Victoria Grimm and her apprentices with their pinatas

Artisans

Apprentices

Pinatas

Decorative arts

Arts, Mexican

Mexican Americans

Latinos

Papier-mache

Two proof sheets with 33 black and white images (plus negatives). Grimm's apprentices were Maria Garza and Raquel Herrera. Grimm, born in Mexico City, learned to make pinatas from her family. She made two types: ones completely of papier-mache, and ones with clay pots covered in papier-mache. Pinatas were used during the posada celebrations, a Mexican Christmas tradition that was observed the nine days before the holiday to represent Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem. The Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program began in 1983 with a NEA grant of $22,000. The program provided an opportunity for master folk artists to share technical skills and cultural knowledge with apprentices in order to keep the tradition alive. Apprentices must have had some experience in the tradition and agreed to train for at least six months. The first project director was Blanton Owen, later replaced by folklorist Peter Roller. The program was continued each year through 2003.

State Archives of Florida, Series S1640

1987-01-28

Florida Folklife Program

Still Image

S1640

5

4

Photographic prints

Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program

Roller, Peter

Grimm, Viki (Victoria), 1935-

Garza, Maria

Herrera, Racquel

Latino

Mexican American

2168

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