| Dancing on the Loom: Oaxaca Weaving Workshops |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Norma Hawthorne | |
| Thursday, 13 March 2008 12:15 | |
 Oaxaca is the center of an ancient Mesoamerican weaving tradition. Zapotecs have been weaving in the Oaxaca Valley for at least 4,000 years and likely much longer according to archaeologists and anthropologists. Early weavers cultivated and spun cotton, coloring their yarn with natural dyes made from plant materials indigenous to the region: moss and lichen, indigo, pericone, the shells of nuts, the bark of trees, pomegranate skins and seeds, and, of course, cochineal, made from the beetle that reproduces on the nopal cactus. Along with the Spanish conquest in 1521 came the introduction of wool (churro sheep) and the two pedal, double harness floor loom. I’ve been coming to the village of Teotitlan del Valle for almost three years, staying with friends, learning about the weaving traditions, studying the culture. As a textile artist, I have a special appreciation for what weavers in this village create, especially those who work exclusively with natural dyes, like the Federico Chavez Sosa family. Our desire is to create multicultural learning experiences, and from this, we have created “Dancing on the Loom.” Federico Chavez Sosa, his son Eric Chavez Santiago, and I have organized a series of weaving and natural dyeing workshops to teach traditional Zapotec techniques to weavers, knitters, artists, teachers, university students, textile designers, and anyone interested in hand-woven wool tapestry techniques. We will welcome small groups of up to five people into the Chavez family home and workshop in Teotitlan del Valle for four days to learn from the masters. You can be a beginner or an advanced student to participate because the experience is designed to be hands-on and very personal. We’ll adjust the level of complexity to each person’s skill set. At the end of the four-days, you will have completed a sampler tapestry using all naturally dyed wool, perfect for a wall-hanging, pillow cover or handbag. This is a great way to learn and have a cultural immersion experience at the same time! For more information about the weaving workshops and to register, see: www.oaxacaculture.com Norma Hawthorne is an artist, cultural navigator and university administrator, writes about Oaxaca culture on her blog: oaxacaculture.wordpress.com and lives in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, when she’s not working in her North Carolina organic garden. |
|
| Last Updated ( Monday, 17 March 2008 23:32 ) |