In 1970, Juan Negrín Fetter, a young philosopher and artist, visited an exhibition of paintings by Wixarika or Wixaritari (Huichol) artists outside the Basilica of Zapopan. In a few years, Negrín forged strong ties of friendship and collaboration with Wixaritari artists and their families, traveling with them throughout the Wixárika territory. Over the next two decades, he sponsored the creation of a collection of woolen yarn paintings, quarry sculptures, and the collection and documentation of their contents. The works created by José Benítez Sánchez, Tiburcio Carrillo Sandoval, Guadalupe González Ríos, Lucía Lemus de la Cruz, Juan Ríos Martínez and Pablo Taizán de la Cruz form an invaluable collection that identifies them as the masters of modern Wixárika art. These teachers participated in an intercultural dialogue that invited different views towards the spiritual, linguistic and territorial complex of the Wixárika people. The Negrín Collection expresses the conviction shared by its creators that visual art, traditional music and Wixárika orality communicate the importance of preserving their territories, their language and their ancient culture.
In 1970, Juan Negrín Fetter, a young philosopher and artist, visited an exhibition of paintings by Wixarika or Wixaritari (Huichol) artists outside the Basilica of Zapopan. In a few years, Negrín forged strong ties of friendship and collaboration with Wixaritari artists and their families, traveling with them throughout the Wixárika territory. Over the next two decades, he sponsored the creation of a collection of woolen yarn paintings, quarry sculptures, and the collection and documentation of their contents. The works created by José Benítez Sánchez, Tiburcio Carrillo Sandoval, Guadalupe González Ríos, Lucía Lemus de la Cruz, Juan Ríos Martínez and Pablo Taizán de la Cruz form an invaluable collection that identifies them as the masters of modern Wixárika art. These teachers participated in an intercultural dialogue that invited different views towards the spiritual, linguistic and territorial complex of the Wixárika people. The Negrín Collection expresses the conviction shared by its creators that visual art, traditional music and Wixárika orality communicate the importance of preserving their territories, their language and their ancient culture.
