10-22-09 Museum and Street Theater

10-22-09: We visited the Museo Zacatecano which houses a tribute to the Huichol Indian art as well as other elements of popular Mexican art. The Huichol claim that they originated in the state of San Luis Potosi but later migrated westward to parts of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Durango. The craftsmanship of the Huichol includes embroidery, beadwork, hats (sombreros), weaving, and woven/embroidered bags. Their beaded art is truly beautiful; it is constructed of glass, plastic, or metal beads pressed onto a wooden frame covered in beeswax. Beadwork objects depict prominent patterns and symbols featured in the Huichol religion. We also saw detailed and elaborate yarn paintings that serve the purpose of preserving the ancient beliefs of the Huichol.

After the museum, we caught a parade downtown. It was part of the Teatro de Calle (street theater) festival that was in Zacatecas for a week. Theater groups from different countries put on a variety of shows on several outdoor stages in the downtown area. The parade was called Marcha de los Munecones (March of the Dolls/Puppets) and was performed by a group from Peru. The performers wore large heads with a mesh screen to allow them to see out while others looked like they were riding on animals but were in fact walking on stilts. At the end of the parade they performed a little skit for the appreciative crowd.