THE TAPESTRIES OF UNIT B
Woven Birds
Hector Jara (1957 - 2022), recipient of the prestigious Fondo Estatal para la Cultura y las Artes grant for 1996-97, redefined traditional weaving with his extraordinary series, The Four Woven Birds. Inspired by the beauty of birds—their plumage, vibrant colors, and graceful forms—these pieces explore a unique three-dimensional space. Jara’s designs evoke multiple planes or levels, allowing air to flow through the fragments. This interplay of movement and lightness imbues the monumental works with a sense of flight and freedom.
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Using modern and traditional techniques, Jara designed these weavings digitally and hand-dyed wool yarn with both natural and synthetic dyes. The pieces were brought to life by skilled artisans from Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca—Zapotec weavers who carry the legacy of their ancestral craft. To complete his vision, Jara adorned the woven forms with ceramic beads, handmade by señora Guadalupe Pedro and Don Mariano in San Bartolo Coyotepec, and carefully tied off each thread, transforming his work into masterpieces that honor tradition while embracing modernity.
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Hector Jara earned his masters in Graphic Arts and Design at the Universidad de la Americas in Cholula, Puebla. He worked in Oaxaca, Mexico to create weavings with artisans from Teotitlán del Valle where he created large-format weavings for hotel lobbies. He also produced "Tapices homenaje a los antiguos Hombres Dioses de México" (Weavings in Honor of the Ancient God-Men of Mexico), reproductions of pre-hispanic mural paintings from Teotihuacan and Cacaxtla which have been exhibited in various Mexican states and internationally.
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Unit B is proud to provide a space for these otherworldly Woven Birds to call home. Join us in person to see what photos cannot capture, and be cradled in the wings of these beautiful birds as you enjoy an evening with friends or family.
"Hummingbird"
The form and vibrant colors of this weaving were inspired by the iridescent feathers of the hummingbird.
Each feather contains the "God's eye" pattern, radiating in a brilliant rainbow of colors. The various parts of this piece were carefully woven by the artisans Guillermina and José Luis Gutierrez; the red wings by Lorenzo Gutierrez.
"Scarlet Macaw"
The patterns and colors of this weaving were inspired by the brilliant plumage of the scarlet macaw with patterns stemming from pre-hispanic geometric designs from from ancient Zapotec temples in Teotitlan del Valle. It was woven by artisans José Luis Gutierrez and his wife
Guillermina.
