With the WNMU Foundation, we’ll experience the best of Jalisco! From the Art of the Charro, Tequila, Mariachis, Murals, Pottery in Jalisco, we’ll cover a lot of ground! We’ll learn about the distilled spirit that is synonymous with Mexico, by immersing in the town that bears its name: Tequila!
Join us on a journey to learn about and witness one of nature’s wonders–the monarch butterfly migration. Here, in the fir trees of Michoacan at between 8,000-12,000 feet, the monarch butterflies take rest for the winter months after flying over 3,000 miles. Here, they cluster in groups on the fir trees to stay warm. During the day, they enjoy the sunshine and can be seen flying in massive groups…
We will embark on fascinating excursions to meet farmers, fishermen, and ranchers to better understand and appreciate the farm to table relationships and supply chain of uniquely Yucatecan ingredients. Visitors will visit a Yucatecan family to discover the traditional pit cooking style called pib. The culinary traditions of Yucatan are like none other!
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!
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…
We explore the multiple ethnic communities of Oaxaca (and Guerrero) to learn of their cultural and ethnic expressions in dress and textiles. From the Amuzgo in Guerrero to the Mixtec, Huave, Zapotec in Oaxaca we will see how textile traditions and dress are a cultural passport and unique expression of the women (and some men) who live in this region.
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.
Learn of the Ancient and Present Day Maya in the Tabasco & Chiapas Lowlands and Highlands. Arriving in Villahermosa, we have the opportunity to marvel at the Olmec culture and their monumental sculpture. Also in Tabasco, Comalcalco is a rarely visited Maya site of the Classic Era, rich in stucco sculpture and made of brick! …
Join us on a journey to learn about the art of the “maque”, lacquerware of Guerrero, one of three regions of Mexico that continues this ancient tradition. Guerrero is home to the maque tradition, namely the “cajitas” little boxes of Olinala. The tradition of lacquerware or “maque” is pre-hispanic in origin, originally applied to gourds to protect them from cracking and breaking. Later, this tradition and technique became fused with other influences in aesthetics and applications, namely from Asia and Europe.
A not to be missed annual Oaxaca event, the Guelaguetza is a celebration of Oaxaca’s regional costume and dance in honor of the pre-Hispanic goddess of corn, Centeotl. Villagers in full regalia arrive from their respective villages to put on a spectacle of dance and music. Join us in the small villages to celebrate this most colorful and memorable spectacle!
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is unlike any other region in Mexico, and from the moment you arrive, your senses tell you that this place is different. The climate is hot and tropical, the landscape is rich and lush, the famous “traje” worn by women is vibrant and dramatic, the women call the shots, and the festivals known as “velas” are parties held in honor of saints…
Travel to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and Calakmul Ruins. Visit the heart of the Rio Bec region of Campeche. Get to know the Classic Puuc site of Uxmal, followed by other sites on the Puuc route, such as Sayil, Kabah and Labna, where we see great examples of the Puuc style palaces and arches, originally discovered by Stephens and Catherwood in the 1840’s…
