Octavio Esteban Reyes is a Purépecha Indian whose folk art expresses themes from pre-Hispanic Mexico when mystical beliefs were still very much alive. His village of Ocumicho, Michoácan, is legendary for its clay work and devilish erotica, but the colorful wooden masks (mostly made by men) should not be overlooked as true, folk art treasures. Octavio is well known for his wonderful handcarved wood masks.

There are two versions of how Ocumicho came to be known for making its devil figures. The first story is that in the mid-1500's an enlightened Spanish Bishop, Vasco de Quiroga, set up a system of economic plans where each small pueblo (town) would specialize in the manufacture of certain kind of artistic goods. In Ocumicho, the practice of making terracotta figurines still continues after 500 years.

The second version is that the inhabitants of Ocumicho always painted terra cotta figurines. However, until about 30 years ago, they all represented the character of the devil. A legend tells of a young boy was found and adopted by the women of Ocumicho.

One day while the young boy was walking in the forest he met a very strange man. The man told the boy he would make a great fortune if he agreed to represent all his "creations" through art. That same day, the boy began making figures inspired by the objects of life -always omnipresent - always the devil. On market day, the figurines sold so well he became very rich.

Wanting the same financial success, the women of the village began to imitate the work of the boy they had adopted. The little devils of Ocumicho were born.

It is true that for generations the famous clay of Ocumicho was almost exclusively made by women while men went to the sierra to cut wood or to their milpas (small plots of land for planting the family's corn) daily. But that is changing as men now help make and paint clay, while mask making remains exclusively the domain of men.

In the pine forested mountains surrounding Ocumicho, the men cut wood under strict government supervision. Nothing is wasted of this precious commodity, and a stick becomes a carved snake, a twisted twig will certainly do as an antler or nose, and even the tiniest twigs will become insect legs in the imagination of the Ocumicho carvers. While these masks are not used for traditional dances of the region, their whimsy and color cannot be resisted.

Octavio is, in fact, one of the men who makes the clay, and his tall figures are some of the best in all of Ocumicho. His sense of color (and humor) become reality in tierra as he creates scenes of heaven and hell, cantinas filled with devils, and naked mermaids eating their watermelon feasts. His masks and clay figures are in a storage area next to his troje (wood cottage).

The art of Ocumicho is truly folk art inspired through myth. To watch a video of Octavio at Feria Maestros del Arte, click here.

If you are interested learning more about Octavio, contact Marianne Carlson at 01152 376 765 7485 or email mariannecarlson@gmail.com

(Our thanks to Norm Tihor for the use of his photographs)