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About our Artisans
This is a description of ONE of our artisan groups. Other stories will be shared in the months ahead.
XETONOX is a caserio, a little "bend in the road", about an hour off the Pan American Highway into the mountains of the Department of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. The community boasts a locally supported school, a church and small milpas where families raise the traditional corn, beans and squash as well as some of the newer products for import-snow peas and strawberries. Two years ago a group of eight women in Xetonox decided they wanted to work together to create some additional income for their families. Considering their options they realized that one material was readily accessible and in abundant supply: corn husks.
The story below chronicles their success. MayaWorks proudly sells the work of the women of Xetonox and salutes their dedication to the constant improvement of their product.
Angels of Xetonox
by Marcia K. Lang
 She opens the large burlap sack, shakes it vigorously. Dried cornhusks float across the room. Margarita watches them with pleasure as they land on worn rush mats. She kneels, picks through the leaves for the perfect ones and begins creating angels in her own image.
A few local ingredients are used to assemble the angels: thread, wire, string, scissors, silicone, a ruler -- plus the leaves and silky hair from the daily staple -- corn. In the corner, Marta welds all the pieces together with an electric glue gun.
In the community of Xetonox (pronounced She-tonh-osh) women formed a handicrafts group, Women of Xetonox, with help from Mayaworks. At first the women cried out of frustration and feared they could never learn to make the dolls or angels they envisioned. For more than six months, they patiently tried. One woman could make the head, another the body or wings. Something always looked wrong; no one could consistently construct the perfect angel.
 When Maria finally discovered the secret of making beautiful angels, the group's leader triumphantly proclaimed: "We all have the same capability! If one of us can do it, we all can!" With great spirit and perseverance, the women helped one another until all eight members could effortlessly weave the dried leaves into sturdy little dolls and angels.
Using scraps from old huipiles and cortes, the women thoughtfully decorate the dolls like themselves, crowning them with halos of braided corn silk hair or cascading tresses tied with colorful ribbons. They playfully dress their dolls as if they were creating a childhood they never had.
A soft hum of excitement fills the adobe room as the women joyfully weave cornhusks into impish or reverent self-images. Tiny children, tucked among the dried leaves, watch in wide-eyed wonder. Their mothers tease one another if they find mistakes, but are quick to help if something goes wrong. Vicenta carefully measures the length and snips off unwanted leaves until the angel rests against the 7" mark on the transparent ruler. Triumphantly, she displays her angel as the others smile with satisfaction.
The Women of Xetonox launched their innovative project on May 19, 1998, hoping to produce steady income by making tiny dolls and angels from tusa. When there are orders to fill, they meet every afternoon. They take their work seriously; fines are imposed on anyone who doesn't contribute her share.
This MayaWorks project provides satisfaction and cash for women in the remote village of Tecpan. Extra money is now available for medical emergencies or school tuition. One member, Cristina, commented: "We have plenty of housework to do, but it doesn't pay us money. These angels have changed our lives!"
Copyright 1999 |
Xetonox angels come in various sizes for hanging or standing. The cornhusk doll with baby is also available.
 
Prices are $4 - $5. For more information or to order please Email MayaWorks at info@mayaworks.org.
VISIT THIS PAGE OFTEN
In the months ahead we will feature other MayaWorks groups: Tejidos Maya San Juan Comalapa; Mujeres de Agua Caliente; San Marcos La Laguna; San Antonio Aguas Caliente; Santiago Atitlan; Tzanjuyú (Comalapa); Mujeres en Acción; Mujeres de Buena Experanza.
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