Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx

Name:

Huichol Nierikas (Yarn Paintings)

Until very recently, the Huichol (pronounced

Wettchol) people of Mexico did not have a

written language. Instead, they

communicated their history through stories

and symbols. This tradition is still strong for

the Huichol and we can learn a lot about their

beliefs by looking at their artwork.

Nierikas (pronounced Near-eeka) are

traditional yarn paintings made by the Huichol

people. Natural glue, made from tree resin and

beeswax, is applied to a board, and yarn is

pressed into it and left to harden. The designs

and symbols on the Nierikas are based on their

myths, stories and

personal daily

activities. The yarn paintings portray the

Huichol belief that people are connected to

nature and all living things. The Huichols

believe it is their duty to take care of the earth

because they depend on it for survival.

Nierikas are not purely decorative objects; they

are purposeful and very important to the

Huichol people. These spiritual artworks are

part of the rituals the Huichols participate in on a

regular basis, and they begin learning them at a

very young age. A Nierika is a device that

allows a Huichol person to communicate with

the spirit world. The symbols and rituals on

them are a way of asking the gods to bring rain

and sun to grow their crops. After creating

them, the Nierikas are left in sacred places like

temples, springs, and caves.

Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx

Project

For this project you will be designing your

own nierika. Your completed yarn

painting will be symbolic of your

experiences and beliefs. Follow these steps

for a successful project.

1. Brainstorm things in your life that

are important to you and write them

in the box below. Consider aspects

of your daily life, your beliefs,

thoughts, ideas, and special events.

2. Make three thumbnail sketches that

incorporate some of your ideas. Your design

should be balanced using symmetry or

asymmetry. What shape will your

composition be? Will it be square, circular,

rectangular, etc? (Consider having a few large

organic shapes as the focal point(s), and

break the background space into geometric

shapes.) Choose the thumbnail sketch that

you think works the best and put a star next to

it.

**Boxes for thumbnail sketches are on the next page

Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx

3. Transfer your final sketch to the cardboard.

4. Working on a small area at a time,

apply glue to your design with an old

paintbrush. Add yarn to the glue areas

and press down with your fingers or a

Q-tip.

� Use a contrasting or complimentary

color to outline your shapes before

you fill them in. This will give your

image a halation, or halo-like, effect

and will make it stand out more for

viewers.

� Fill in all available space with yarn. No cardboard should show

when you are finished!