Crafting a Legacy: The Art of Papel Picado
In the southeastern Mexican town of San Salvador Huixcolotla, the art of papel picado has been passed down through generations. This intricate craft, known for its colorful tissue-paper banners, is a staple in Mexican culture, especially during celebrations like Day of the Dead.
Blanka Amezkua, a Chicana artist with a passion for repurposed materials, stumbled upon this traditional craft during a visit to San Salvador Huixcolotla in 2018. Through a chance encounter with master craftsman Don Rene Mendoza, Amezkua embarked on a journey to learn the centuries-old techniques of crafting papel picado.
The process of creating papel picado is both delicate and labor-intensive. Using a hammer and chisel, Amezkua meticulously cuts out intricate designs on stacks of tissue paper, creating lacy flags that quiver in the air when hung on a string. Despite the hours of work and the meditative nature of the craft, Amezkua finds solace in the connection to generations of artisans who have practiced this art form.
Amezkua’s dedication to preserving the legacy of papel picado is evident in her collaborations with Mendoza and her papel picado workshops at Bronx Community College. Together, they create large-scale pieces inspired by Indigenous Mexican herbal remedies and traditional designs, showcasing the enduring power of this craft.
As Amezkua continues to work on new projects and share her knowledge with others, she remains in awe of the men and women who create something so beautiful and ephemeral. Papel picado may not last forever, but its legacy lives on through the hands of artisans like Amezkua, ensuring that this art form continues to thrive for generations to come.
