desire, purchase these unusual and compelling expressions of the Muertos.
I have had to trek along the hot and dusty track between the highway and the village of San Martin Tilcajete for the past five years but today, things were different. A special little mini taxi zipped up along side me and insisted that - I ride. The driver and his 'grab-the-customer' man (pictured) were so happy and so much fun that I would have been silly to refuse them. They made me laugh so hard that i wished they could have carried me all the way back to Oaxaca. But they left me at the highway to wait for a bus.
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