(Pasadena)
Rocky was introduced to the folk arts of Mexico on a tour organized by the Craft and Folk Art Museum of Los Angeles in 1977. After meeting and establishing friendships with many Oaxacan artisans during subsequent visits, she began buying their folk art creations. She sold them first from her home, and then from a special display storage building she had constructed behind her home. By this time, Rocky was supplying folk art to a number of museum and folk art stores throughout the Southwest and California. As interest in and demand for this work grew, Rocky opened The Folk Tree in Pasadena in 1986. She has bought its collection of thousands of decorative, utilitarian, and ceremonial folk objects directly from the artists whenever possible. In addition, Rocky wrote and published for many years “Las Noticias,” an informative newsletter of interest to collectors of Latin American folk arts and those who enjoy travel to visit traditional artisans in communities throughout Mexico, Guatemala, and other world craft meccas. She has repeatedly directed two folk art and culture tours to Mexico, one to Oaxaca and the other to Michoacan and Jalisco focusing primarily on the areas’ folk arts and artisans.
Rocky served on the original Board of Directors of FOFA from 2007-9, contributing her vast knowledge of Oaxaca’s folk arts and artists to the 2008 young artists’ competition. Now she continues to do so as a member of the Advisory Board.
