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In this Issue: |
February 25th meeting |Preparations
for sample meeting | |
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Monday, February 25th It's time! The first in our series of meetings devoted to learning some weaving tips and making samples begins Monday, February 25th. Guild members are currently preparing as many available looms as possible to allow beginning weavers some real hands-on weaving experience. At last count, floor looms, rigid heddle (tabletop) looms and vertical tapestry (frame) looms were warped and ready to go. If you'd like to help in loom warping for this event, please contact Arlene Sakmar. You'll be starting your own sample notebook filled with various weave structures that you will have woven. Your drafts will be set up for a three-ring binder, so you'll want to have one on hand to file your drafts and samples. Not only will you be learning new patterns, you'll be trying out various looms that will be set up for use. This should be a lot of fun and it will be structured for your individual level of experience. And we've got you covered if you can't attend all the meetings. See you at the meeting! Location: Arlene Sakmar's Studio Plan to arrive at 6:30pm. The workshop will begin promptly at 7:00pm. We will continue our monthly meetings weaving samples, occasionally interspersing a presentation of interest to members if the opportunity arises. Thanks to member input, we have some ideas for
field trips and other meetings about town. Keep those suggestions
coming. This is YOUR guild! |
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Preparation is underway for the upcoming weaving sessions that will be held at Arlene's studio. These sessions will offer ongoing weaving experiences for all weavers, all levels, from beginner to advanced.
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The indigenous Quechua and Aymarra cultures wove with nativealpaca, llama and vicunas fibers prior to the arrival of sheep with the Spanish conquests. Textiles were part of the Incans' graphic communication system and depicte changes of season and mythic history. Textiles were used during the Inca's reign as an indication of social hierarchy.
My own small collection of Andean weavings includes
three purchased at La Feria Peruvian Restaurant & Craft Gallery, Walnut
Street in Shadyside. Who knew that such a hip place lives here in
little ol' Pittsburgh? Arlene Sakmar, who once again hosted the
evening, suggested that a local field trip is in order to sample
Peruvian cuisine and crafts and I couldn't agree more. If you'd like to explore this topic in depth, listed here are some informative and colorful Andean weaving resources: Books
Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands, author
Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez
Cultural Links The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco
Related Retail Links La Feria Peruvian Restaurant & Craft Gallery Andean Software, Taos Ski Valley, NM
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Archived Past Newsletters | January 07 | September 07 | October 07 | January 08 | Home Page |
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It was my pleasure to present an evening of Andean
weaving and culture at the Weavers Guild of Pittsburgh meeting on
Monday, January 28, 2008. Andean weaving is a pre-Conlumbian art
for that is thankfully kept alive and well in Peruvian Highlands as well
as in Bolivia, Ecuador and other regions of Central and South America. 
Monday evening's film, entitled Traditional Peruvian
Weaving, is an exploration of spinning, dyeing, scaffold warping,
backstrap weaving and tubular edging techniques. Highland
Peruvians living a traditional and very vertical lifestyle still herd
livestock, spin on drop spindles at every opportunity and weave motifs
depicting their heritage, values and geography. This film was
produced by Ends of the Earth, a UK-based company established to assist
in the survival of traditional crafts.