T. Ramirez - original works on handmade amate paper - Aztec calendar D

  This is a gorgeous original work on amate paper. Though there are a number of Mexican artists who are doing this type of work, Ramirez is one of the top ones around. Some of these works are by him, but we also have some works by other top amate artists from the region. These works are watercolor and ink and measure around 15" x 23".   The tiny Mexican village of San Pablito, found in the mountains of Puebla, has been making amate bark paper for centuries. The local people are of Otomί ancestry, and continue to practice this ancient tradition of paper making. To the southwest in the State of Guerrero, amate paper is brightly decorated with beautiful scenes depicting everyday life of the villagers, such as the harvest, fiestas, weddings, religious customs and wildlife." When the Spanish banned the paper in Mexico because it was being used for magic and witchcraft, the remote town was one of the few places to preserve the traditional craft. Today, the artisanal paper is highly prized by