# Oaxaca State Congress cultural awards

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/oaxaca-state-congress-cultural-awards
> Updated: 2026-09-30T21:17:38.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The Oaxaca State Congress has issued several recognitions to individuals contributing to the state’s cultural and artistic landscape.

In late September 2026, the Congress awarded the ‘Rodolfo Morales 2026’ Medal and the Artistic Merit Award to Santa Obdulia Hernández Nicolás for painting and Víctor Orozco Orozco for plastic arts. Legislative leaders noted that art serves as a tool for “social transformation, identity, and community memory” in the region.

Following these awards, the Congress also honored master artisans Dionicio Hernández López and Margarito Melchor Fuentes for their roles in preserving cultural heritage. Hernández López was recognized for his work with the backstrap loom and traditional knowledge in Santo Tomás Jalieza, while Fuentes was honored for over fifty years of expertise in copal wood carving.

## Claims

- The Oaxaca State Congress presented public recognition to master artisans Dionicio Hernández López and Margarito Melchor Fuentes. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Deputy Eva Diego Cruz highlighted the career of Dionicio Hernández López, who specialized in backstrap loom weaving. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Dionicio Hernández López served as the first president of the Union of Artisans of Santo Tomás Jalieza in 1968. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Hernández López contributed to the rescue of traditional knowledge regarding coyuchi cotton. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Margarito Melchor Fuentes has dedicated over five decades to wood carving. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Melchor Fuentes's copal wood carvings of felines have been exhibited in galleries in Mexico, the United States, and Japan. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-30: Oaxaca State Congress honors master artisans for cultural heritage preservation

The Oaxaca State Congress honored master artisans Dionicio Hernández López and Margarito Melchor Fuentes for their lifelong dedication to preserving traditional textile and wood carving heritage.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/oaxaca-state-congress-honors-master-artisans-for-cultural-heritage-preservation

### 2026-09-22: Oaxaca State Congress awards Rodolfo Morales Medal to local artists

The Oaxaca State Congress awarded the “Rodolfo Morales 2026” Medal to artists Santa Obdulia Hernández Nicolás and Víctor Orozco Orozco for their cultural contributions.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/oaxaca-state-congress-awards-rodolfo-morales-medal-to-local-artists

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Cite as: Oaxaca State Congress cultural awards. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/oaxaca-state-congress-cultural-awards