Artist Talk: Porfirio Gutierrez, Mexico, The Importance of Innovation in Folk Art

Porfirio Gutiérrez is a proud descendant of many generations of Zapotec weavers from Teotitlán del Valle in Oaxaca, Mexico. At age 12, His father, who was already a master weaver, saw his potential and took every opportunity to help him develop and refine his artistic skills as a weaver. Stories told by his elders about cultural rituals, ceremonies, and the Zapotec way of life in the past, have influenced his personal expression through art. His work has now been shown in eight countries on four continents. While primarily an artist, Gutiérrez also lectures on Zapotec weaving and natural dyes at universities, arts foundations, and museums. Free