Felipe Benito Archuleta (Hispanic American 1910-1991), ca. 1970 to 1980s CE, "Woodpeckers." This is a fabulous hand carved and painted wooden sculpture by the folk artist Felipe Archuleta. The piece consists of a large tree trunk that is left in a mostly natural state, with a mother woodpecker carved separately and attached to the trunk, and a wooden chick's head protruding from a natural cavity. The mother has a tuft of dried grass in her mouth to add to the nest inside the cavity. The wood and materials in this piece are all found items; taken from Archuleta’s or his neighbors' land. Archuleta uses chainsaws and chisels to shape each piece and attaches the pieces to each other with nails. An adhesive mixed with sawdust is applied to fill in any gaps and is then painted. Size: 15" W x 28" H (38.1 cm x 71.1 cm)

Felipe Benito Archuleta was born in Santa Cruz, New Mexico into a poor family that immigrated from Mexico. He left school at an early age to help support his family as a field laborer, stone mason, and then as a carpenter for most of his adult life. When he was 57, Archuleta fell on especially hard times and turned to religion and intense prayer to seek an answer to his situation and give his life a more purposeful direction. He claims that God spoke to him and commanded Archuleta to use his carpentry talents to carve animals. However, Archuleta also visited a gallery owned by Dr. Rudy Kieve who sold hand-carved sculptures, which may have been his true inspiration. Archuleta quickly gained recognition for his distinctive style and sometimes terrifying creations, often focused on exaggerating the teeth and claws of the animals. He is considered the father of modern "Non Santero" carvings, and his work has been exhibited in many folk-art exhibitions and museums. His son, Leroy Archuleta (1949 to 2002), and grandson Ron Archuleta Rodriguez (1968 to present) have followed in his footsteps and assisted in the workshop, becoming talented carvers as well. For more information, please see the American Folk Art Museum website essay "American Perspectives: Felipe Benito Archuleta."

Provenance: ex-William and Jane Frazer, Aspen, Colorado, USA, acquired 1980s

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#166619

Not signed. Old inactive insect holes on trunk. Nicely weathered patina. Some minor fading to pigments. Intact and great condition.