Tag Archives: talk

Threads of Connection in Oaxaca + Chiapas: Norma Presents at OLL, Tuesday, March 5

Posted on Sunday, March 3, 2024 | Comments Off

This Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. I will be making a presentation at the Oaxaca Lending Library titled Threads of Connection in Oaxaca and Chiapas: Meeting Artisans Where They Live and Work. If you live here or are visiting, I invite you to join us. Contact the OLL website to register.

During the talk, I’ll be comparing two weaving villages, San Juan Colorado, Oaxaca, on the Pacific Coast, and San Pedro Chenalho, Chiapas, in the highlands above San Cristobal de las Casas. The talk includes weaving style, culture, women’s issues, advocacy and human rights, and the cooperative systems in which they organize themselves.

Many of you know that Oaxaca and Chiapas are the two poorest Mexican states, with Chiapas coming in last in terms of access to education, health care, and economic opportunity. Yet, both give us the most extraordinary handwoven textiles in the entire country. We will talk about why.

We will also discuss the knotty issues surrounding the topic of cultural appropriation, the perspective of artisans who must reach markets to sell their work, and what we as supporters and collectors can do to help alleviate poverty, injustice and support the continuation of centuries old textile traditions.

I hope you can join us.

Weaving from San Juan Colorado, Oaxaca

Weaving from San Pedro Chenalho, Chiapas

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Posted in Oaxaca Mexico art and culture

Tagged Chiapas, cultural appropriation, culture, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Lending Library, presentation, talk, textiles, weaving

Artful Aprons of San Miguel del Valle Talk at OLL, January 25

Posted on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 | 12 comments

The artful aprons of San Miguel del Valle are an elaborate confetti of embroidered designs. I was invited to give a talk at the Oaxaca Lending Library (OLL) on January 25, 2019 at 5 p.m. Please come! You can read more and register HERE.

Of course, you have to BE in Oaxaca, to join us!

Joining me for the talk are Jacki Cooper Gordon, who is an Envia cultural guide and Mickey Gardner, who lived in the village ecotourism cabins for a month, working with local women.

Textiles as cultural identity, and aprons in particular
Aprons as contemporary dress — innovation, adaptation
History of San Miguel del Valle and apron-making
Economics, production, quality
Cultural appropriation or cultural admiration
Life in a small Zapotec hill town
Where it is and how to get there

I got to San Miguel del Valle because I took an ENVIA tour with Jacki. She knows a lot about the history and economic development opportunities. We will talk about:

Special Feature: We have invited embroiderers Maria Zacarias Hernandez Hernandez and her cousin Laura Miguel Hernandez to answer questions and to sell their stunning aprons. Maria is a recipient of Envia microfinancing.

Free-form, hand-guided machine embroidery

PLEASE BRING YOUR PESOS. Aprons range in price from 500-1,000 pesos, depending on complexity of design and density of embroidery. There will be about 20 pieces for sale at the OLL on the night of the talk, including bags and napkins. Sales go directly to the makers.

Traje includes two undergarments, one lacy, plus apron

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Posted in Oaxaca Mexico art and culture

Tagged aprons, Mexico, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Lending Library, presentation, San Miguel del Valle, talk

Oaxaca Lending Library Talk: Why Living Together is Complicated

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2011 | Comments Off

Biological Evolution vs. Intimate Relationship: How We Are Wired & Why That Makes Living Together Complicated is the subject of a talk by Stephen Hawthorne, LCSW, scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at 5 PM at the Oaxaca Lending Library, Pino Suarez #519, Centro Historico, Oaxaca. The cost is 50 pesos (less than $5 USD).

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Stephen Hawthorne has been on the faculty of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, since 1977. There he created the Department of Psychiatry’s first family therapy training program, where psychiatry residents and psychology interns receive coaching and education from faculty as they work with patients in a clinical setting.

Mr. Hawthorne is in private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he works with couples to improve their relationships. Hawthorne developed ABC Therapy that combines affective, behavioral and cognitive therapy models. This combined approach has the most promising outcomes for relationship improvement.

If you are in Oaxaca next week, don’t miss this opportunity to learn more!