“Mayan Procession” is a series of 14 life size paintings representing highland indigenous people from Guatemala where each village has a unique weaving style and traditional dress. The “procession” is the way I choose to honor this beautiful people who are a living connection to our pre-columbian past.
Mayan Series
Drummers and Flute
Oil on Canvas, 72” x 26”
The flute player and the drummer walk in front to announce the following procession. The drum is carried on the back of the flute player. The first person in the procession is in western dress and the following people are in traditional or ceremonial costume.
Casket and Callas
Oil on Canvas, 48” x 49”
Many caskets in Guatemala are oval rather than rectangular and are made of highly varnished wood. The callas are depicted overly large to provide drama.
Todos Santos Man
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 28”
This man is dressed in full traditional dress from his village. This costume is well-known and distinctive. He wears a hat, jacket, shirt, pants, unusual overpants, and a woven shoulder bag which the men use.
Santiago Atitlan Cofradia
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 44”
These three are members of a Cofradia (religious organization dedicated to a particular saint). They are dressed in ceremonial dress and are part of a procession.
Chichicastenango Cofrade
Oil on Canvas, 72” x 24”
This man is a member of a Cofradia. He is dressed in ceremonial dress and is marching in a procession with a silver staff. His ceremonial headdress is called a Tzute, and his sandal design is pre-Columbian.
Chichicastenango Women
Oil on Canvas, 60" x 34"
These women follow the men in the procession. They are barefoot and dressed in everyday dress, wearing two well-known Chichi huipiles
Procession Near Tecpan
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 80”
These women are dressed in long ceremonial huipiles and are carrying candles in the procession.
Almolonga Women
Oil on Canvas, 72” x 48”
This town is known for its wonderful vegetable and flower market. The zigzag huipil and Ikat skirt are very distinctive, as is the grace of the women as they carry the baskets of flowers for the graves.
Solola Man
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 30”
This man is wearing the traditional dress of his village. The style of his jacket dates from the colonial period, and the stylized bat design on the sleeves and back is pre-Columbian and a symbol of this village. Also, on the sleeve is a quetzal - the national bird of Guatemala. He also wears a wool overskirt made from black and white sheep.
San Antonio Aguascalientes Woman
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 30”
Tall skinny - this woman wears the highly prized traditional huipil (blouse) of her village with a simple faja (belt) and corte (skirt).
Woman Near Antigua
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 30”
This woman carrying both fruit and flowers is not in a completely traditional dress. Her huipil and corte are from different villages. She wears both an apron and skirt that are "Jaspe" cloth (Ikat woven with tie-dyed thread).
Zunil Woman with Callas
Oil on Canvas, 72” x 30”
This painting shows in particular detail the traditional pattern of the Zunil skirt. The tocoyal (head ribbon) is shown and how it is twined in the hair. Her perraje (shawl) is used to carry her baby, while her companion effortlessly balances calla lilies on her head.
Solola Women and Child
Oil on Canvas, 60” x 60”
These four women in traditional dress walk with a boy in totally western clothes. The women are slightly westernized, as can be seen in their shoes and hairstyles. Solola is a village more frequented by tourists and represents the moving away from the traditional costume, especially among the males.
Zunil Cemetery
Oil on Canvas, 52” x 96”
A group of women in full traditional dress kneel in the cemetery on the day of All Souls, listening to a priest say mass. At the same time, others in their group fly traditional kites in communication with the departed ones.
Zunil Market
Oil on Canvas, 40” x 45”
A group of young girls looking at something in the weekly market.