Part of the beauty of learning something historic, cultural, or artistic from another part of the world is it allows those unable to physically travel to experience other parts of the globe.
This includes folk art, a style of that is created not by world-famous artists whose names we may remember but by those, according to the American Folk Art Museum, whose “singular talents have been refined through experience rather than formal artistic training.”
This type of art, often created by anonymous artists or craftspersons, encompasses both American and world artists, and it covers works of all medium.
The British Dictionary definition of folk art as art that is “originating from, or traditional to, the common people of a country.”
However, these works are by no means common. Instead, folk art shows how imagination, the use of tools and materials readily available, and passing down artistic skills through generations, reveals that the love of art is something every county, culture, and region around the world shares.
This summer’s first folk art-based Be the Artist, travels to the Central American nation of Panama for the art form of painting with fabric: Molas.
These colorful, multi-layered panels of material are created primarily by the women of the San Blas Islands off the Atlantic coast of Panama. They often make up the design on traditional clothing of the region but are also created as stand-alone works and sold to tourists and collectors.
Some of the original inspiration for Mola designs comes from more geometric patterns similar to those used on body painting, but now designs have evolved to cover everything from abstracts, plants and animals, and even pop culture symbols. In addition to still being used for clothing decoration, the Molas are a popular item for visitors. A 2012 exhibit on Molas from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art referred to pieces inspired by Batman and Felix the Cat.
The more colorful and layered the mola, the higher quality they are considered. Some more elaborate designs can take weeks or months to finish.
Some molas that have been worn on blouses or dresses may even be cut out and sold to visitors after the clothes have worn out. That’s a great lesson in upcycling for all of us.