Huichol art is bright, colorful and vividly spiritual. The paintings, gourd offering vessels and carved wooden animals are covered in a very thin layer of tree resin and beeswax. Brightly colored yarn or beads are then pressed into this mixture to create patterns that reflect the Huichol way of life.
Each piece has a "story" which tells the meaning of the symbols that create the images. The images are usually about healing and/or protection, ceremonies, or creation stories. Luciano has been bringing the work of his family and village members at least twice a year for over 14 years to Gathering Tribes.
The Huichol people live in the Mexican states of Nyarit and Jalisco, deep in the mountains. Many of the Huichol still live the way their ancestors did without roads, running water or electricity. They understand that where the roads go, mining corporations are not far behind. Like many traditional Native Americans, Huichol activists have been in a long struggle with local, state and federal governments over the safety of their sacred sites. The current struggle is over their most sacred site of Wirikuta which is under threat by a Canadian mining corporation.
In order to support this important culture and their struggle, Luciano and the members of his community receive 100% of the proceeds from the sales of their work during this weekend event.