Woven Dreams

crafty/part 3

photo:Joyce Snyder

 
I once lived in Oaxaca,Mexico.
I worked,
had a cafe,
 gave birth to my son there.
Oaxaca is my heart.

I have a profound love of textiles.
I have a profound love of Oaxaca.
Just by chance, Oaxaca is known not only for it’s textiles
but for it’s methods of weaving and use of natural dyes.

In 2007,I was awarded a teaching sabbatical.
A chance
 to fulfill a dream.

Through “Oaxaca Cultural Navigator”,
I was able to create a personalized workshop in Teotitlan del Valle,the traditional weaving village 31 km outside of Oaxaca.
My teacher, Federico Chavez Santiago, is a fourth generation weaver.
My workshop was called “Dancing on the Loom”
It included not only weaving
but dyeing wool with indigo (plant) and cochineal (paddle cactus bug)

Federico and his family
from his wife to three children
are all exceptional artisan weavers.
Zapoteca is their first language,
Spanish second
then English.
His eldest son,Eric,works in education in the Museo de Textiles in Oaxaca.
Federico and Eric have documented over 90 color formulas
ranging from blush
 to crimson
to aubergine
using cochineal.

Federico wanted to know the story of my rug.
”You will dream about it” he said.
And he was right.
After carefully choosing wools dyed with only natural substances,
my story emerged in a dream.
My rug became
the story of the creation of the Earth.
The molten lava core
rising to meet
the land,
sea,
sky.
Reaching up
to the red gates of the Heavens.
I learned to hand roll and knot the fringe.

Federico has a gallery
of his family’s rugs for sale.
I wanted a souvenir,a reminder
 of his work
and my time there.
I chose a soft grey and cream rug of natural undyed wool.
Woven in the Oaxaca key pattern from the archeological site of Mitla (City of the Dead) ,
the graphic nature of this rug works beautifully
with my midcentury modern home.

Federico’s rug is a beautiful reminder of my time 

“Dancing on the Loom” 

and the place of my heart.

The Ubiquitous Bag of Oaxaca

crafty part 2

photo: Joyce Snyder

It started nearly three decades ago.
My love affair with Oaxaca,Mexico.
Holidays.
Sporadic visits.
Long term commitments.
I taught,
gave birth to my son,
owned a cafe 
and lived there.
From my first visit 
I noticed the ubiquitous shopping bags.
Sold on the streets,
in the mercados.
Various sizes,shapes,colors,textures.
Swinging from the arm,
a bridge between two girls,balanced on a woman’s head.
Vibrant containers for precious cargo:warm tortillas,tamales encased in corn husks,fruits,produce,plucked chickens.

Out of necessity I bought the black and white bag in the Sunday mercado of Tlacolula. 30km outside of the heart of Oaxaca .
I needed something to carry my produce home that day on the bus.
That was over twenty years ago.

The small gold trimmed bag was a gift.
Though meant for little girls,
 it was perfect to hold  essentials for a night out-keys, a tube of lipstick and enough pesos to taxi back home.
I referred to it as my “Oaxacan Chanel bag.”

My son was born.
Life changed.
I moved back to the States.
We always returned to Oaxaca.
A local folk art gallery had seen the bags and asked if I could purchase some  on my next trip.
I asked my (then) sister-in-laws where I could purchase a dozen bags.
And so began the most unusual shopping trip of my life.

You see, in Oaxaca, people in prison must either pay for,earn or have their meals brought in by friends or family.
Some prisoners learn useful crafts.
In Oaxaca City,a city known for weaving,
some prisoners weave these colorful ,heavy plastic bags 
to make money 
to eat 
(and maybe buy cigarettes,soap,other essentials)

My sister-in -laws worked for the government and made the arrangements.
And so, one clear,sunny July day,
we went to the prison.
We lined up outside with the  families.
 Waiting for midday visitation.

I was taken into a curtained room 
with a woman guard.
Frisked,
purse searched,
passport checked.
I was only allowed to bring pesos with me.

We were taken into “the yard.”
Yes, just like an old black and white film.

Separated by a chain link fence.
The prisoners had been told what I was looking for.
They were prepared.
Bags of every shape,size,color 
were pushed against the fence.
It was a feeding frenzy.
My command of Spanish fled,
in terror.
“Let me help you.Which colors do you like and how much do you want to pay?” Lena,my sister-in-law asked.
She negotiated for me.
We left with several dozen bags.
I kept two for myself.

And so these bags are colorful and useful in so many ways.
They carry my belongings.
They carry my memories.

CRAFTY

photo:Joyce Snyder "Virgin of Guadalupe ":Sebastian Karuza

 My friend,Carise Mitch,is a PR wiz.

She recently asked me 

if I'd like to write a guest blog piece

About craft I've collected

For The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show blog.

I said YES

because I liked the project

I wrote  three pieces

because I'm an overachiever.

I asked my sister to take photos.

She said YES

Because she liked the project.

She took over 100 photos

Because she's an overachiver.

Here's the link 

To the chosen piece.  
(I will be posting the other two pieces)  

 "Huipiles:Pride of Place"

http://pmacraftshow.org/blog/2014-07-23/%E2%80%9Chuipiles-best-craft-i-ever-bought%E2%80%9D-karen-karuza 

A PAST LIFE...

GRACELAND MEETS VERSAILLES

 

...and DORA JARR

July 4,1987

 

Paris:Men's Fashion Week 

Spring/Summer  2015

Yes,dear Elizabeth Hawkes, this is why 

"Fashion is Spinach" 

"So it is with sneakers worn with suits; T-shirts (the ubiquity of scoop necks seemed like proof positive that men are the new women)..." 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/fashion/at-paris-mens-fashion-week-an-ongoing-evolution-of-mens-wear.html?ref=fashion&_r=0 

Haider Ackermann, spring 2015. Credit Image by Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times