Orlando Orta, his brothers and his father Juan Orta Castillo/ MEXICO

are known internationally. Juan Orta has had exhibitions at the Art Institute in Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, Brown University and many other places. Their masks are used in the State of Michoac?n for dancing. This picture depicts a miniature mask called Astucia, 2" x 2", that was awarded an artisan prize.
Technique: Don Juan works primarily with wood. The first step is to carve the mask, then it is let to dry under the sun and latter is polished with sand paper. The beauty of this masks come not only from the carving but form the painting. They specialize in the creation of devil masks with serpents around the face. They also carve animal masks and miniature masks.