Cinco de Mayo is upon us and we couldn’t be extra thrilled to rejoice this yr by delving into an array of quilt artwork impressed by Mexican tradition and custom! So how precisely did Cinco de Mayo come to be? Nicely, this annual celebration held on Could fifth commemorates the Mexican Military’s victory over the French Empire on the Battle of Puebla, on Could 5, 1862.

Though it’s a comparatively minor vacation in Mexico, it has change into a major cultural celebration in the USA, notably amongst Mexican-American communities. In truth, Cinco de Mayo has been embraced as a day to rejoice Mexican heritage and tradition, with parades, events, and conventional foods and drinks. It has additionally been used as a logo of satisfaction and solidarity for Mexican-Individuals and others who determine with Mexican tradition.

So, to rejoice Cinco de Mayo, we’re revisiting a few of our favourite designs from Quilting Arts Journal that spotlight Mexican folks artwork, textiles, and Milagros! From brilliant lovely colours and wealthy textures to significant tales and traditions, these quilts spotlight Mexico’s unparalleled contribution to quilting artistry. So let’s dive in — put together to be delighted and impressed!

Diamonds of Nebaj by Laura Lee Fritz

“What textile lover doesn’t take pleasure in studying about how fiber artists add a little bit of spice to their work by combining deep colours, wealthy textures, and significant back-stories of their work? Artwork quilters typically look to different cultures for inspiration: whether or not it’s within the simplicity of Scandinavian design, intricate boro mending on Japanese kimonos, or the colour mixtures seen in Mexican Milagros or Guatemalan materials, we will be taught a lot by wanting past our personal borders.”

On this piece initially printed in 2019, Vivika interviews artwork quilter Priscilla Bianchi for Quilting Arts Journal. Her work is a research in vibrant colours, difficult patterns, and pure pleasure. As a quilt artist, designer, and worldwide instructor, Priscilla creates one-of-a-kind quilts that meld the richness and ethnic enchantment of her homeland with the custom of American quilt making. In her work, brightly coloured textiles and Mayan symbolism are intertwined with up to date quilt designs and excessive distinction.

Fiber artist Jane LaFazio has honed her observational abilities nicely by way of artwork journaling, sketching, and portray. Consequently, she has an uncanny knack for combining textures and methods that work collectively in mixed-media quilts.

On this characteristic initially printed in 2014, after being mesmerized by photographs posted to to social media, Vivika chats with Jane Lafazio about her travels to San Miguel de Allende, Mexio and the way they’ve impressed a sequence of her quilt artwork and different fiber artwork.

Milagros by Vivika DeNegre

On this piece initially printed in 2019, editor, Vivika DeNegre explores the world of Milagros featured within the June/July 2019 situation of Quilting Arts Journal. Milagro is the Spanish phrase for miracle. These spiritual folks charms have their roots in Spanish and Latin American tradition. Every tiny appeal has a unique which means and is obtainable to a saint as a prayer for a particular want or carried in gratitude as a reminder of prayers answered.

“Generally inspiration for a challenge comes from a wide range of cultural sources. That’s the case for my mixed-media Milagros. I used to be just lately gifted a small stash of fancy materials—attractive sheers, silks, beaded trim, and colourful snips of Indian saris—that have been simply itching for use in fiber artwork. However they’d me stumped: the beads and bangles wanted to be saved intact and the sheers would look finest in the event that they remained sheer. I knew I’d consider one thing.”

As you possibly can see, inspiration for lovely expression by way of material and thread can come from so many sources, together with the cultures that may be discovered flourishing throughout us. So let’s take a second to actually admire Mexican custom, artwork, and wonder on today of celebration. And when you take pleasure in studying about textile traditions and wish to discover utilizing colour, symbolism, and sew, we encourage you to dive into the pages of Quilting Arts Journal. You gained’t be disillusioned.