Stilt Walkers in Oaxaca

          Stilt walking is alive and well in some villages close to Oaxaca.  And, the people who make the stilts and the costumes are stretching to new heights.  El Museo de Textiles Oaxaca, the Textile Museum, currently has what I think is the best exhibit ever:  Stilts and the costumes.  Works of art, all.  I've seen the exhibit three times since we've been here, and again today, with my friend Tere.

The current exhibit was made completely by local artists:  wood carvers, wax workers, costumers.  It was taken to NY, to Wall Street, where the men danced down the street for the video that is now part of the exhibit.  How cool to see those men in suits, far above the heads of people on the street!

Virgil was celebrating Fat Tuesday in great style!  After the costumed dancers finished their dancing, we had a visit.  He's a painter, living in Zachilla, and invited us back to visit.  Another picture of him, full length, below.

Stilt walking is part of many festivals here, particularly Carnival and at the fiestas of the patron saint of the churches.  We went to Zachilla for the first night of Carnival, where the stilt walkers led our colectivo into the zocalo, such luck!  The stilts lift the men more than 5 feet off the ground.  Men, only.  They dance as if they were on the ground!

After the stilt

I love the costumes, and can't imagine the weight of some of them...  This costume, above, is typical, with the 'fringe' effect.

This is my favorite costume, made entirely from upholstery fabrics.  The part above the costume is the head dress, which must be heavy, too.  It's decorated with cd's, which gives the outfit shine.

I love these carved heads!  Animals and humans, covering the stilts.

These flowers are made from wax!  The artwork supports several families. This is the first time they've done such work, and the artist said he struggled with the marriage of wood (the stilts) and wax.  I believe the artist won that battle!

The rough, basic stilt.  Just a chunk of wood, nailed to a pole, with a piece of foam to wrap around the walker's calf for protection.  The strap is fastened with a car seat belt!