Amate Bark

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Amate Bark

• Paper of the Otomi Indians

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• Bark paper, papal amate, is produced by hand in
  the state of Puebla by Otomi Indians using bark
  from the mulberry or fig trees. The mulberry tree
  creates off-white paper, while the fig tree
  creates much darker paper.

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• This bark paper is boiled and soaked overnight
  until soft enough for the fibers to pull apart.
• It is then pounded using a rectangular rock with
  finger grooves until the fibers of the pulp fuse
  together and are evenly spread out in the shape
  the paper-maker wants.

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Lets make an Example

1. Write your name on the paper.
2. Crumble the paper. Squish it without tearing.
3. Paint ink wash to resemble the bark texture when
   it dries.

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How did the Otomis use their paper?

• In the beginning of time
• - clothing
• -record keeping

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Amate Cutouts

• The symmetrical cutouts are for magical purposes.
• - protect crops
• -scare away evil
• -guard homes
• -bring good health

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Amate Cutouts

• The Otomi also used the cutouts as tokens of
  thanks to the Earth for a good crop.

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Amate Characteristics

• What do we notice about the designs?

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Amate Characteristics

• Amate Cutouts are
• Symmetrical
• Stylized design
• Human forms that represent the spirits
• Nature forms that are important plants, animals,
  birds

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Amate Bark Painting
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• Paper was sacred to both the Mayans and the
  Aztecs. It was the medium on which their history
  and discoveries were chronicled.

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• The Otomi people sell their paper to neighboring
  communities.

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The Nahua

• The paper finds its way to the Nahua Indians of
  Southern Mexico who have excelled for several
  generations at painting bright village and
  wildlife scenes on the hand-made paper.

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• Much of the amate paper goes to villages in the
  state of Guerrero where artisans who once
  decorated pottery now paint imaginative scenes of
  everyday life, fanciful birds, animals and
  flowers on this special paper.

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What do we see?

• - Subjects from nature
• birds, animals, plants
• - Ornamentation / Stylization
• Pattern
• Bright Colors

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