Beaded art and peyote

Deep in western central Mexico, hidden away in the Sierra Madre Occidental Range, a tribe of indigenous Indians called Huichol (pronounced Wettchol) produce beautiful beaded art like these two examples. Through the use of peyote, a hallucinatory, chewable cacti (I’m thinking similar to chewable vitamins here, but I’m probably wrong), the artists create elaborate designs on skulls, shapes, and gourd bowls.

I saw these two pieces of Huichol art on display at a local bead shop some years ago and knew I just had to try my hand at this art form. The Indians utilized bone, clay, coral, jade, shell, turquoise, and seeds, but I decided to stick to glass seed beads, jewelry glue, and a powerful magnifying glass. I already had a cow skull from the El Paso area that someone had used for target practice. The way I figured it, both the cow and I were done with it in its present form anyway.

So I started gluing beads in my spare time. I didn’t have any design in mind. I just let the skull “talk to me.” It took FOREVER! (I guess it was a slow talker.) I’m not a perfectionist, but I did glue and unglue several hundred beads before I understood the medium I was working with. Plus little tiny beads ended up under seat cushions, in back of the couch, across the room, and in my bra and panties. I don’t know how, but they did. I also went through two new prescriptions for my glasses.

It was almost a shock to my system when the skull was done. I felt lost, with nothing to do with my time. THAT’S when I could have used the peyote!

The-Dog-From-Hell-That-Hates-Me sniffing my art work!