These remarkable figures depicting local fauna are delightful creations marking an evolution in such traditional materials as the jícara fruit shell and balsa wood out of which these animal figures are created..This Costa Rican indigenous group, the Brunka; have been using, since time immemorial, the dried jícara fruit shell – still relied on for containing certain liquids and food stuffs as in canteens, bowls, ladles, strainers, etc. These gourd-like utilitarian objects are then ingeniously combined with sculpted balsa wood heads and limbs which harken back to the stunning diablo masks still used in their venerable tribal event called the Danza de los Diablitos in which carved and adorned balsa wood masks are worn by the jugadores.

At Namu, we saw these two artists, Loli Fernández and Paco Lázaro Fernández over time, gradually perfect this art form from earlier prototypes whereby Loli’s engraved, traditional Brunka jícara canteens, that she has always carved, started to be used as material prima for three dimensional animal figures towards which she always seemed inclined to explore. Her natural sense of how these different local animal species should look, and how they move and pose has her achieve remarkably life-like renderings in materials that one would never think could lend themselves to such sculptural naturalism. Her son Paco, with whom she collaborates, is an extraordinarily talented young mask maker and painter – who, faithfully, every year dons his diablo mask created for the annual ceremony of the Danza/Juego de los Diablitos in Boruca village, situated in the southern Pacific watershed of Costa Rica.

This tapir figure captures wonderfully the loping walk of Central America’s largest land mammal.

• Tribe: Brunka
• Location: Southern Pacific Watershed, Costa Rica
• Size: 5” x 9 ¼” (13cm x 23.5 cm)

Loli at Work

When visitors come to Costa Rica they are inevitably thrilled with the biodiversity, and often it is the first time that they are in the presence of monkeys, toucans, sloths, scarlet macaws, rainforest animals. And certainly for all of us it is cause for much joy and amazement to witness Nature like this in all her glory! In a similar manner we notice in Galería Namu that these very animals of the rainforest which have inspired so much of the art that we offer are what people love to take home with them. They may have photos galore, but jungle animals captured through the eye of an artist will speak to their soul in a very special way.

We feel privileged to facilitate visitors in their acquisition of art treasures that will capture their experiences in nature. It is quite wonderful to witness their delight upon discovering the many variations on wildlife themes we have in the gallery. Not only our visitors but we at Namu are literally awed as well by the animal art that comes across our door! There are times when the pieces we have the privilege to offer in the gallery simply blow us away too! The most recent pieces we have acquired are a case in point.

Mother & Son Artisans of Costa Rica’s Boruca Tribe

We are referring to a remarkable fusion of the art of the jicara (also known as a calabasa or calabash) and the mask artistry of the Boruca tribe. A mother and son, Loli Fernández and Paco Lázaro, have teamed up using the fruit of the jicara tree to make the body of the rainforest animals, and the balsa wood used for the renowned Brunka masks to make the limbs. This synergy of two very creative people has resulted in rendering the essence of some of the most beautiful and whimsical rainforest animals  captured through the eyes of native artists.

Charming Rainforest Animals

Winsome Rainforest Animals

Over the years traditional as well as fanciful jicara pieces have been offered by Loli: water canteens, strainers, ladles, bowls, maracas, crocodiles and turtles to mention a few. The fruit of the jicara tree, which has been cored and the surface etched, has been used for centuries in a practical way, taking advantage of the fact that they are impermeable and thus hold water. Loli, and others, have evolved that practical aspect into charming animals that we have been delighted to offer in Namu.

Given that fairly recently, her son has emerged as one of the foremost mask makers with his painting reaching new heights of expression and technique, you can imagine how enchanted we were when these two very gifted people put their art together, and the ensuing synergy that has created animals that are both whimsical and charming.

They say a picture tells a thousand words and you may judge for yourself how true that is when you see the images of these delightful rainforest animals. Let these winsome animals charm your mind.  Although not placed on the website as yet, we do have a few of these pieces in our gallery; Contact us for photos and prices of what we currently have available.

Pottery Kiln of Chorotega

What a great thing it is being on the road without too much of a schedule in beautiful Costa Rica. After a three day beach retreat I was heading back to the capital and my gallery when all of a sudden I saw the sign to villages of Guaitil and San Vicente. I spun the steering wheel to take the car down that road and after 10 km I was seeing beehive ovens (ancient kilns) all over the place. Little tables displaying beautiful Chorotega pottery were on the left and right of the road and I picked one of the several workshops at random and decided to visit and, of course, buy some choice selections for Galería Namu.  The gallery contacts are in San Vincente, and although Guaitil is the second most famous Chorotega village of traditional potters, it is not as well known, and I hadn’t visited there for many years.

Chorotega: Then and Now

It is a sad thing to think of a fully functioning people as being extinct in their culture. In fact it is difficult to imagine a fully developed people being snuffed out! Well, thus it is with the people who are the descendants of the Chorotega. In around the sixth century A.D. the Chorotega indigenous tribes first settled in Central America and put down roots in the area that is today’s Guanacaste. As can be seen from their pottery designs, these Mesoamericans were directly influenced by the Mayans and Aztecs  Of all Costa Rica’s eight indigenous peoples, only this group originates from the North, a fact which gives their art a particular “look.”

And what do the Chorotega have left today?  Something quite extraordinary… one single cultural attribute: pottery.  The same techniques, materials, symbols and talent are alive and well in the people of these tiny villages, San Vicente and Guaitil, all of whom are involved in one aspect or another of the ancient art of shaping clay to make beautiful pottery. The town of Guaitil offers visitors an opportunity to dive into this ancient traditional Chorotega art form. Workshops, stores and organizations maintain this rich legacy of traditional pottery-making, which has been passed down from generation to generation; a visit here is a journey back in time through art.

Ancient Indian Art: Pottery

Indian Art Pottery

Painting, polishing and baking the clay is complicated and will be the subject of another  discussion at a later date, but it is worth mentioning something about the function of the beehive oven – such a dominant presence in each family’s workshop, yet it is only second place to the powerful presence of the sun in this very hot part of the country! You see, the pottery is placed in the sun for two days and only then, after this drying out, does it goes into the prepared woodburning oven, where it will be cooked between 800 – 1000º for 25 or 30 minutes.

Whether traditional or in a contemporary vein, the indian pottery of the Chorotega never look out of place anywhere, whether in a modern or a rustic home. They make the perfect memento for those who like to take something back from their Costa Rican vacation, or for those who live in the country and who want to remember who was here first!

Gift Giving

There is no doubt that the tradition of gift giving at the Christmas and/or end of year holiday season has become big business, and yet it was not so long ago that the idea of showing your appreciation for friends and family was the giving that which came from the creativity of your own hands – whether it be from your kitchen, your workshop or your pen.

As many get frenetically stressed out in the closing weeks of December, it is easy to forget the reason behind this frenzy of  ‘gifting’. It could be said that the friendliness and charity that filled one’s heart for sharing at this time of year seems lacking today, and that forgotten also is the ultimate reason for giving a gift: that is, to express good-will, a sentiment that goes so well with the historical traditions of the holiday. It would seem to be a loss all around when creativity and homespun simplicity is replaced by commercialism and competitive materialism.

However, imagine if your gift served not only to express your kindness to your loved ones, but could also gives back to the less-fortunate makers of your gift, then it would seem that some of that spirit of the past could be captured. Many of us who would love to volunteer our time helping out those less fortunate then ourselves have work and commitment constraints that make it hard to do.

How wonderful it is, therefore, to be able to ‘partner’ in the Fair Trade efforts of Galeria Namu to both support the tribal and folk artists in their desire to make their livelihood through their art while at the same time giving a meaningful gift that brings joy to the recipient. All are rewarded!

Carved Tagua

On the GaleriaNamu website you’ll see that you don’t have to dig too deeply into your pocket to make a meaningful gift of one of the lovely pieces you’ll find there – you can even shop by price point. Rest assured that everything you see is a unique gift that will arrive at your recipient’s hands with background information and the awareness of the fact it has been acquired from a Fair Trade gallery.

For example, for under $50 you will find an eye-catching, ethnically expressive T shirt; a graceful, carved ‘vegetable ivory’ (tagua nut) hummingbird, or a hand painted ceramic tile. And for under $100 you will find hand-carved recycled fine hardwood bowls, recycled car-part animals or a beautiful framed engraving (wood-cut).

With this kind of gift giving, you can be sure you will bring joy not only to the recipient, but to the dozens of families in Costa Rica and other Central America countries who are talented, super dedicated to their art and, sadly, truly needy. Your gifts to your loved ones will actually help to provide a better Christmas as well to the families of these folk and tribal artists. Now that is the spirit!

Handmade Pottery

Descendants of the Lenca, an indigenous ethnic tribe of Honduras and the eastern portion of San Salvador, are responsible for producing some of the most unique and impressive handmade pottery to be found in the Americas.

It is in fact the Lenca women who are the skilled artisans of this handmade pottery, applying preserved techniques of their craft from pre-Columbian times handed down through generations from mother to daughter. Fully developed in the creative process and appreciated for sublime workmanship, each piece is unique and reflects both ethnic tradition and contemporary creativity.

This skilled combination is the result of a conscious effort to blend old with new styles and the delightful fusion that results is an artistic leap conjuring up a current, often edgy, spin on the ancient Lenca style.

The aesthetics of this handmade pottery, crafted individually from hand-formed local clays, are notable with imaginative forms and shapes including conical pots, flattened bowls and leaning, lipped vases. Many of these artistic pieces lend themselves perfectly to eclectic interior design, and some can be electrically outfitted for use as handsome lamp bases.

What draws the eye initially to these handmade pottery pieces of art is the

Lenca Tribe - Handmade Pottery

striking “spotted” (traditionally recalling spots of the moon) or contemporary geometric designs employing the Lenca’s pre-Columbian techniques. Depending on the selected clay and the of utilization of pine smoke during firing, the finished pottery ranges in distinctive dark hues with color and design combinations of black and white, deep burnt-orange and black, or rich coffee-brown and black.

Using low-temperature wood ovens, each Lenca handmade pottery piece is cured over a twenty-two day time frame. Thereafter, each artistic object is hand-polished with a stone producing a subtle sheen to its finish.

The majority of Lenca tribes live in remote mountainous areas. While the men typically work in surrounding coffee fields, the income generated by the sale of the women’s art provides a continuity of tribal life. Unlike many other indigenous tribes without a means to sustain their culture, the Lenca proudly relish their heritage and their art which allows them the freedom to continue their tribal life without being forced to emerge into a subservient or poverty-stricken lifestyle.

Prized by handmade pottery collectors, coveted by indigenous arts aficionados, and delighting unique gift shoppers and recipients, these beautiful Lenca art objects are more than reasonably priced and as such is precisely the kind of native art that Galería Namu is honored to offer. It is only fitting that Namu makes this wonderful art part of its indigenous arts collection. Click here to view our current Lenca pottery and other indigenous arts collection.

Halloween Spirit

At this time of year, when the leaves turn to red and gold, kids of all ages start thinking of the end of month celebration and what ghoulish, devilish disguise they can scare up. Of course, the holiday is ancient, and anyone can tell you it is known as Halloween, but there are few who can tell you exactly how this holiday originated. Nevertheless, knowing, or not knowing doesn’t change the fun factor!

A most important element of Halloween, for young and old alike, is the mask. Masks are a familiar and vivid element in many folk and traditional pageants, ceremonies, rituals and festivals, and are often of an ancient origin. Masks are used almost universally and maintain their power and mystery both for their wearers and their audience.

Nowadays children celebrating Halloween prefer masks that are usually mass-produced plastic creations, often associated with popular films, TV programes or cartoon characters and that is a far cry from how children generations ago would have bedecked themselves! However, they are reminders of the enduring power of pretense and play, and the power and appeal of masks.

It is interesting to note that worlds away, in a totally different Central America culture, leaves may not be turning red and gold, but the planning for a wonderful masked event is also under way. I am talking about the famous Danza de los Diablitos held annually in the Brunka village of Boruca and Rey Curré. It’s all about masks, hiding your true identity, remembering your ancestors and…having a magical time.

Brunka Masks: Halloween of a Different Kind

Brunka Masks

Unlike the intrinsic spirituality behind Halloween being lost to the revelers up North who partake in this holiday, the deep meaning of this cultural masked event is not lost on the Brunka people. While having all the fun of anyone reveling, they are consciously partaking in a preternatural and ancient custom and they know that their celebration honours their ancestors in a very important way that the tribe never, ever want to lose sight of. It is their way of honouring their ancestors. And, as an aside, of late some elements of Mickey Mouse and Frankenstein have been seen made by the younger Brunka men who are reflecting outside influences within their daily lives.

As to the art of making a mask, a whole array may be seen in the used ceremonial masks section of our online gallery. The range of startling faces that stare back at you on these pages may make irresistible for you not to own your very own devilish mask! Many of our mask-fanciers actually do wear these very masks to their Halloween celebration, while others have told us they make great power-pieces hanging on the walls of their office! One thing is for certain, it would be hard to acquire such a legitimate mask with over 400 years worth of a legacy behind it. Visit our fantastical and traditional diablo masks here .

Brightly painted ceramic tile, perfect for grouting into wall or floor as an interior design detail pieces, hot plates, spoon rests.  These artists create a plethora of Costa Rican flora and fauna designs, this particular kitchen trivet features the tropical bird of paradise flower. Use the Enquire form above to request additional design images.

• Folk Art Artist: Patricia Bedoya and Julia
• Location: Heredia, Costa Rica
• Size: 6.25″ x 6.25″ (16 cm x 16 cm)

Unique gold charms, such as this shaman-eagle transformation symbol, makes for a special gift for both men and women. Presented on a silky black cord and worn as a pendant or necklace, the piece  will be greatly appreciated by the recipient…he, or she, may believe it holds special powers of old.

Made using the same ancient technique that the original, pre Columbian goldsmiths employed – lost wax casting –  fine cast gold charms, or amulets, were worn by personages of rank when these societies were flourishing mostly in the southern Pacific coast region of present-day Costa Rica.

These symbols of inherited rank and position in these societies were the very objects that inspired the first European explorers, when they saw these brilliant gold charms worn by inhabitants of today’s Costa Rica, to name this Central American territory: Costa Rica (the rich coast).

 Item Details:

• Size: 1 3/4″ x 1 3/4″ (4.5 x 4.5 cm)
• 900 CE – 1500′s

This particular mask features playful butterflies, an ancestor ‘spirit’ face, and rain forest background. These elaborate and almost narrative ecological and cultural masks  represent an artistic evolution emerging from the traditional Brunka ceremonial masks. Using the same wood species (balsa wood and tropical cedar), these smaller versions are very popular for their size and price tag.

• Tribe: Brunka
• Size: 9″ (23 cm) tall
• Artist: Sergio González, Casilda Lázaro

Brunka masks such as these are a smaller version of the traditional, hand-carved wood diablo mask-type used by the Brunka, a Costa Rica tribe, to represent themselves in their centuries-old Danza de los Diablitos, an annual ceremony whereby the antagonist represents the invading Spanish. This particular carved mask features a classic diablo design; it’s striking tones arranged with reptile skin and jaguar pelt designs make this wall art quite a conversation piece.

• Tribe: Brunka
• Size: 8″ (20.5 cm) tall
• Artist: Edixon Mora L.