Textile TraditionsThis trip takes us into the homes and workshops of the Oaxaca masters. We travel to the villages that specialize in the wood carved “alebrijes”, the sleek black pottery, and treadle and backstrap loom weavings, to see how the crafts are made, and for the opportunity to buy directly from the artisans!
Learn about the history of natural dyes in the Americas, namely cochineal. Included is a three day hands-on natural dye workshop, where we will gather the natural materials, prepare dyes and dye wool. We will learn about mordants and additives used to create the hues of the rainbow!
It is said that the vision of weaving designs and technical ability come to the women of Highland Chiapas in dreams. The symbols used in their weavings form a language that expresses the cosmos and each persons place in it. This trip focuses on the textile traditions of Maya Highland villages that surround San Cristobal de las Casas. Leading experts and authors in the field of Maya textile traditions accompany this trip.
Ark of Taste & Presidia Tour, Culinary History & Culture in Veracruz, Oaxaca and Puebla. Food and culture in Veracruz, La Chinantla, Oaxaca and Puebla. Learn of ancient Ark of Taste foods being preserved in Mexico. Experience the regional cuisine, meet fishermen and experience the singular “Caldo de Piedra” that…
February-2019
Veracruz, Chinantla, Oaxaca & Tehuacan, Puebla Visit the Port of Veracruz and the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa! We’ll view private textile collections, and travel on an extraordinary journey to a region rarely visited in Oaxaca’s Papaloapan Basin. The natural landscape is varied…
This extraordinary journey takes us to singular and diverse regions of Mexico in Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala and Mexico City. Not only will we be able to appreciate the vast diversity of Mexico, we’ll learn about the varied textile traditions in natural dyes, weaving and embroidery. We’ll savor new flavors, meet artisans and visit ancient archeological sites! Join us on this journey to a different Mexico!.
Join us to Oaxaca and Veracruz on The WARP (Weave a Real Peace) Annual Meeting Trip: “In the Footsteps of Irmgard Weitlaner-Johnson”. The post-Tour: “The Art of the Ikat Rebozo: Traditions and Techniques”. And the Workshop: “Natural Dye One-Day” with the master dyers of the Centro de Arte Zapoteco Bii Dauu to learn of their ancient techniques and masterful use of working with natural dyes.
We’ll meet the weavers and spend two full days with them, learning about and experiencing their lives and daily rhythms of tending to their sheep, carding, spinning, dying and weaving wool. We’ll also attend the Festival Textil in the Sierra Zongolica.
This trip explores the cultures of Colombia, traveling along the Caribbean Coast. We begin in Cartagena and have an overview of the people, crafts and cultures of Colombia with the fine folks at Artesanias de Colombia. Then we’ll begin exploring! Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela in the Guajira Peninsula await.
If you love textile traditions, dye resist techniques and colonial cities, this trip is for you! This year, our trip is scheduled around the Feria del Rebozo in Tenancingo. We enjoy this unique opportunity to see (& buy) the “best from the best” for our special collections. In Mexico City, we’ll visit the shrine of “Nuestor Senor del Rebozo”, and see the Franz Mayer Museum antique rebozo collection…
Bogota and Medellin, December
This special travel program is designed around the singular Expoartesanias Colombia, the largest and most important gathering and showcase of Colombia’s artisans and their art. The Expoartesanias handcraft fair, is entering its 27th year and features the finest in Colombia’s diverse traditional and contemporary craft from the entire country.
On this journey we will learn about the rich textile traditions as cultural expressions of the Highland Maya people of Chiapas. Based out of San Cristobal de Las Casas, we will make daily visits to surrounding communities to learn how they express their inner beliefs on cloth and identify themselves to the world through their unique community dress.
In partnership with Wild West Weaving of Silver City, New Mexico, we’ll explore, learn and experience the “magic colors” of Oaxaca! From the caracol purpura on the Coast, the indigo from the Isthmus, to the cochineal of Oaxaca’s Central Valleys, we’ll learn about the ancient and living colors of this singular region. This journey includes a 3-day natural dye workshop! Join us!
Maya Textiles and Traditions:
The Guatemala countryside is beautiful and its people are warm. Surrounded by volcanoes, Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places on earth. On this journey, we’ll travel to regions and communities in the Guatemala Highlands, home to the Maya people. Beginning in Guatemala City, we’ll visit the Ixchel Museum of Maya Textiles and Popol Vuh Museum of History, in order to get our grounding in the country we are about to visit.
Frida Kahlo: Dress and Identity Many aspects of Frida Kahlo have been studied, pondered and admired. From her art, politics, love life, travails, and many others. A singular aspect of Frida Kahlo and her identity was her dress. Frida used dress consciously in the creation of her identity. Through dress, she crafted her image, displaying her cultural heritage from both Europe and Mexico.
