Taquileño Dancers to visit New Mexico and Colorado

Sam and I are excited to host a trio of textile artists from Taquile Island this coming November and December. Our guests include our "son," Silvano Huatta Yucra, Juan Quispe Huatta, and Luz Medy Flores Machaca. They are being brought to this country as part of a dance troupe to help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the InterAmerican Foundation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With their airline tickets and US visas acquired, we are bringing them to Colorado for an extended stay. Taquile is known for its detailed figured weavings and knitted goods. It was recently declared by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its Textile Art.

collected textiles, showing knitted as well as woven work

We will help them sell their textiles at two shows: in Arvada at the Arvada Center's Holiday Art Show on November 26-27, and at the Paonia Holiday Art Show on December 3-4 at the Blue Sage Center. They will demonstrate weaving, knitting and spinning techniques at the shows.

detail of figured weaving

Two public presentations will include a slide show, dancing, textile demonstration and a talk from Juan about the Andean World View and how it relates an experience of nature as expressed in the complex symbols within the textiles of Taquile Culture. The first will be in Aspen at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at 6:00pm on November 29.

The second in Paonia at the Blue Sage Center on December 6. Doors open with demonstrations and conversation at 6:00, Show begins at 7:00. They will also perform a very short program at the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Paonia on December 4.

This visit is a long time dream to bring our Taquile family to visit our own region and home. Those wishing to participate in helping make it happen are welcome to contact us.
970-527-6570

Ruperta and Silvano demonstrating weaving and knitting on Taquile