In Teotitlan del Valle live the weavers. Here entire families work together to produce vibrantly coloured tapetes using techniques that this Zapotec community has maintained for generations.
The Chavez family is proud of its traditions. Their artisanal carpets are made using the methods developed by their ancesters. The Chavez' use natural products from the land around them to weave traditional Zapotec patterns with locally raised wool.
Using natural dyes, contrary to the modern trend to use synthetic, the Chavez family paints their wool into a myriad of colours. Common dyes used are Mesquite, Cempazuchil (marigold), Añil (indigo), and the famous source for brilliant red shades: Cochineal.
Zapotec designs have great cultural, social, and historical significance for the people living in the Valley of Oaxaca. The Chavez family, in keeping with their traditions, weave ancient designs such as Diamonds, copies of the carvings found at the nearby Mitla ruins, the Undulating Eye, the Tree of Life and many more.
Our Artist Retreat to Teotitlan is designed for practising artists who are dedicated to the fibre arts and artists who are exploring new forms of expression. Our courses focus the participants on traditional techniques that make the weaving experience in Teotitlan different from anywhere else in the world. Our guests are invited to use the surrounding cultural experience of Oaxaca to produce a unique project. This course has a strong local cultural and historical educational component, giving it a special focus that allows participants a deeper understanding of the land and culture they are visiting.
The classes, taught by members of the Chavez family, discuss the wool and its processing, the dye plants (including a trip out to harvest plants from community land), the dye procedure, the significance of patterns and motifs in their patterns, and the weaving techniques. Each participant has the use of a pedal loom for the period of their time here in Teotitlan, and studio time is provided for independent work outside of the instruction periods.
Along with time in the studio, we provide excursions into the Valley of Oaxaca. These tours attempt to show some of the striking forms of art that originate within Oaxaca such as pottery, carving, painting, sculpture and the historical sources for inspiration. Also, we take time to show our guests some visually stunning cultural elements: an outdoor weekend market, the Dominican influence here in Oaxaca in the form of an ex-convent, the colonial city of Oaxaca de Juarez, and the ruins of a Zapotec city established around the first year Common Era.
Finally, to ensure that our invited artists have time to work and reflect and to provide a space adherent to the true spirit of a retreat, we invite our guests to lodge in the Chavez home right in the town of Teotitlan. The Chavez house has space for many guests as well as studio space with gorgeous views over the Valley right up to the surrounding mountains. Participants will eat with the family to complete the cultural exchange and allow time for fellowship and friendship.
The retreat includes shared accommodation, two meals per day, transportation to and from Teotitlan, four day-long tours to surrounding communities, 10 days of course instruction, rent of loom, and materials for individual projects.
Not included is one meal each day (either lunch or dinner depending on the day), entrance fees to museums (usually a couple of dollars), and personal expenses.
Our next session will be in December, please contact Anna Collins: ComunitasOaxaca at gmail.com for more information.
Comments