Molas

The Cuna Indians in Panama, South America, created mola designs. This type of needle work is only found there. These brightly colored applique panels (layers of fabric) are sought after by collectors who display them as works of art. The designs are not made to be symbolic, but merely decorative. More recently, they have incorporated more modern designs into their work such as astronauts or cartoon characters. We made our own Molas, made out of paper, in art class.

This design, of a plant, has a lot of detail and hard work. The precise angles of the shapes take painstaking effort and a lot of time!

Jared chose to make his mola look like a person. He also put lots of paper shapes in the background. "I had to make a mola so I made a guy..... a cool lookin' guy and so he is."

Mike: This mola is of a lizard. Notice that he chose to have rectangles as his background. He, as well as all the others, created the main layers from paper instead of fabric. "I believe mine was good but I think there were better ones out there than mine."

Step 1: Trace the object of your choice in paper and cut it out.

Step 2: Use the pattern to cut out a hole in the middle of a piece of colored construction paper.

Step 3: Mount the larger piece on another piece of paper.

Step 4: Repeat step 2 and 3 but instead of tracing, go around it, slowly getting smaller. Repeat until satisfied.

Step 5: Put small shaped pieces of construction paper on the outer area until you think you have enough.

Step 6: There is no step 6, you are finished!

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