Re: Peru Exchange

[Patricia Townsend]

Hi Judy,

 

Well I guess my original message went through, but for some reason I don't receive messages that I post myself--must look into that mystery...

I wrote about my students' weaving exchange a while back in TWIST: Spring and Summer 2001.  It is a cultural weaving exchange, with woven bands exchanged back and forth, along with letters written in spanish (the second language for both groups of students).  The students from Chinchero (5-16 years old) send traditional backstrap woven ribbons, called Jakimas.  No, tablet weaving is not indigenous to the Andes!  The high school students in San Francisco send down TW bands, or sometimes inkle bands.  Both groups, so far, seem amazed and delighted by the efforts of the other.

Nilda Callanaupa, founder of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, proposed the weaving exchange when sh! e visited my classroom years ago.   More recently, her sister, Flora, came up here for about 6 weeks and taught my students to weave traditional backstrap jakimas.  What lucky kids!  I hope she will return in the future.  I have often asked Nilda about the possible existence of TW in Peru's ancient past.  She says she will continue to keep an eye out for it, or for something related, but so far it is thought to be an "Old World" technique (as though the Americas aren't "old"!).  

I'm hoping to return to Chinchero this spring.  If you'd like to contact me off-list I'll be happy to give you contact info to visit the weavers in Chinchero yourself.

Kind Regards,

Patty   

Judy Chapman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Patty,

Could you tell us more about the weaving exchange in Peru? I will be going there in April and I am interested in hearing about how your exchange came to be. I didn’t think that card weaving was indigenous to the Andean culture.

 

Looking forward to seeing my copy of TWIST which has not arrived yet.

 

Judy Chapman

Minden , Ontario