Beauty from a blade

As a crowd of students loudly chatted in Waltham High School's auditorium yesterday, 61-year-old Oaxacan artist Ventura Fabian peacefully hacked away at a block of copal wood, chiseling in silence as though in a world of his own.

Ten feet away, his son, Noberto Fabian, sat at a table full of vibrantly colored sculptures of humans and animals, all crafted by his family, and carefully painted a freshly carved piece.

Students were spellbound as Ventura Fabian stood up, holding his machete and in Spanish explained the process he's used since he was 17 to create his signature, playful art.

Some of the students studying Spanish understood him, while others studying art and history waited for the translation, but all seemed fascinated by the artists, who visited the high school from San Martin Tilcajete, a small village in the state of Oaxaca.

Art teacher Mary Coughlan, working with Patrick Picciano, interpreter and education outreach coordinator for the Margaritas Restaurant chain's management group, invited the artists to spend the day with Waltham High students, carving wood and demonstrating their craft.

Art students have been sketching skeletons to learn shading, figure drawing and other techniques so the Fabians' visit yesterday on Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday, fit perfectly into their lessons, Coughlan said. On that holiday, Mexicans honor their deceased loved ones and sometimes dress as skeletons.

"We looked at their work as models" for art, she said.

Margaritas, which has a branch in Waltham, strives to share the culture of Mexico with the public, she said.

The elder artist, who is also a farmer, told students he started carving wood at 17, when he made a mask to participate in the village fiesta, then began fashioning wooden dancing animals.

"You don't go to art school in Mexico - you grow up learning art. Kids grow up seeing their parents doing it," said Picciano, who met Ventura Fabian while living in San Martin Tilcajete years ago.

"It's fascinating. Their art is integrated into their culture, and it's nice for kids to see," said Picciano. At the end of the presentation the duo sold some of their art, which ranged in price from $10 to over $100.

In the Fabians' village, more than 80 percent of the population make wooden carvings, he said.

They work with the local wood, called copal, which is a short, spindly tree, Picciano said.

Artists look at the curves of the tree and see the potential form in its shape, he said.

Their tools - machetes and little carving knives - are "crude by any standard," Picciano said.

Ventura Fabian was comfortable with his tools, expertly slicing away pieces of wood as easily as he would peel a carrot or potato.

Oaxaca is rich with artisans, Picciano said: One village makes wooden sculptures, another, clay pottery, in a different town people weave rugs and so on, Picciano said.

"It's been like that for 2,000 years - even before the Mayans," he said.

Dominique Chesterfield, a sophomore studying history, said she thought the presentation was "really cool."

"I didn't know people did stuff like this until I saw it today. It was really creative," said Chesterfield.

Her classmate, freshman Jennifer Campos agreed, saying, "It was really good, creative. It looks really hard to do."

The Fabians will be visiting other schools throughout New England in the coming weeks. They will also visit Margaritas Restaurant, at 211 Moody St. in Waltham, on Sunday from 4-9 p.m., and their art will be for sale.

Joyce Kelly can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jkelly@cnc.com.