Native Molas

Kuna Indians

Who

• Group of indians in mexico that speak the Dulegaya language.

• In Dulegaya, the Kuna's native language, "mola" means "shirt" or "clothing"

What is a Mola?• The mola originated with the tradition of Kuna women painting their

bodies with geometrical designs, using available natural colors; in later years these same designs were woven in cotton, and later still, sewn using cloth bought from the European settlers of Panamá

• the Kuna first used the geometrical patterns which have been used for body painting before. In the past 50 years, they also started to depict realistic and abstract designs of flowers, sea animals and birds

• Molas are hand made using a reverse appliqué technique. Several layers (usually two to seven) of different-colored cloth (usually cotton) are sewn together; the design is then formed by cutting away parts of each layer

• Molas are the brightly colored applique panels made only in the San Blas region of Panama by the Kuna Indians. The Kunas have resided in the Panama/Colombia area for centuries. They managed to survive successive waves of European exploration and settlement. During the 1800s, the Indians began migrating eastward.

Mola costumes/clothing• The traditional costume of a Kuna woman consists of a patterned blue cotton

wrapped skirt, red and yellow headscarf, arm and leg beads, gold nose rings and earrings and the many layered and finely sewn mola panel blouse

• The artistry of a mola reflects the traditional Kuna culture with the influences of the modern world.

• Mola art (for trade and consumer goods) developed when Kuna women had access to store bought yard goods. Mola designs are often inspired by modern graphics such as political posters, labels, pictures from books and TV cartoons, as well as traditional themes from Kuna legends and culture

• Girls learn to make Molas at a young age. A woman might spend up to 100 hours completing a Mola. The source for traditional design inspiration for Molas include the following: natural-world native animals (iguanas, lizards, parrots, fish), local vegetation (palm trees, coconut crops, sea grasses), and the shapes of the coral reefs around the San Blas islands.

Sample

When?

• the oldest molas are between 150 and 170 years old.

Where?

A crab

Telling a story

bird

Student samples

Begin with a simple drawing

aligator

What you will be doing

• You will create a paper mola• Must draw an animal that you feel represents

you (communicate through symbols)• Draw it large on paper, coming up with

patterns for the background, in the same style. • Watch size, space, style,etc.