The Textiles and Cultures of Oaxaca, Mexico
November 6 – November 19, 2014
This is a unique opportunity to join a specially designed tour to Oaxaca focused on the Zapotec and Huave weavers of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, sericulture in the Sierra Madre, weaving and natural dyeing in the central valleys of Oaxaca and textiles of the Mixtec and Trique peoples of the Upper Mixteca. Working in conjunction with Eric Mindling of Traditions Mexico we have created a tour designed to appeal to a wide range of Textile Arts Council members.
The tour will begin and end in the charming town of Oaxaca. Here we will meet with Hector Meneses, Director of the Oaxaca Textile Museum for a special walk through of this highly regarded museum, before heading southwest to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Here, we will spend two days exploring the region including the village of Santa Rosa, famous for the embroidered blouses done by the women. We will also visit the Huave people and see how the backstrap weavers in the region incorporate images such as crabs and cranes into their beautiful weaving. Enroute back to the Oaxaca Valley we will stop at the remote village home of Nicolasa Pascual, one of the Great Masters of Oaxacan Folk Art.
In the Oaxacan Valley we will use Mitla, with its well preserved ruins of Zapotec palaces, as our base for visits to Teotitlan de Valle to meet the masters of Zapotec tapestry weaving. In addition to visiting a number of highly regarded tapestry weavers, we will meet with a master of natural dyes. We will also drive into part of the Eastern Sierra Madre to visit one of the last surviving silk production areas of Mexico. Here we will see beautiful handspun silk woven on backstrap and floor looms.
Following our stay in Mitla, we will drive into the upper Mixteca region, passing through the territories of what were once important Mixtec kingdoms. Our base for this stay is the lively town of Tlaxiaco where our visit is timed for the busy tianguis or market. In this region we will visit a family of Trique Indians who weave and wear full length red huipiles. We will also visit the Mixtec village of San Pablo where the traditional dress worn by local women is perhaps the most spectacular in Oaxaca. Returning to the town of Oaxaca via the Centro de las Artes de San Augustin, we will have time to explore the beautiful colonial setting as well as visit Monte Alban, one of Mesoamerica’s largest ruined cities. Of course, no visit to Oaxaca is complete without a stop at Arrazola to see the alebrijes or wooden carved animals created there.
Please note that this tour is limited to 10 participants plus tour organizer Mary Connors, so register early. Tour Cost: TAC members $3400, non-TAC members $3435. The cost is based on shared occupancy of rooms and a group of 11. The single supplement is $480. The Cost of the tour includes a $400 non-refundable tax donation to the Textile Arts Council, which will be acknowledged by letter for tax reporting purposes by January 30, 2014. The cost of the tour may change depending on the number of participants. The maximum number is 11 and the minimum is 8 participants.
The price includes all hotels, all meals except as noted, internal transportation, services of an English speaking accompanying guide and entrance tickets to sites and museums as noted in the program. Not included are personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, etc. Also not included are travel insurance, which is mandatory, and international airfare.