Oaxacan Wood Carving

The scent of copal wood fills the air in San Martín Tilcajete. Here, the Jimenez family carves fantastical creatures known as Alebrijes. While the men typically carve the wood using machetes and pocket knives, the women apply the impossibly intricate, colorful dot patterns. Each piece takes months to dry, carve, and paint. The family's work is not just art; it is a spiritual expression of Zapotec culture.