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Many master artisans in Costa Rica work with wood, using the natural material to produce a wide range of exotic and beautiful art.
Pre-Columbian CraftsIn Costa Rica, crafts made out of wood date back to pre-Columbian times, as the country's indigenous Indian populations made use of the ample balsa wood, cedar and bamboo found in the local forests. One of the groups that is most strongly associated with the creation of wood crafts is the Boruca tribe, which lives on a reservation in the southern Caribbean part of Costa Rica. These native people primarily use wood to create ceremonial masks, which are used in the annual Fiesta de los Diablitos (Party of the Little Devils). In modern times, this festival entails a retelling of the story of the Spanish conquest of Central America. During the ceremony, male tribe members don wooden masks, which represent demons. These demons imbue the men with great powers, allowing them to drive away the invading Spanish forces. This event is viewed as an assertion of the Boruca's integrity in the face of modern culture, and the wooden masks play a critical role in the establishment of this theme.
Borucan MasksThe masks used in the Boruca ceremonies are carved by hand. After they have finished carving the wood, native artisans hand-paint their creations. These masks incorporate depictions of many different kinds of animals that dwell in the rainforest, including pumas, toucans, frogs and more. Travelers interested in purchasing one of these masks may find them at shops near the Boruca reservation. Best of all, the purchases help support the tribe, working to protect their cultural integrity in the future.
21st Century CraftsAnother form of wood art is made by Barry Biesanz, a master artisan who works in the city of Escazú. He creates art using locally harvested tropical materials, such as ironwood, purple heart, rosewood, satinwood and tigerwood. Biesanz produces a wide variety of handcrafted hemispherical bowls as well as jewelry boxes with exposed hinges and dovetailing corners. When creating each individual piece, he uses razor-sharp knives and chisels to carve subtle and intricate designs into the surface of the wood, producing a delicate and unique work of art. | |
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