Masa

Brand conceived of a series of bronze sculptures while riding his bike past a tortilleria (called Los Tres Tiempos) on the main road from his home to his studio in a neighboring pueblo. He passed by the tortilla stand daily and was overtaken by the visceral experience of Los Tres Tiempos; the loose rhythmic slapping sound created the by local women brightly dressed in their traditional native clothing as they patted the dough balls into flat discs, the rich smell of the cornmeal being cooked on top of giant steel cooktops, and the smoke from the ever-present wood fire coming from the steel laminate and concrete block structures.

What caught his eye were the large mounds of cornmeal (called masa) from which the women were making their dough balls that would be turned into tortillas. With the fingerprints of the women scattered across the mounds of dough, he saw this as an imprint of a moment in time that he wanted to capture. He wanted to create an homage to the women that were creating the most important food source in Guatemala.

One day Brand asked one of the women that had been making tortillas if he could buy the mound of masa. She was clearly confused by the request and at first, just smiled and continued working. But Brand persisted and the deal was made. The artist then took the masa and a bag of tortillas to a local bronze foundry and had them cast into sculptures.

There are currently no products in this collection.

Close

Shipping

As artists, we recognize the value of original work. Each and every piece of art is thoughtfully wrapped with care to protect and ensure it arrives ready to hang.

2-Day Available

We are unable to provide overnight shipping, but we can do 2-day air. Due to the size of most of the pieces of art, it is costly. Our recommendation is ground.

Communication

We strive for constant communication to make sure you feel part of the journey. We are also always available. Just reach out.