Applique wall hanging, 'Festival'

The sun shines brightly on an Andean fiesta. Known as Yunsa or Tumbamonte, this celebration usually takes place during carnival time. A tree is festooned with balloons, streamers and presents, and partygoers dance around the tree. Each one chops at the trunk with a hatchet until it falls, then everyone seizes the goodies from the branches. Mar�a Uyauri creates the scene in intricate arpiller�a � embroidered appliqu�s of fabric cutouts hand-stitched to a background of cotton. Crafted in three dimensions, each figure is lavishly embroidered. A display rod can slip through an opening at the top of the wall hanging.