MILAGROS:  Acquiring their name from the Spanish word for “Miracles”,  milagros are devotional charms originating from ancient folk customs in various Latin American cultures. Though they have been traditionally fashioned from materials such as wood, wax, and bone, these charms are most typically cast in silver and occasionally gold. For centuries, milagros have been offered to deities as symbols for a person’s concerns, wishes, and gratitudes for specific miracles. You will frequently see milagros in the forms of body parts, in thanks or concern for healing a certain area. While hearts may be assumed to symbolize love, they often represented prayers for one’s internal organs. Similarly, a crown traditionally was offered to a saint as a plea for successful marriage. Despite their religious origins, we always recommend milagros as heartfelt, personalized gifts: a foot milagro for an athlete, a lung for someone trying to quit smoking, a plane for safe travels, or even a horse milagro to give your little niece who just wants a pony.

EX-VOTOS: Literally translating as “from a vow,” ex-votos are very similar to milagros in that they call for good health, well-being, and miracles. Nomad has a wonderful medley of vintage ex-votos from Northern Brazil, each hand-carved from a single piece of wood. The ex-votos represent promesas, promises that are kept by the doner in exchange for a granted request. The most abundant type of ex-voto are the sculptures of body parts, manifesting areas once affected by illness, disease, or pain–problems that certain saints are believed to cure. Their meaning is largely determined by the individual prayer. A breast may symbolize maternity, an open hand for mercy and blessing, or a foot to represent a long walk.

EVIL EYE CHARMS: A dominant symbol amongst the people of Turkey, and often given in the form of an amulet to wear for protection, the Evil Eye is assumed as the negative power or bad energy that a person often projects, consciously or not. The Turkish people, along with many other cultures, believe that a form of the Evil Eye should be kept on person or hung in the home, as all of the negative energy is absorbed into the amulet rather than the self.  It is an ancient superstition that is still upheld all over the world, from the Mediterranean coasts, Arabia, Turkey, and all the way to India.

MUNACHI: The munachi is a Peruvian amulet that is inspired by the Quechua word, muna, meaning “to love”, and chi, “to cause to happen”. In other words, if you are looking for love and companionship, this is how to show it! The charm is actually carved from a small piece of soapstone or black terracota clay, and represents two lovers entwined head-to-head, heart-to-heart, and foot-to-foot. The design, particularly with the soapstone, is often a bit vague at first glance, but when the charm is perceived in its entirety, the image of love and sexuality is very moving. In ancient traditions, a “love-spell” was cast when a piece of one lover’s hair was knotted around the necks of the charm, then later given to his or her significant other as a keepsake.

(The story behind these munachis makes me love mine that much more!)

The Art & Soul of Mexico tour is well on its way, and while the travelers are enjoying the warmth and vivacity of Mexican culture, we at Nomad are living vicariously through emails and photographs. And we are happy to share them with you here!

This past Saturday, the muchachas visited La Casa Azul, the home where Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera lived. After the artists’ death, the home was converted into el Museo de Frida Kahlo, and is currently exhibiting perhaps one of its most exquisite and emotional collections yet.

The exhibit is titled “Appearances Can be Deceiving: the Dresses of Frida Kahlo,” and displays a wide range of outfits, jewelry, and shoes from Frida’s typical wardrobe. The clothing she wore, viewers can see, helped disguise her physical impairments, as she suffered from polio. But more significantly, the dress represents the culture in which she flourished. The Tehuana pieces are of the most fervor, made by indigenous artisans and symbolizing the matriarchal Tehuantepec society.

Frida’s closet fully embodies the spirit of the feminist figure and timeless fashion icon. After her death in 1954, Frida’s wardrobe was locked in the closet by her husband, Diego, who vowed it never be opened by public hands at the risk of its contents being ruined. But after his death and a long 59 years, the museum excitedly unlocked Frida’s closet so that fans all over the world may celebrate more pieces of her life.

Along with eating delicious traditional food, sight-seeing in modern cities and archeological cites, going to museums, and enjoying demonstrations from artisans; weavers, ceramicists, painters, beaders and chefs, the gang sure did a lot of what Nomads do best…. shopping!

The snapshot here shows Deb picking out some goodies in Guatemala to bring back for the Nomad store back in Cambridge.  Looking forward to lots more to come from this year’s trip to Oaxaca!  Stay tuned.

Ishi Designs is the perfect fit for Nomad in that it reflects our love for handmade jewelry with ethnographic influence and a bit of magic.

Artist/Designer Gina Barrios has been working with the Huichol people of Mexico, known for their symbolic bead work, to craft a collection of bracelets, amulet necklaces, and rings that you can find right here at Nomad.

& We are currently anticipating the latest Ishi Designs Project for Spring: Gina has lately been working with the weavers of Tenancingo, Mexico to create a colorful collection of scarves inspired by the traditional Spanish rebozos.

]]> http://nomadcambridge.com/2013/01/03/ishi-designs/feed/ 0 http://nomadcambridge.com/2012/09/30/aib-storefront-project/ http://nomadcambridge.com/2012/09/30/aib-storefront-project/#comments Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:59:24 +0000 admin http://nomadcambridge.com/?p=677  Nomad is so excited to be participating in theArt Institute  of Boston(AIB) Storefront Project! Since AIB became affiliated with Lesley University in 1998, (our friendly neighbor both to the left and the right), plans have been in the works to bring AIB, currently in Kenmore Square, to Cambridge.  Designs have been drawn up, funding is snowballing, and groundbreaking is slated to begin this year. (You can look at the designs here.  AIB is also proudly celebrating their Centennial year. The AIB Storefront Project is meant to welcome AIB to the Harvard/Porter community, and to congratulate the school ]]>  Nomad is so excited to be participating in theArt Institute  of Boston(AIB) Storefront Project! Since AIB became affiliated with Lesley University in 1998, (our friendly neighbor both to the left and the right), plans have been in the works to bring AIB, currently in Kenmore Square, to Cambridge.  Designs have been drawn up, funding is snowballing, and groundbreaking is slated to begin this year. (You can look at the designs here.  AIB is also proudly celebrating their Centennial year.

The AIB Storefront Project is meant to welcome AIB to the Harvard/Porter community, and to congratulate the school on reaching 100.  AIB collaborated with 17 retail stores along Massachusetts avenue in organizing this project; putting AIB student, faculty and alumni work in the windows for one month.  We were paired with an incredibly talented alumna of AIB, Julie Angela Theresa, whose paintings have brought us so much positivity from the local community.  We also think that it’s safe to say that our window merchandiser, Rebecca Demorest, did a fabulous job of integrating Julie’s paintings in with our clothing and goods. If you haven’t checked out our windows in person yet, please come visit!  Catch the rest of the artwork in the windows of our retail neighbors as you walk to Nomad, from either direction.  You can find the blog for the project, get information, and see images of the work at: http://storefrontartproject.wordpress.com. You can look at Julie’s work (the AIB artist we’re representing) online at: Julie Angela Theresa.

Here is Lesley’s article about the exhibit:

http://news.lesley.edu/2012/08/aib-kicks-off-centennial-celebration-through-storefront-window-exhibit.shtml

The exhibition will have a closing reception on Wednesday October 10th, and we’ll follow up with further details on facebook (facebook.com/nomadcambridge).

Baba displays huge traditional-style Fulani earrings

For the past 25 years, Nomad has relied on African traders who pass by from time to time in vans full of all kinds of treasures; masks, beads, jewelry and other fine crafts. One of our all time favorite traders, Peace Core Baba of Mopti, Mali, recently travelled to the U.S. to show a stunning collection of goods at the L.A. Gift Show!

Of his selection, we are most excited to share with you the traditional earrings of the Fulani women of Mali, and the craftsmanship behind them. The finest Fulani earrings are made from pure gold, and wrapped with red silk or wool thread around the wire to support their weight. These elaborate earrings were the Fulani womens’ primary display of her wealth, and were a declaration of financial independence. Historically, these gold earrings were only obtained on her wedding day or upon the death of her mother.  The most popular styles are now made in silver or brass.

Fulani earrings are generally made by African metal smiths.  To make each earring, the artist will heat individual strips of metal, carefully score it, then hammer it into thin blades. While the blades are flexible, the artist will twist the metal into the trademark Fulani earring shape.

& We now have brass and silver styles available to you at Nomad in all sizes (except for the jumbo ones), all thanks to the artistry of Peace Core Baba!

Our Nepal Art Dog window display is getting attention from some exciting sources!

A Nepali man who works in the neighborhood stopped by to tell us how excited he was to see a little part of his home town right here in Cambridge.  He said that he was very familiar with hand-painted signage.  In Nepal, people have their license plates hand-painted, and almost every house has a “Beware of Dog” sign, whether or not there is actually a dog inside.  Such great insider info into the art of Nepali sign painting!

A local blogger, Jan Devereux, writes articles on www.cambridgecanine.com, and is always looking for inspiration around the Cambridge/Fresh Pond area.  She featured our Danger Dogs (and Dr. Watson) in an article yesterday (7.12.2012) after paying a visit to Nomad.  Here’s the full link: http://cambridgecanine.com/2012/07/danger-dogs-visit-from-nepal/ .  We’re so happy she visited!

Spring has sprung and the heats on!

This Memorial day weekend, forget about the corn dogs.  Treat your palette to a south of the border flavor fiesta with the Quick & Easy Mexican cookbook.

All you need is a good cocktail and some good amigos to share the fun.

Guatemala has suffered several decades of political turmoil and civil war and was focused primarily in Guatemala’s highland area, known as the Ixil Triangle. Many native people were caught in the cross-fire and their village life & livelihood ruined. So when we planned our visit to Guatemala, we made sure to include stops to this highland area. We were invited to visit the re-emerging fair-trade artisan co-operatives of this rural area in Guatamala and felt privileged to be some of the first tourists to return and tour the lush highlands of this beautiful land.