Mayan culture has survived since 2000 BC and represents a one-of-a-kind combination of ancient beliefs mixed with Spanish-imposed Catholicism and other cultural influences. If we are to truly appreciate this culture, we must understand each of these elements, how they come together, and how they are presented to the world.

Through their art, the Maya have repeatedly told their story, and historians have continuously studied it. Looking at ancient artifacts, scholars have deciphered many secrets of the Maya's past-but what of their more contemporary pieces? What stories do they...