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Papél Picado stars in Tucson art show

Fragile, colorful and crafted from a rich tradition of artisans, papél picado (punched paper) is the embodiment of memory, recalling events and parties in the lives of Latinos.

Using sharp fierritos (chisels), artisans create these mementos, often seen strung across streets during festivals, in gardens and parks or inside homes.

The Tucson Museum of Art will show examples of papél picado in its Palice Pavilion Feb. 4 through June 30.

"They're delicate in that sense of folk art tradition. They're the essence of ephemera, which is so important," says Steve Vollmer, the show's curator. "They are a kind of a metaphor of life, that things pass before us. We often take it for granted and only too late do we have a little
memory of that in the back of our brain. And yet it's always present. It's that magical part of the festival."

Papél picado is basically about community, illustrating people, places and times, he says. Viewers will see not only framed pieces, but examples hung from the ceiling.

"I want people to see how they are used in the home, not just as wall decorations," Vollmer says. "How they stand free when they hang from the ceiling. Our movement is going to be sufficient to move some of these pieces."

Cut paper designs can be found all over the world. This folk art tradition is seen in Germany (scherenschnitte), Poland (wycinanki), Japan (kirigama or mon-kiri), and France (silhouettes).

Even Hans Christian Anderson, the famous Danish storyteller, gained a reputation for cutting intricate designs as he held listeners spellbound with his stories.

Origins of Mexico's papél picado tradition can be traced, surprisingly, to China. Also referred to as papél de China, cut paper imports were among goods (such as silks, ivory and ceramics) that traveled into Mexico's port of Acapulco from China and the Philippines. Once Mexican artisans saw the intricate tissue paper patterns, they began to produce their versions of the technique.

In the town of San Salvador Huixcolotla, Puebla, the art of papél picado has a rich history of competition between two families, the Vivancos and the Rojas. Many of VollmerÕs show pieces were made by Vivanco artisans.

For each design an artist draws a master template, placing it carefully atop 40 to 50 sheets of tissue paper. He begins cutting the design from the center outward. Artisans draw designs to meet the needs of the customer, whether it's for a quinceanera, religious holidays, Valentine's Day, party invitations, baptisms, or even funerals. Vollmer said companies have had them made for presentations and conferences.

"All these events are so very important to the families and they become a recuerdo," Vollmer says. "The little ones, people will slip into books because they're precious, made of material we would otherwise toss away."

At the show, one papél picado measures nearly 6 feet wide and 3 feet deep. It illustrates a theme familiar to many: Day of the Dead. Another piece was contributed by the daughter of the late Mexican art collector Victor Posada, taken from his funeral ofrenda.

Vollmer says the paper-cutting families of San Salvador Huixcolotla, have started working out their designs by computer.

"They are applying new technologies to very old traditions and still using the old cutting techniques. It merges beautifully with the old and the new. Ultimately, it's fun."

Other more modern materials, such as plastic and Mylar, which catches the light, now are available to clients.

"The nature of the work is changing. It's no longer ephemera - we're going to reuse it," Vollmer says.

Perhaps these delicate art works will recall for viewers specific memories of events in their own lives. Vollmer hopes for that, and a little more.

"I want for us to understand the artists' traditions, their regional traditions. Take a few minutes to pay homage to these traditions and the artisans, (know) that they have names and faces. Each piece comes from a very special hand."

WHERE TO FIND PAPEL PICADO

If you can't carve out time to see the Tucson Museum of Art's "Papél Picado" show, you might want to check out these resources for the delicate tradition:

Texas artist Kathleen Trenchard's Cut-It-Out Studio offers traditional as well as custom (and corporate) designs. Her work has graced public buildings and private events. She also offers a book, Mexican Papercutting, ($15 online) as well a small line of tees, neckties and home accessories based on her original designs. Check it out at www.cut-it-out.org.

Casa Bonampak, a Fair Trade online store that stocks Latino arts and crafts, offers papél picado streamers in many different stock designs, ranging from $5 to $60 per streamer. Visit them at www.casabonampak.com.

You may also find these streamers at museum gift shops and import stores.