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Molas are works of art created by the
women of the Central American Cuna (or Kuna) tribe, of the San Blas Islands in Panama. They are made using an
appliqué process referred to as "reverse appliqué".
Several layers of cloth varying in color are loosely stitched together. Fine-tipped scissors are
used to cut the top layers. The cut edges are folded back and
stitched to the layer below. Mola means "blouse" and were originally part of
the woman's dress -- now they are sold around the world and are collected
by many.
1. Use the following site (Thorup's
Mola Collection) to learn about the Kuna Indians of San Blas Islands.
Where are the San
Blas Islands located?
How would you describe
the Kuna (Cuna) Indians?
What are "molas"? Molas are
made by a method of reverse appliqué. See
how molas are made. What is a popular theme of molas?
Go to the photo
gallery -- Click on small images to see larger views. Click on numbers
to see molas in Johanna's
collection.
2. See some other
native cultures of the Panama region. What is the traditional
dress of the Kuna women? See how molas are sewn into the blouse
of the Kuna women and girls (photographs by Galen Frysinger)). Look closely at all of the animal
molas in the gallery (see bird and sea life also). What are some
common characteristics? Select one that interests you and tell what you
like about that particular mola.
3. View these bird
molas. What characteristics do you see that are like those of the
previous site? What is meant by "abstract"?
4. Visit The Art of Being Kuna: Layers
of Meaning Among the Kuna of Panama. 32 pieces from the collection of the
National Museum of the American Indian. Experience
how a mola is made. (Great site!- from the Smithsonian
Institute)
5. Compare the molas and molitas on this
Folk Art Exchange site.
What is a molita? How are the molitas different?
6. See if you can answer this question:
"How has the growth and change of
the mola influenced the modern art world, the economy of Panama, and
history of the Kuna Indians?"
Indigenous Art Of Panama: The
indigenous artisans of
Panamá make and sell beautiful
baskets, tagua nut carvings, molas
and other ethnic crafts. Mola
Gallery -- Handmade Molas of the Kuna -- animals, figures, insects and
more.
Mola Collection by Sherry
Thorup.
Many images and cultural information (scroll down for link to
demonstration).
My Mola Collection
(Private collection of Elizabeth Gibson) Mola
and Panama Links
Folk Art Exchange (Private
collection - commercial site--but lots of ideas) Private
Collection of Molas
The
Mola Gallery Click on the types listed - many larger high quality
images.
Molas
(from About.com) Links for buying Molas do not work. To avoid the annoying
pop-up ads try POW
(a free download)
Mola's International Gallery (site currently under construction and
not available)
Molas
and other Central American Art - from Folk Art Exchange
More
Mola Links (some links are broken) from Quilt Ethnic.com
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