Zapotec
Weavings The Zapotec weavers of
southern Mexico are descendants of one of the fifteen known Pre-Hispanic Indian
cultures of Mexico. If you ask a Zapotec Indian how long his family has lived in
the Valley of Oaxaca, he will stay, “Siempre (always).” The valley, hidden
by volcanic mountain ranges, is home to a rich and productive agrarian culture
that is largely isolated to trade. This combination has produced a culture with
a unique and special dedication to the art of weaving. The entire family unit is needed to produce a finished piece. The young boys
tend the sheep. The women are incredibly skilled in carding and spinning, which
takes expertise and dexterity that few non-weavers possess. The “cooking of
the wool”, which is the dyeing process, is also done by the women. All this is
accomplished in an open, outdoor adobe compound with animals, children and
nature all interacting. The men seek out or grow the vegital dye materials,
which requires a lifetime of plant and animal knowledge to produce. The men
perform the actual weaving in most cases. Each work is started by using a wool
warp instead of cotton or flax, producing a much more flexible and durable
weave.
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