Cultural Survival is deeply saddened by the sudden death of our long-time Bazaar vendor, Jean Crandall of La Chula Mula. Jean, 47, a former folklorist at the DC Arts Councildied on November 1, 2011, at her home in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Jean Crandall started working with La Mula Chula in 2002. She wanted to give employment to artisans, friends, and neighbors. Jean had been a teacher for migrant students who are learning English. She had spent extensive time living and working with Mexican families in New York and Mexico. Over time Jean developed a love for Mexican culture and traditional folk arts.
Some of the art La Mula Chula worked with included hand-carved Alebrijes from San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca; Miguel Paredes’ “clay Day of the Dead skeletons4 from Puebla; papier mâché sculpture by Xochitl Fuentes of San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca; Manuel Garcia and Jose Jorge Garcia, silver filigree artists from Oaxaca; tinwork by Martha Cortes Angel and family of Oaxaca; palm and raffia weavings by Oscar Hoyos Chavez, and Flor Chavez of Santa Catarina Tlaltempan, Puebla; handmade piñatas by Alvaro Castro Flores of Puebla; embroidery and handmade amate paper from the Otomí community of San Pablito Pahuatlán, Puebla; clay figures by Leticia Blanco and family of Santa Maria Atzompa, Oaxaca; laquerwork from Olinilá, Guerrero; “Barro Policromado” by Isabel Castillo and Elfego Vasquez Piedra of Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla; Otomí embroidery by Demetria Arollo Cruz; and Nahua basketry from Guerrero, Mexico.
Jean’s family is organizing a memorial and reception for Jean on Saturday, December 3, at 11 am, at the Cunneen Hackett Theater (12 Vassar Street, POK).
