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Alejandro Chávez crafts a mirror frame rooted in Andean tradition with four different vignettes. At the top, people harvest tunas, the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus. To the left, merchants offer warm blankets in a market stall and to the right they sell handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceding Lent, the masks appear in an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Along the bottom, dancers perform the Scissors Dance. Known as retablos, these traditional dioramas feature figures carefully molded from ceramic plaster and painted by hand.
Novica sales provide Alejandro's family workshop with a steady cash flow. These sales account for nearly half of their monthly income, helping to ensure their survival. Markets and other seasonal outlets provide supplemental income that contributes to their annual living expenses. In the coming years Alejandro hopes to grow his workshop and better his family by increasing his Novica sales.
At school in Ayacucho, Alejandro began to learn the indigenous art of Andean retableria. Seeking to refine his craft, he apprenticed at the workshop of Angel Castro to learn the secrets of a master retablista. Upon his teacher’s death Alejandro founded his own workshop. There he began to incorporate his wife’s modeled figures into his traditional retablos. Today Alejandro’s nephews are his apprentices and his family workshop continues to craft their beloved retablos which recount the culture and traditions of the Andes.
One year away from his 50th birthday Alejandro and his wife adopted a son and a daughter (Jose & Carol) from their hometown. Today Alejandro continues to provide for the education of his children and his grandchild who joined the family in 2018. His daughter Carol is studying accounting and his son Jose is at the police academy.
Unable to have children, the couple decided to adopt two children from their hometown. Their daughter Carol now has a child and the two of them live live with Alejandro and his wife.
My daughter loved this beautiful mirror and Andes figures. The art work is very detailed and well made. It looks wonderful with all of her South American pottery and blankets.
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11/12/2016
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This mirror has already caused many to smile!
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"In every one of my creations I hope you will be able to recognize my great love for this art form."
Joan
