Art

Item Description

This very nice signed hand carved gourd was carved by Bertha Medina Aquino.

Bertha Medina Aquino comes from Cochas Chico Huancayo, a small village high up in the Andes Mountains of Peru, where she and her people still practice the traditional Incan ways and speak the traditional Incan language.

Bertha began carving gourds when she was only five years old. She learned from her father, the famed gourd carver Evaristo Medina. Gourd carving is an ancient art in Bertha's family, going back for more generations then Evaristo could even remember, and now, a new generation is carrying on the art. Evaristo taught his whole family: Bertha Aquino Medina (wife), children Bertha, Freddy, Percy, Pabel, Liz and his nine-year-old grandchild Brian. Evaristo's work can be found at the International Folk Art Museum of Santa Fe as well as the Smithsonian Museum, and photographs of his work are featured in the book Spirit of Folk Art, published by the International Folk Art Museum of Santa Fe.

The delicate imagery engraved into each gourd is more than just carving---each gourd tells a story. As she carves, Bertha thinks of the daily lives of her family and neighbors, the history of the Incas, the village fiestas and the Celebrations of the Animals held July 25 and August 1 to honor the animals that help them. She brings a spirituality to her work that comes from her love of her people and their history, and her people's love and respect for their land and for the animals that provide assistance in their daily lives: the llama, sheep, burro, bull, and cow.

The gourds Bertha uses for her art are grown only on the coast of Peru. When Bertha and her family journey there to make their purchases, they look for gourds that resemble birds and animals. And they examine each piece carefully to make certain that it is of the finest quality without scratches or bruises that could mar the delicate carving.

Here in the United States, Bertha has received many certificates and awards. Her work has also been published in The Santa Fe New Mexican, The Santa Fe Region, and The Santa Fe Reporter. Her art is on display at The International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, and The Smithsonian Museum. The Medina family is also featured in many books such as Hand-Carved and Decorated Gourds of Peru by Elenor Menzie (1976).

Item Special Note

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