Cultural Community: Mexican American
Artform: Riposteria and Piñatas
Residence: Southwestern Idaho

Bio: For Mexican communities everywhere, life passages are linked to celebrations, including traditional foods, games, song, dance, and ephemeral objects that create beauty and impart meaning. Born in southern Texas, Maria Andrea learned how to bake and decorate cakes for birthdays, quinceañeras, and weddings in San Antonio. In the 1950’s she moved to Idaho with her children to join her husband Jesse who worked for the Idaho Migrant Council. She also began to make paper flowers, piñatas, and cascarones for her children to share with friends. She soon became known as a piñatera and ripostera ­ a piñata and cake maker - sought by those who had a special family celebration. Maria Andrea has taught different cultural traditions to generations of Mexican and Mexican-American women as she and her husband worked with migrant and established communities in Idaho. Starting in the 1950s, in the Magic Valley, she became one of the pioneer organizers of community festivals around the state. Maria Andrea volunteers in schools and is a mentor to young women and a living source of knowledge for the history of Latinos in Idaho.

Honors/Awards: 2006, Master, Idaho Commission on the Arts Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program

For Services Offered,  Availability,  and Costs, please contact the artist.

Glossary Terms: cascarones, Latino, Mexican American, quinceañeras

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