Leopoldo Aguilar Rodriguez from Charapan, Michoacán carves wooden masks used in the traditional Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the Little Old Men). These intricate faces are carved from wood and sometimes cornstalk paste with hats and beautiful ribbons worn by Danzantes (dancers). Typically, there are four men representing earth. air, fire, and water, and are also representative of the four colors of corn which are red, yellow, white, and blue. The Danzantes ask El Dios Viejo (The Old God) for a good harvest, communication with spirits, and to learn about the past or to predict the future. Leopoldo continues the art of these intense and intricately carved masks.
