The climb up to the plaza to buy textiles on the Island of Tequile definitely counts as strenuous physical exercise. Browsing through the shops in Ayacucho or Cusco or Lima adds a lot of steps on a pedometer. Hunting for textiles in Peru, in my mind, is both a sport and an aesthetic experience that can be very pleasant. This Web Scout provides introductory links and books about textiles from several pre-Columbian cultures, some ideas of museums and places to walk, and a few examples of the work of artisans and master weavers in interesting places.
Textile traditions stemming from Pre-Columbian times inspire current artisans and designers. It is interesting to learn about these traditions to shop for interesting pieces. It is not difficult to obtain background information because much has been done to preserve fabrics that are seen in museums in Peru. Several organizations have helped with the conservation efforts. For example Guillermo Wiese made superhuman efforts for many years, Fulbright brought scholars to study, treat textiles and trained textile conservators in Peru and the U.S. UNESCO also provided training. Telefonica is helping improve records and access to information. Telefonica is not my favorite company right now because they have been wasting my time since late October, when I began to try to transfer my service to a system they call “Trio” However, I have to congratulate Telefonica for the sponsorship of a wonderful project in collaboration with the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Arqueologia y Historia (MNAAHP) in Pueblo Libre.
The project helps catalog the museum textile collection and provides online examples to learn about the variety and quality of the collection. You can go to the web, click on the name of a culture, see photos of textiles and techniques. The project provides an easy way to learn about Peruvian textile tradition. You can also “adopt” a textile if you want to help with conservation efforts. Here are links to project pages:
http://textiles.perucultural.org.pe/index.htm
Background Chronology of Cultures: http://textiles.perucultural.org.pe/crono.htm
Legislation that protects textiles: http://textiles.perucultural.org.pe/legis.htm
Museums in Lima: Nearly all have important textiles but MNAAHP and Amano have large collections. Larco has some nice online visuals.
http://www.enjoyperu.com/peru_travel_tours_information/peru_useful_information/peru_museum.html
http://www.museolarco.org/igal_te.shtml
Portal
Registro Nacional de Artesanos MINCETUR
http://www.artesaniasdelperu.gob.pe/
Places to find Master Weavers
Ayacucho, Santa Ana
http://www.geschichteinchronologie.ch/am-S/peru/Ayacucho/Santa-Ana-ENGL.html
Alfonso Sulca Chavez http://www.novica.com/artistdetail/index.cfm?faid=1989
Edwin Sulca http://www.convida.org/e.sulca.html
Benigno Sulca http://www.textilayllu.com/textilayllu/index.html
Maximo Laura http://www.maximolaura.com/home.html
Cusco Awana Kancha Weavers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P77k3_fMCgk
Chincheros Videos http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Chincheros+weavers&aq=f
Chincheros. Lesson about Peruvian Family and Weaving Traditions
http://www.incas.org/
Cusco Center for Traditional Textiles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15MVbwbhuK0
Huancavelica Chopcca, Acobamba (Scroll down to photos)
http://www.inia.gob.pe/eeas/andenes/noticia1.html
Taquile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taquile
Palca, Puno http://www.bylandwaterandair.com/peru/palca_peru/
Bibliography from Dumbarton Oaks
http://www.tiwanakuarcheo.net/13_handicrafts/textilesbib.html
Fulbright Scholar Publications on Pre-Columbian Textiles and Current Efforts to Carry on Traditions
Jane Powell Dwyer (1979) The Chronology and Iconography of Paracas Style Textiles,
In A. Rowe, E. Benson, A. Schaffer, JBPCTC, May 19, 20, 1973, pp. l05-129, Washington DC: The Textile Museum and Dumbarton Oaks
Dwight Wallace (1979) Weaving Development on the Peruvian Coast, Washington DC: Textile Museum and Dumbarton Oaks
Anne Paul (1990) Paracas Ritual Attire: Symbols of Authority in Ancient Peru, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press
http://www.ecampus.com/bk_detail.asp?isbn=0806122307
John Cohen, Anne Rowe, (2002) Threads of Peru: Q'Ero Textiles, Washington DC:
Merrill in association with Textile Museum
http://www.johncohenworks.com/andean/overview.html
Elayne Zorn (2004) Weaving a Future: Tourism, Cloth and Culture on an Andean Island Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. (about Taquile)
http://www.uipress.uiowa.edu/books/2004-fall/zorweaa.htm
Gail Silverman, (2008) A woven book of knowledge: Textile Iconography of Cuzco, Peru
Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press http://www.uofupress.com/store/product213.html
And a little more about the prolific writing and conservation activities of Gail Silverman http://parubambaweaversassociation.blogspot.com/2007/09/about-dr-gail-silverman.html |
