(FINALLY I have been able to rescue some images from my phone and now I can post this!)
One of the highlights of our trip to Oaxaca was being able to peek into the goings on of the International Shibori Conference that was taking place in various parts of the city. It was exciting to see the conference attendees - people from all over the world, including a large contingency from Japan, and ESPECIALLY thrilling to see all the beautiful textile art work!
The three main venues were incredible: the Cultural Arts Center and the Oaxaca Textile Museum are next door to each other and near the main zócalo of the colonial center. Both were new to me: bright, modern, sophisticated spaces for the study of the arts. Many of the conference classes and presentations were given in the Cultural Arts Center. With its soaring ceilings, the space was also an ideal place to exhibit work, especially LONG pieces like this!
Indigo-dyed art dress
The Textile Museum held several stately exhibits. The main one highlighted the cross-cultural connections of textiles through the centuries that utilize shibori and ikat techniques. I've always been intrigued by the similarities of symbols, techniques, and tools that can be found throughout the ancient cultures of the world.
Japanese ikat
African shibori
Mexican shibori
Another exhibit we LOVED at the Textile Museum was called To Spin the Wind - The Plumed Weavings of Mexico. In this exhibit contemporary artists wove a variety of feathers into the most intriguing art works. I wish my photos were better! (And I apologize for not having noted the artists' names.)
I just loved the quote woven into this piece: "Las plumas vuelan en el aire y las palabras en el tiempo" (Feathers fly in the air, and words, in time)
It was fun to see all the indigo and shibori that people around town were displaying, including our very own Jan!
Jan and her first time ever shibori indigo-dyed cloth
A conference attendee modeling her shibori and ikat garments
And finally for this post, a sampling from another exhibit in town: Postcard Weavings. People from all over the world participated by weaving a tiny tapestry and attaching it to a standard size postcard, then mailed them to the show! The venue was El Museo de Filatelia de Oaxaca (the Oaxaca Philatelic Museum) - an appropriate place to display postcards!
Front side
And back!
My thoughts exactly!
They make you want to weave again, don't they!
Tomorrow: the big exhibit at CASA!
