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The tradition of wood carving for masks and toys has been a part of Mexican culture for a long time. However, the brightly painted Oaxacan wood carvings, produced in several small villages outside of the city of Oaxaca, dates back only to the 1950's. It is thought that master carver, Manuel Jimenez - who passed away in 2005 - is thought to be the origianl creator of this art form. Popular wood carvings, also known as "alebrijes" run the gamut from animals, religious icons, muertos and fantastical creatures. The shapes, sizes and colors are only limitied by the artists' imagination.
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