OUR COLLECTION — LATIN AMERICA — EL SALVADOR 478. SIERRA NATIVITY
This Nativity scene was handmade in the mountain village of La Palma, El Salvador, famously known as the “Artists’ Capital” for its multitude of artisans and distinctive, colorful painting style, and also as the “Cradle of Peace” for the city’s role in the peace talks that ended El Salvador’s long civil war. While most Nativities from La Palma are painted in bright primary colors, this scene uses more muted tones. The scene measures 6.5 inches wide by 6 inches tall.
The Nativity was made by La Semilla de Dios artisan cooperative. These artisans cut out their products from sun-dried pine wood. Artists draw the design with ink pen, oftentimes drawing from memory and occasionally using stencils. Women usually paint the pieces by hand. They touch up and varnish the pieces when the paint dries.
The cooperative La Semilla de Dios, meaning “The Seed of God,” is located in the town of La Palma in the department of Chalatenango, 54 miles north of El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. La Semilla de Dios consists of 40 people of limited economic resources who make a variety of wooden items painted in the famous La Palma folk art style. Men do the carpentry, and women the hand-painting and finishing. The cooperative owns a piece of land in the mountains outside town, where they plant and sustainably harvest trees to supply about 40 percent of their wood needs. The traditional cooperative structure of La Semilla de Dios puts power and profits in the hands of the group’s employees. Cooperative income provides better nutrition and educational opportunities for artisans’ children. La Semilla de Dios also runs a savings plan from which members can borrow, and has instituted a retirement fund. Income from product sales is important, as life in the countryside is difficult, especially for women. Many of the women are single mothers who must take care of the house, feed their families and plant subsistence crops of corn and beans.
The Nativity was made by La Semilla de Dios artisan cooperative. These artisans cut out their products from sun-dried pine wood. Artists draw the design with ink pen, oftentimes drawing from memory and occasionally using stencils. Women usually paint the pieces by hand. They touch up and varnish the pieces when the paint dries.
The cooperative La Semilla de Dios, meaning “The Seed of God,” is located in the town of La Palma in the department of Chalatenango, 54 miles north of El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. La Semilla de Dios consists of 40 people of limited economic resources who make a variety of wooden items painted in the famous La Palma folk art style. Men do the carpentry, and women the hand-painting and finishing. The cooperative owns a piece of land in the mountains outside town, where they plant and sustainably harvest trees to supply about 40 percent of their wood needs. The traditional cooperative structure of La Semilla de Dios puts power and profits in the hands of the group’s employees. Cooperative income provides better nutrition and educational opportunities for artisans’ children. La Semilla de Dios also runs a savings plan from which members can borrow, and has instituted a retirement fund. Income from product sales is important, as life in the countryside is difficult, especially for women. Many of the women are single mothers who must take care of the house, feed their families and plant subsistence crops of corn and beans.