Tag Archives: Oaxaca textile museum

This Week: Workshops & Events at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca

Here is a note to me from Eric Chavez Santiago, director of education at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca describing all the exciting programs coming up at the museum in the next week.

June 8, 2009, Oaxaca, Mexico

Hola, Norma,

This week we have many things going on at the museum. I will be teaching a weaving workshop using a frame loom, from Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12, from 4-6 p.m. daily.  We will weave using the tapestry technique and each participant will make a small doily as an example. Admission is 350 pesos per person.

On Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m., the museum’s textile restoration expert Hector Meneses will present his book: “Un paño novohispano, tesoros del arte plumaria.”  It is about an  18th century textile woven with feathers. This technique has been rescued and workshops about how to do it have been taught at the Museum.  As a result, some weavers from Teotitlan del Valle and San Pedro Cajonos are reintroducing the technique and putting applications of feathered yarns on their textiles. The event is free to the public.

On Saturday June 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., I will teach an indigo dyeing
workshop. Using resist dyeing techniques, participants will make their own patterns using yarns and rubber bands tied onto white t-shirts that they bring. The technique keeps the color from entering those “resisted” spots. The technique is widely used in Japan, India and years past in Mexico. Admission is 100 pesos per participant.

Next week, from June 17-21, weavers from San Pedro and San Miguel Cajonos will give demonstrations of weaving and dyeing, and sell their work in the museum´s patio. Free to the public.

From June 17 through June 20, Frances ‘Sam’ Robbins will teach a patchwork quilt making workshop from 4-8 p.m.  The class is full and we are taking a wait list.  There is the possibility of a second section opening up.  Admission is 350 pesos per person.

I will be busy as you can see, but that´s just great because it keeps me busy!

Love,

Eric Chavez Santiago

Director of Education

December 2009 Happenings! Oaxaca Textile Museum.

Reciban un cordial Saludo. Estas son las actividades en el MTO para el mes de Diciembre, espero nos puedan acompañar. Información, comentarios y/o inscripciones  favor de comunicarse  a educacion@museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx , difusion@museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx o  Tel. 501 1104- ext. 104.

Greetings!  Here are December 2009 Museo Textil de Oaxaca (MTO) activities for your information.  If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to Eric Chavez Santiago at educacion@museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx or difusion@msueotextildeoaxaca.org.mx, or telephone 501-1104 X.104.

EXPOSICIONES: Coming Expositions: Animated Plots: A Zoological Textile Exposición en curso: “Tramas animadas, un zoológico textil”

· Sábado 13 de diciembre de 2008, 20hrs – Inauguración exposición “Nudos teñidos. Ikat, Plangi y Tritik”

· Saturday, December 13, 2008, 8 p.m., Opening Reception: “Tie Dyeing: Ikat, Plangi and Tritik”

TALLERES Y PRESENTACIONES: Workshops and Presentations

PRESENTACIÓN: PROCESOS DE ELABORACION DE LOS TEXTILES A Presentation on the process of textile weaving and dyeing in Oaxaca. Entrada libre, dirigido al público en general. Free and open to the public.

Descripción: Presentación visual de los tipos de fibras, telares, técnicas de tejido y teñido utilizadas en Oaxaca Description: A visual presentation of the types of fibers, looms, and weaving and dyeing techniques used by weavers in Oaxaca.

Sábado 6 de Diciembre 4:00-5:00 pm (español). Saturday, December 6, 4-5 p.m. (Spanish)

Sábado 27 de Diciembre 4:00-5:00 pm (inglés). Saturday, December 27, 4-5 p.m. (English)

TALLER DE TEJIDO (incluye todos los materiales). WEAVING WORKSHOP (includes all materials)

Descripción: Cada participante tejerá sobre un telar de marco un textil de 20×40 cm con la técnica del tejido simple. Each participant will weave a 20 x 40 cm textile using a simple weaving technique on a frame loom.

Duración: 10 horas. This is a 10 hour workshop, five days, 2 hours per day. Schedule: Lunes 22, Martes 23, Viernes 26, Sábado 27 y Lunes 29 de Diciembre de  11:00am a 1:00pm. [Monday, December 22, Tuesday, December 23, Friday, December 26, Saturday, December 27, and Monday, December 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.]

Cupo: 10 participantes, dirigido a público en general a partir de 14 años. Limited to 10 participants, age 14 and older.

Donativo: 250 pesos. Cost is $250 pesos per person.

Impartido por: Eric Chavez- Servicios educativos MTO. Instructor is Eric Chavez Santiago, coordinator of educational services, Museo Textil de Oaxaca.

TALLER: TEÑIDO SOBRE LANA CON COLORANTES NATURALES (incluye materiales y muestrario) WORKSHOP: DYEING WOOL WITH NATURAL COLORS (includes materials)

Descripción: Durante los 3 días de taller los participantes conocerán los materiales tintóreos, su fijación y aplicación sobre fibra de lana, cada participante tendrá un muestrario con las recetas utilizadas al finalizar el taller.

Description: During the three workshop days, participants will learn about dye materials and the dyeing process, and how the dyes are absorbed by the wool. Each participant will develop and use dye recipes to apply during the final workshop.

Duración: 18 horas. Length of Workshop: 18 hours. Jueves 11, Viernes 12 y sábado 13 de diciembre de 10:00am – 2:00pm y de 3:00pm – 5pm. Thursday-Saturday, December 11-13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (1 hour lunch break).

Cupo: 10 participantes, dirigido tejedores y público en general. Limited to 10 participants. Weavers and the general public are invited.

Donativo: taller 3 días: 500 pesos. Cost for the three-day workshop: $500 pesos.

Donativo por día: 200 pesos. If participants are only able to attend for one day, the cost is $200 pesos.

Impartido por: Eric Chavez- – Servicios educativos MTO. Instructor is Eric Chavez Santiago, coordinator of educational services, Museo Textil de Oaxaca.

TALLER: TIÑE TU PLAYERA CON AÑIL (incluye añil, no incluye playera de algodón) T-SHIRT DYEING WORKSHOP USING INDIGO (includes indigo dye, does not include cotton T-shirt)

Descripción: Cada participante podrá crear un diseño simple y teñir  su playera en añil con la técnica de teñido de reserva con nudos y pinzas. Description: Participants will create a simple design and dye a T-shirt using indigo (blue) dye. The technique is known as tie-dye, created by making knots and using clothespins.

Duración: 4 horas. Length of workshop: 4 hours.

Sábado 20 de Diciembre 10:00 am-2:00pm. One Day, Saturday, December 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cupo: 15 participantes, dirigido a niños y al público en general a partir de 10 años. Limited to 15 participants, for children age 10 years and older.

Donativo: 100 pesos. Cost for the workshop is $100 pesos.

Impartido por: Eric Chavez – Servicios educativos MTO. Instructor is Eric Chavez Santiago, coordinator of educational services, Museo Textil de Oaxaca.

HISTORIAS PARA HILAR Y COSER: STORIES FOR SPINNING AND SEWING

Para niños de 5 a 23 años. For ages 5 to 23 years old.

Horario: 10:00 A 13:00 hrs y de 17:00 A 18:00 hrs. Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. De lunes a viernes (CERRADO MARTES), from Monday to Friday (closed Tuesday).

Relatos mágicos y divertidos, juegos populares, dichos y refranes,  actividades artesanales e información del Museo Textil para dar a conocer y compartir entre los niños la gran diversidad y belleza de los textiles en el mundo.

Amusing and magical stories, popular games, sayings and refrains, craft activities and interesting information from the Oaxaca Textile Museum in order to know, share, and experience the beauty and diversity of world textiles.

Contact information: Informes e inscripciones educacion@museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx , difusion@museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx ,  Tel. 501 1104- ext. 104

TODAS ESTAS ACTIVIDADES SE LLEVARÁN A CABO EN EL MTO. HIDALGO 917, CENTRO, OAXACA. All activities will be held at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Hidalgo Street #917, Historic Center of Oaxaca.

Saludos,

Eric Chávez Santiago

Servicios Educativos

Museo Textil de Oaxaca

Hidalgo 917.  Centro, Oaxaca  68000

Tel: (951)5011104 – 5011617 Ext.104

www.museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx

Remigio Mestas: Textile Museum of Oaxaca Exhibition

“Remigio Mestas: A Mirror on the Rich Textiles of Oaxaca” Exhibition at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca November 9, 2008 to February 16, 2009

Here is an exhibition you won’t want to miss if you are in Oaxaca through mid-February.  Sr. Remigio Mestas has an incredible shop in the arcade next to Los Danzantes Restaurant on the main pedestrian thoroughfare in the old city — Alacala Macedonio.  There are gorgeous textiles from throughout Oaxaca, including handwoven fabrics you can make up into your own huipil, tablecloth, bedspread or pillow, as well as traditional garments that are ready-to-wear.  Below are the program notes for the new exhibition.

Remigio Mestas: Espejo de la Riqueza Textil del Estado de Oaxaca

Remigio Mestas hace brillar las cualidades del buen hacer del tejido y bordado, es un hombre que ama y disfruta su trabajo. Originario de Yalalag, Villa Hidalgo en el estado de Oaxaca, Remigio emigró a la capital del estado cuando tenía cuatro años y vivió rodeado de personas trabajadoras e involucradas en el mundo del textil. Su madre tejía en telar de cintura y también sabía coser a máquina. Su padre confeccionaba camisas y pantalones de manta, ambos eran muy creativos y pronto los hijos aprendieron el oficio y llevaban sus mercancías a vender al mercado.

Remigio Mestas illuminates the process of quality weaving and embroidering. He is the embodiment of someone who loves and enjoys his work. A native of Yalalag, Villa Hidalgo in the State of Oaxaca, Remigio emigrated to the capital of Oaxaca with his family when he was four years old. He was surrounded by family who were immersed in the creative textile traditions of Oaxaca. His mother wove on a backstrap loom and used a sewing machine, while his father made shirts and muslin trousers. Their children soon learned to weave and sew, and took the handmade clothing to sell at the market.

Un día la señora Dolores Cruz Palacios y su hija Mari Cruz Rosales le preguntaron a la mamá de Remigio si no sabía de alguien que pudiera ayudarles con sus ventas en el mercado Labastida. El pequeño Remigio, que en ese entonces tenía siete años, les pidió permiso a sus padres para trabajar con las señoras. Al principio dudaron, pero al ver tanta insistencia del niño, aceptaron que fuera si tanto lo deseaba. Entonces Remigio iba por las mañanas a la escuela y por las tardes trabajaba. Al año, las señoras lo invitaron a vivir con ellas y él aceptó, porque siempre se sintió bien acogido. Le gustaba el trabajo y relacionarse con los artesanos y además se sentía a gusto con aquella familia, integrada por la abuela, su hija y dos alegres niñas: Jorgina y Ana Pérez Castellanos.

One day Ms. Dolores Cruz Palacios and her daughter Mari Cruz Rosales asked Remigio´s mother if she knew someone who could help them to sell at the Labastida market. Young Remigio, who was 7 years old, asked permission from his parents to work with the women. His parents hesitated then agreed when they saw how much Remigio wanted to do this. Each day he attended school in the morning and worked during the afternoon. A year later, the women invited Remigio to join their family and live with them. Of course, he agreed because it was a very comfortable household comprising three generations of women -– a grandmother, her daughter, and two happy grandchildren – Jorgina and Ana Perez Castellanos.

Desde entonces, Remigio admiraba el arte popular, especialmente el trabajo de los tejedores. Pronto notó cuáles piezas estaban mejor concebidas que otras, supo distinguir las regiones en que se elaboraban los textiles, los distintos tipos de tejidos y bordados, así como la utilización de fibras y tintes naturales. También se daba cuenta que había materiales industrializados que deterioraban la calidad de los textiles tradicionales.

Since then, Remigio admired popular art, the work of artisans, and especially the work of the weavers. Soon he noticed which pieces were better quality than others. He learned to distinguish the regions where the textiles originated, the different weaving and embroidery techniques, the use of fibers and natural dyes. He also noticed that pieces made with industrialized materials detracted from the quality of traditional textiles.

En 1978, doña Dolores y su hija fundaron una tienda ubicada a un costado del templo de Santo Domingo y al poco tiempo Mari Cruz y Remigio abrieron un nuevo local en la misma calle al que llamaron “artesanías de Oaxaca” con un giro más artístico y mejorando la calidad de la mercancía. Más tarde, este negocio cambió el nombre a “Juana Cata”, como se le conoce actualmente. En ese entonces, Remigio era un joven que estudiaba la secundaria, se dedicaba al comercio y comenzó a hacer trabajos tallados en madera.

In 1978, Ms. Dolores and her daughter founded a shop located next to the Santo Domingo Church and little later Mari Cruz and Remigio opened a new shop on the same street called “Artesanias de Oaxaca” with a more artistic touch and higher quality merchandise. Later, this business changed its name to “Juana Cata,” as it is now known. During that period, Remigio was attending junior high school, operating a business and beginning to create woodcarvings.

En 1996, Remigio terminó sus estudios universitarios de contador público y supo que su pasión era relacionarse con los tejedores y si algo tenía claro era que se iba a dedicar a esa noble tarea que también era su vida. Así, Remigio conseguía textiles bellísimos, piezas únicas que sólo en su tienda se podían encontrar y comenzó a tener una clientela interesada en obtener obras de exquisita factura, realizados con materiales finos. Interesado en los colorantes naturales, Remigio comenzó a teñir hilos para dárselos a los tejedores y fue de esta manera que inició una nueva etapa en el textil oaxaqueño.

In 1996, Remigio earned a degree in accounting. He also realized that his passion was to relate with weavers and he was certain he wanted to dedicate his life to this purpose. Remigio sought out only the most beautiful, unique textiles to sell in his shop, and began to build a clientele interested in purchasing exquisite handcrafted pieces made with only the finest materials, including those made with natural dyes. His interest grew and he began to dye yarn and provide them to weavers, and in this way a new era for Oaxaca textiles began.

En 2002, el éxito de Remigio lo llevó a abrir otra hermosa tienda en Casa Vieja, en la calle peatonal más concurrida de la ciudad. Con una clientela cautiva, el local se ha convertido en un punto obligado para los amantes de los textiles de Oaxaca. En 2006, por los problemas políticos y sociales, y la ausencia de turismo en la ciudad de Oaxaca, Remigio inauguró otra tienda en San Miguel de Allende, en el estado de Guanajuato. Su preocupación era continuar con el apoyo a sus paisanos indígenas, a sus tejedores.

In 2002, Remigio´s success led him to open shop in Casa Vieja, located on Alacala Macedonia, the busiest pedestrian street of the city. With a captive clientele, the shop has became a “must visit” stop for lovers of Oaxaca textiles. In 2006, due to societal unrest and the resulting absence of tourism in the city of Oaxaca, Remigio opened another shop in San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato. His commitment was to continue supporting his fellow indigenous people — his weavers.

Remigio es conocido por la generosidad de sus conocimientos, de ahí su éxito como un maestro que disfruta enseñar a sus clientes las características de cada textil. Con ternura explica la procedencia de la pieza, los materiales en las que se realizó, el significado del diseño, la utilización de tintes naturales y destaca la belleza de la prenda. Trabajador honesto y comprometido con los artesanos, Remigio ha logrado sensibilizar a sus clientes y concibe cada pieza como si fuera un tesoro. El comprador siempre sale satisfecho de valorar el trabajo, el tiempo y la calidad de la prenda adquirida.

Remigio is known for the generously sharing his knowledge. He is a master who enjoys teaching customers about the qualities and intricacies of each textile. Tenderly, he explains the origin of the piece, the materials with which it was made, the meaning of the designs, and the use of natural dyes. Each piece is a treasure. Remigio has succeeded in raising awareness for highest quality artisan made textiles. He represents the weavers with honesty and commitment. Customers leave his shop satisfied and appreciate what they have purchased.

La visión de Remigio ha logrado mejorar notablemente el textil oaxaqueño. Su experiencia y su origen indígena han sido factores fundamentales para haber contactado a los mejores tejedores del estado y muchos de ellos han podido comprender que al mejorar la calidad de los hilos, su trabajo luce más y es mejor remunerado. Sin duda, esta contribución es el reflejo de un hombre generoso, que creció en un ambiente de trabajo y constancia, sensible a las manos de los artesanos de Oaxaca y capaz de transformar una pieza en verdadera obra de arte.

Remigio´s vision has had a notable impact on the textiles of Oaxaca. Because of his experience and indigenous origins, he has been successful in contacting and guiding the best weavers of the state and many have understood and responded by improving the quality of the yarns they use. As a result, their work is higher quality and can command a higher price. Without doubt, this contribution reflects on his generosity, his constant work and perseverance, and sensitivity for the hand work created by Oaxacan artisans and capability to transform something into a truly great piece of art.

El Museo Textil de Oaxaca rinde homenaje a Remigio Mestas por su habilidad para comprender, experimentar y sorprender al mundo con su trabajo en beneficio del textil mexicano.

The Museo Textil de Oaxaca pays homage to Remigio Mestas for his ability to understand, experiment and surprise the world with his work that benefits Mexican textiles.

********

Written by Maria Isabel Granen Porrua, November 2008, translated by Eric Chavez Santiago with assistance from Norma Hawthorne

Pita: The Silk of the Pineapple Leaf

The pita (pee-tah) I am referring to is NOT the middle eastern flat bread that most of us are familiar with. It is the fiber produced from the pineapple leaf after it is pounded, smashed, torn into long strips, soaked and washed, dried, then used for weaving, crocheting and embroidery. It has the look, texture, and strength of silk. The exhibition opening we attended on Friday evening, August 15, 2008, at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca featured this extraordinary and beautiful material — one of the indigenous useful plant fibers of southern Mexico. Pita has been used in Mexico to decorate the leather belts, saddles, and other finery that accompany the rodeo horsemen. Its fine, silky texture is easy to manipulate to add texture and design. Today, it is also being used to create fantastic jewelry. The museum had a great display of necklaces, bracelets and earrings that had been woven and/or crotcheted with pita, then dyed with cochineal and other dye stuffs. They offered a range of designs for sale in their gift shop, too. The jewelry makes a great statement and is lightweight. What amazes me is how such intricate and fine work can be so inexpensive. Necklaces ranged from $8 to $90 USD; bracelets and pairs of earrings were around $20 USD. It was easy to support the museum by buying a few of these to give as gifts. It seemed that the entire expatriate Oaxaca community came out for this opening, dressed in their huipil finery and silver jewelry. Alongside them were art students, designers, educators, politicos, and culture afficionados. The placed was packed, bumper to bumper. The museum is encouraging international visitors and we saw many Estadounidenses, and tourists from Spain, Germany, and England. The cacaphony of language variation was music to my ears.

One of the primary purposes of the museum is to educate weavers, artists and the public about fibers and natural dyes through exhibitions, demonstrations, and discussions. During a presentation by Eric Chavez Santiago, coordinator of educational services, we learned that pre-Hispanic fibers found in the Oaxaca region are ixtle (maguey or agave cactus), henequen (agave), pita (“silk of the Oaxaca rain forest”), natural coyuchi cotton (the color of caramel syrup), chichicastle (ficus tree bark), and wild silk.  In addition, the yucca plants yield a fiber called petate which comes from the Mixtec highlands; hammocks are woven from henequin; and pita grows in the rain forests from Oaxaca to Colombia.  Amate paper is derived from the yellow bark from the tree of the same name, which artists prize for oil and water color painting.  Many people have lost the knowledge about how to grow and use these ancient plant fibers, so featuring them at the museum is an important part of cultural preservation.

With the Spanish conquest, hybrid white cotton, wool and cultivated silk (bombyx) were introduced.  The Spanish also introduced the reed for the loom, the fixed frame, two-pedal loom, and the white mulberry tree for silk cultivation.  The wild silk was found along the coast of Oaxaca, which is hand-spun using a drop spindle, then woven by women using traditional back strap looms (without reeds).

The botanical gardens on the back side of Santo Domingo Church and the cultural museum (corner Reforma and Gurrion) has an English language tour every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The gardens feature a section on native plant materials used for weaving and dyeing. This was created some years ago by Alejandro de Avila, the curator of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, and is another Oaxaca must-see. One must join a tour in order to see the gardens; there is no independent meandering!

From Mitla to Sumatra: The Art of the Woven Fret

THIS is Oaxaca! The colors and graphics alone of this brochure singularly depict the vibrancy and energy of Oaxaca life and art. The opening exhibit at the new Museo Textil de Oaxaca explores the pattern of the fret or greca as a universal textile design used around the globe, from southern Mexico to Indonesia. There are 130 textiles on exhibit from all over the world. I hope you can read the text written by curator Alejandro de Avila, who received his PhD from University of California at Berkeley. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/Endangered_Lang_Conf/Avila.html

If not, you’ll just have to come to Oaxaca to see the exhibit for yourself 🙂 The cover design is from a tapestry woven by Roman Gutierrez of Teotitlan del Valle. He weaves in the Saltillo style, 22 threads per inch. I have been to his studio/workshop and can attest to the fact that his work is masterful. He also has a commitment to cultural sustainability by teaching village young people traditional methods in order to preserve ancient Zapotec weaving and dyeing techniques.

June 2008 current exhibit at the Oaxaca textile museum