Europe, Nativities, Poland

Holy Family Protected by an Angel

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Under the protective watch of an angel the Holy family is lovingly depicted in this intimate setting carved byTadeusz Kacalak. St. Joseph is leaning on his staff, a frown of concern on his brow. St. Mary is leaning into St. Joseph while she cradles the baby Jesus with her right hand. The Christ Child is wrapped in swaddling clothes tied together with a red bow, his eyes wide open.

Tadeusz Kacalak is a well-known Polish folk artist recognized for his colorful carvings depicting Christian biblical themes, saints, and local village people. He started carving in 1972. Since then, he has received numerous artistic awards throughout Europe.

Tadeusz prefers linden wood and employs only the simplest tools for his carvings. His sculptures are painted in muted pastel shades using water-based paints and sealing emulsions.

Tadeusz has been featured in several solo-exhibitions in Poland, Germany, Holland and the United States. His work is represented in various museums and important private collections.

Tadeusz Kacalak is represented in the United States by https://folkartsofpoland.com/

Nativities, New Mexico, North America, USA

Zuni Holy Family

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The Zuni are indigenous Pueblo peoples native to the Zuni River valley in the southwest of the United States. They have lived in this area for between 3000 and 4000 years. Today, most Zuni live in the Zuni Pueblo located on the Zuni river in western New Mexico. While traditionally they were farmers many Zuni today rely on the sale of traditional arts and crafts.

Zuni have a longstanding tradition of creating wooden dolls or Katsina/Katchina dolls that represent spirit messengers and are used for religious education especially of children. They are also displayed in homes as reminders of the spiritual beings that guide their community and bring blessings. The carving is relatively simple compared to that of other tribes like the Hopi but Zuni Katchinas are often decorated with feathers and clothing.

This nativity was created by Alan Lynn Lewis who is best known for his graceful cottonwood carvings. After years of working in construction Alan taught himself to carve around 1990. He grew up surrounded by art and artists. His mother was well known for her beaded dolls. His brother, Robert, specialized in carving realistic people out of cottonwood. Alan signs his art with A.L.

This Holy Family is clearly inspired by the traditional Zuni woodcarving in its minimalist simplicity.  The Holy Family is Zuni. The baby Jesus lies on a typical Zuni cradleboard. This is a traditional, board-based carrier where swaddled infants are secured. They vary by tribe but often feature wood, woven materials, and decorative elements. 

Europe, Poland

Wycinanki Holy Family

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“Wycinanki” pronounced Vee-chee-non-kee is the Polish word for ‘paper-cut design’. It is not known when or why this art form began to flower in Poland. Some suggest it goes back to the time when few farm houses had glass windows. To keep out the elements, farmers hung sheep skins over the window openings. Then, to let in some light and air, they took their sheep shears and snipped small openings in the skins, and these were soon recognized as decorative as well as functional.

Under the Star of Bethlehem and surrounding stars this simple paper cut depicts Mary and Joseph devoutly kneel on either side of the Baby Jesus. Jesus is lying on a bed of grass and cloth.

Europe, Poland

Circular WYCINANKI Nativity

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“Wycinanki” pronounced Vee-chee-non-kee is the Polish word for ‘paper-cut design’. It is not known when or why this art form began to flower in Poland. Some suggest it goes back to the time when few farm houses had glass windows. To keep out the elements, farmers hung sheep skins over the window openings. Then, to let in some light and air, they took their sheep shears and snipped small openings in the skins, and these were soon recognized as decorative as well as functional.

Surrounded by elegantly cut flowers, Mary is seated holding the Baby Jesus who is wrapped in swaddling cloths. Joseph stands next to them. A sheep rests at Mary’s feet while two angels flank the Holy Family. The Star of Bethlehem shines about the Baby Jesus while brilliant stars surround them.

Nebraska, North America, USA

Lakota Nativity

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This wonderful nativity was created by Leonard Yellow Horse who was born in 1971 in Chadron, Nebraska. He is a self taught artist who in 1991 started working with cottonwood root sourced from dry river beds mostly on the Pine Ridge Reservation or in the Badlands.

Leonard has a very distinctive technique he inherited from his family. He hand carves his figures and then uses a torch to create additional detail.

Of his work he says: “My work is calling from the Elders who want to be seen again, but through the roots. It’s not what I put into the root; the root has a voice and a character of its own. No two pieces are the same. Each piece is unique.”

This nativity is a great example of an artist depicting the many figures of the Nativity narrative in their own image. The Magi for instance are presented as Lakota elders. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are Lakota. And the traditional ox and donkey are replaced with bison.

New Mexico, North America, USA

Blackware Holy Family

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This Holy Family in blackware pottery was created by Lawrence Vargas.

Mr. Vargas is a self-taught artist from New Mexico. He works out of his studio with a view of Petroglyphs National Monument near Albuquerque, NM together with members of his family. His style is distinctive and is inspired by his multi-cultural ancestry. His work represents a unique blend of the different cultures found in the southwest.

A skilled and multi-talented artisan, Mr. Vargas’ artistic expressions comprise different subject matters and different mediums. He is best known for his blackware pottery, harvest maiden series and storyteller figures and paintings. His work is the result of a deep spiritual inspiration interwoven with his life experience.

This nativity is hand painted blackware pottery. The use of both high gloss and matte finish on the jet-black clay creates a great contrast and allows for expressive representations in these otherwise semi-abstract figures. Some of the figures are enhanced with a characteristic piece of turquoise.

In addition to the Holy Family this nativity includes the three Magi who are represented as elders of the community. The typical ox and donkey have been replaced with two bison.

Arizona, North America, USA

Navajo Flight into Egypt

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This elegant Flight into Egypt was created by Jack Black.

Jack Black, a member of the Navajo Nation was born in Galveston Texas. He was introduced to Navajo art as he grew up and received his formal education at the Institute of Design in Chicago.

Jack Black’s work is a tribute to the Southwest. His style is modernist Navajo with graceful lines and minimalist design. His sculptures though only partially glazed are smooth to the touch and pleasing to the eye. The colors he used are reminiscent of the beauty of the Southwest with its blue sky, ochre canyons and sand-colored panoramas.

After sketching each piece Jack Black created the original sculpture. From that a production mold was made. Then stoneware figures were cast from the molds. After the figures were cleaned and detailed by hand, they were fired at 1900 degrees. They were then sanded, cleaned again, and fired with multiple coats of glaze. Though created in a mold, each one of Jack Black’s sculptures is unique.

Mr. Black died in 2002. At that time all the molds were destroyed. This insured the value and rarity of the existing pieces.

Africa, Uganda

Olubugo Nativity

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The art of making bark cloth known as olubugo is an ancient Ugandan tradition originating with the Baganda people of the Buganda kingdom. Bark cloth is made from the inner bark of the Mutuba tree which mainly grows in central and southern Uganda. This craft is considered among the oldest ways of cloth making, predating weaving.

Artisans of Uganda Artists with Disabilities use traditional Ugandan bark cloth and other natural materials such as dried grasses as well as some wire to craft each miniature piece. This set includes nine individual figures and a small hut. They are packaged in a lovely bark cloth pouch.

    Argentina, South America

    Mapuches Nativity

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    This nativity was created by Argentine artist Mario Mendoza. Mario was born in 1950 in San Salvador de Jujuy, the capital of the Jujuy province in the northwest of Argentina. At a very young age he started to create pottery, tutored by his older brother Oscar. He opened his own studio in 1978.

    Mario specializes in very realistic miniature sculptures. His models are the indigenous people (Coyas, Onas, Tehuelches, Yamanas, Mapuches) of Northwestern Argentina. They are dressed in their typical garb. In this case the figures of the nativity are modeled after the Mapuche people wearing their traditional ponchos with their strong geometrical patterns. Both men and women wear a typical head band, though Mary’s headband is more decorative that that of Jesus, Joseph and the Magi.

    Mario designed and molded each figure of this nativity. He collected the clay from the local mountains (Quebrada de Humahuca). He created 32 clay tones which he uses selectively for each figure.

    The gifts the Magi brought the Christ Child are not the typical gold, myrrh and frankincense as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. Rather, the Magi in this nativity are presenting the baby Jesus with gifts that are important in Mapuche society: Mais (corn) which is an important staple of their diet, as well as a typical Mapuche poncho and a blanket. Traditionally these items were used for trade and as a status symbol.

    This is another wonderful example of inculturation of the mystery of the incarnation.

    • Jesus, Mary and Joseph
    • Three Magi
    • Three Magi
    • Sheep
    • Signature