Two Zapotec artisans from Oaxaca, Mexico, will be at West Virginia University Sunday, Sept. 24, and Monday, Sept.25, to demonstrate, exhibit and sell their work.

Felipe Hernanadez Vicente is a master weaver from Mexicos Town of the Weavers and Maria de los Angeles Guerrero Diaz is a painter of Oaxacan fantasy animal woodcarvings. The artisans visit and planned events are sponsored by the WVU Craft Center and the Mountainlair, courtesy of the international program at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

Their visit coincides with WVUs Diversity Week activities Sept. 25-29, with a demonstration from 1- 5 p.m in E. Moore Halls Betty Boyd Lounge on Sunday, Sept. 24.

On Monday, Sept. 25, they will conduct on-going demonstrations in the Lair commons area from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Diaz also will be at the WVU Craft Center in Braxton Tower from 6-8 p.m. on Monday.

At each event, the artists will exhibit their work and explain their methods, and Zapotec rugs, painted animal woodcarvings, and ceramics from Oaxaca will be available for purchase. These events are free and open to the public.

Born in 1962, Vicente is from the Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, where he began weaving at age 13. He is one of the featured weavers in a recently published book, The Weavers of Teotitlan,by Andra Fischgrund Stanton, University of New Mexico Press. Autographed copies of this book will be available.

His skilled weaving incorporates designs inspired by his indigenous heritage and colors extracted from natural sources. His designs continue age-old Zapotec tradition as well as include new variations, motifs and color schemes. He contributes to Teotitlans artistic heritage by studying and interpreting the imagery of Mexicos indigenous people, transforming these designs into masterful tapestries and rugs, no two alike.

Diaz was born in 1971 in the Mextec-Zapotec village of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan, Oaxaco, and is a skilled painter of”alebrijes, fantasy animal woodcarvings, typical of several indigenous towns near Oaxaca. Her inspiration is also rooted in indigenous tradition, and her designs represent the artistic richness that has been transmitted from generation to generation.

For more information, contact Louise Lamar-Fuller, program advisor for the WVU Craft Center, (304) 293-3614 or (304) 599-2276, llamarfu@wvu.edu