Kino Bay Chronicle

Kino Ironwood Carvings

If there is any single identifying trademark in Kino Bay it is the ironwood carving. These "figuras" were created first by Seri Indians. .In recent years, Mexican carvers have come to dominate this field of crafts, having had the advantage of power tools when the Seris had no electricity.

lronwood, known for its beauty and density, is extremely difficult to work with hand tools. Fausto Garcia, owner of Kino Bay RV Park, says that it was an American named Brown who, in the early 1920's, first persuaded the Seris to try this craft, and showed them a dolphin carving made in Hawaii of softer wood. The sample carving had mother-of-pearl eyes but the Seris used pieces of glass which they hammered into the wood in this first, very crude carvings.

Whatever its impetus and origin, the Seris rapidly developed ironwood carving as an art form which became widely known.

There are now many home workshops in Old Kino which employ entire families. A number of fine Mexican artisans have emerged. Their subjects are mostly animal, fish, bird, or plant forms with which they are familiar. They study the shape and grain of wood to be carved,

Unfortunately, ironwood supplies in Sonora are dwindling rapidly. Although mesquite wood is sometimes substituted, the disappearance of ironwood threatens the continuation of this beautiful art form.

Although the Seris who visit New Kino these days have fewer carvings to sell, they still bring shell necklaces and some of the most beautiful baskets in the world.

To see how these are made, as well as the full and interesting story of Seri life and culture, visit the Seri Museum (operated by the State of Sonora) in the park on the Mar de Cortez between Progreso and Cancun. Although photo captions and explanations are in Spanish, the exhibits are largely self explanatory in case visitors have a language problem. Adjoining the museum is a small gift shop in which excellent examples of Seri arts and crafts are sold.

Seri Indians, like Trinidad, who have lived along these shores for countless generations, weave baskets of unsurpassed beauty.