The University of Arizona features many different attractions related to border culture. Recently, I visited the Arizona State Museum to check out some of the new exhibits. There was a lot of interesting things to look at, but I was most interested in the Paths of Life exhibit.
The exhibit focuses on different cultures surrounding Arizona and northwest Mexico, and takes a look at the progress each has made throughout history. There is information about the origins, history and life today for each of the different cultures, shown through photos and artifacts.
The exhibit focuses on different cultures surrounding Arizona and northwest Mexico, and takes a look at the progress each has made throughout history. There is information about the origins, history and life today for each of the different cultures, shown through photos and artifacts.
I observed mainly the Seris, who lived along the Mexican border. The fascinating part was that much of the art they produced long ago is still in modern production, and a lot of the jewlery they made resembles closely the jewelery that can still be found and purchased on the streets and shops of Mexico today. The baskets they made
continue to be prized by art collectors as well.
They began making sculpted ironwood carvings in the 1960's, and the wooden statues of various land and sea mammals are often still popular on the beaches of Mexico. The sale of these crafts provided an important source of income for the Seri back then, and still provide a source of revenue for Mexican craftspeople today.
They began making sculpted ironwood carvings in the 1960's, and the wooden statues of various land and sea mammals are often still popular on the beaches of Mexico. The sale of these crafts provided an important source of income for the Seri back then, and still provide a source of revenue for Mexican craftspeople today.
The art in the Paths of Life exhibit was fascinating, and there is much to learn about border culture at the Arizona State Museum.
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