This enchanting fish alebrije by artist Ivan Fuentes is an example of storytelling through color and form. Ivan is a member of the talented Fuentes family of Oaxaca woodcarvers. Hand carved in Oaxaca from a single block of fragrant copal wood, its body and upturned tail evoke the graceful arc of a wave frozen in time. The painting brings this little swimmer to life: concentric “eye” motifs on its flank recall both a fish’s gaze and ancient solar disks. A school of miniature fish in jewel-bright blues, pinks, and yellows seems to swim across the body like a living mural, symbolizing community and abundance as many lives move together toward a larger purpose.
