Primo brings extensive knowledge of his craft and culture teaching the history and the methods of weaving used by the Zapotecs for hundreds of years. Carolyn acts as both a language and cultural interpreter providing a contemporary context for the work. They will teach the words for weaving and equipment in both Spanish and English and talk about the differences and similarities in weaving in other parts of the world.
Primo demonstrates winding a warp, Zapotec style, with on pegs in a wall, while Carolyn describes how to create the proper tension on the thread.
On the first day of the workshop, we walk in the mountains above Santa Ana to identify the plants used for making rope that is used in building the looms and find other plants used for dyeing a wide variety of colors
The dyeing workshop will demonstrates how to use local plants to make extracts that can be used to dye wool and other protein fibers.
In town we find both the wild and cultivated cochineal (or cochineal, in Spanish) that grows on the nopal cactus. When dried and ground, this little insect makes a rich red dye.
In the picture below, dried cochineal is on the right, ground cochineal on the left, and the dyed yarns are shown in the center. Changing the PH in the dye bath with lemons or baking soda, can turn the rich red to orange or purple. It's like magic.
Using indigo for blue, pericon for yellow, and cochineal for reds, the extracts from the natural dyes can be combined to make a rainbow of colors.
With these beautiful yarns, participants learn a tapestry technique that can be used to weave their own contemporary designs and unusually shaped weavings. The technique is simple to learn but almost endless in possibilities. At the end of the workshop all participants will have a completed tapestry rug to bring home.
Examples of students work from previous trips:
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Jessica Knickman . J.C. Orneleas
In addition to learning to weave, we discuss the history of Zapotec textiles as well as the meaning of the symbols and codices used by the Zapotecs since antiquity. We also visit the Zapotec ruins of Mitla where the ancient stonework carries the same patterns as contemporary weavings.
We stay in Santa Ana during festival days. So the days are filled with weaving and the evenings are filled with fiestas!
CLICK HERE for information on the Collage Workshop
