A woven history tour of the Andes
24 Feb 2015
For thousands of years, Peruvians have created beautiful textiles using ancient skills that have been passed down for generations. Now you can get up close and personal with these artisans during a fascinating 13-day textile tour of the Andes.
According to Joanna Hecht from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Andean weaving was among the arts practiced in colonial Latin America that retained the closest connection to Precolumbian traditions".
In fact, Andean weavers are believed to have invented nearly every non mechanised textile technique known today and are influenced by the skills of the Europeans and Asians, such as knitting.
Many ancient textiles have been well preserved and experts now have great access to original works, as they were often buried in tombs or as offerings along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador and in the deserts of Chile. From these textiles, it has been possible for experts to now trade techniques and motifs over thousands of years.
Now, scholars are desperately trying to preserve these culturally-significant works and skills and several organisations have been developed to strengthen relationships with many of the weaving communities in the Andes and Peru. Older weavers are now being encouraged to share their knowledge onto the younger generation, so these ancient skills can continue into the future.
Active Travel is offering tours of the Andes with textile expert Valerie Kirk, kicking off in June this year. It will include visits to UNESCO heritage sites, private workshops, visits to fascinating museums in Lima, the chance to engage with local weavers, a train trip through the Andes to Lake Titicaca to meet the reed island dwellers, a visit to beautiful colonial town Cusco and private textile collection viewings.
Kirk is a senior lecturer and head of textiles at the National Institute of the Arts at the Australian National University in Canberra She studied art and design at Edinburgh College of Art, then came to Australia in 1979, when she became a weaver at the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. She has since focussed on the art of textiles for over 20 years.
Click here to watch a video on authentic Andean textiles:
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