Before the arrival of the Spanish, Feather Art, or Arte Plumaria, was one of the most important art forms in the Americas, especially for the Olmecs, Toltecs, Totonacs, Mayans, and Aztecs, and in Peru the Chimus and Incas principally. Feathers were considered more valuable than gold and were converted into art before the arrival of the Spaniards. Multicolored plumes were fashioned into splendid customs, shields, headdresses, emblems, capes, earrings, and arrows. Because feathers were associated with the gods, only royalty and priests could use them, the most precious being from the quetzal, macaw, hummingbird, and eagle.

Join artist Miriam Quezada as she discusses one of the main expressions of art used by the indigenous peoples in the New Spain, as well as view some historical curiosities discovered throughout her travels researching Arte Plumaria. This program is an art and cultural history discussion, not a workshop.

Light refreshments provided courtesy of the Los Amigos of East Los Angeles Library.

For adults