A Vivid Symbolism
Guatemalan textiles, particularly huipils, are more than just articles of clothing; they are canvases for self-expression and cultural preservation. Using visual symbols, vibrantly colored, each textile tells an age-old story.
Motifs
Artisans in Guatemala weave their textiles on backstrap looms, continuing a tradition that has lasted for generations. Not surprisingly, the fabr...
The Bird-Inspired Artistry of Santiago
The artisans of Santiago, Guatemala have a deep, abiding affinity with nature. Their distinctive creations, from textiles to beadwork, celebrate the flora and fauna surrounding them.
Birds, in particular, inspire their vibrant designs, with depictions both abstract and realistic. There's a fascinating story behind the artistry and symbolism of these designs...
We in the developed world live in a privileged economy. Most of us have excess resources for and access to surplus choices in the “managing of our households”. (Economy is borrowed from the Greek word oikonomia which means just that: management of household). These luxuries make us ideal targets for advertisements. We are bombarded with them everywhere we look and listen.
The questions I propose...
Living in High Cotton
That is us, living in the 21st century. “Pretty cushy lives” compared to the limited choices our primitive forbears suffered, specifically when you consider clothing.
The various raw materials woven into the fabrics we use every day are a fascinating discovery for those who care to check labels. Natural or synthetic, and blends of these. Fibers from organic cotton or recycled...
Most people love BLUE. Claimed to have soothing effects on humans, the color blue often evokes feelings of peace and tranquility. Blue is also the most common clothing color. Think the ubiquitous blue jean.
Blue Jeans
Genoa, Italy, was known for producing a hard-wearing cotton cloth, which became known as jeane, named for the city. Attempting to replicate this fabric, weavers in Nimes, France, dev...
I always get excited when I see the Arrivals sign at the airport: the sense of joyful anticipation in watching for specific faces in the crowds emerging, the delight of reunions. Up in the air, the passengers have started to gather their things, freshen up, and fasten their seat belts in preparation for landing.
Arrival. Destination reached.
Here at Unique Batik, the arrival of new merchandise f...
We weave in and out of traffic. Stories are experiences woven together. Long hair, baskets, and dough are braided. Knitting and crocheting are basically weaving with yarns.
But when we speak about weaving here, it's in the context of textiles, the interlacing of fibrous threads to create fabric. Every piece of clothing on your body is woven fabric. The sheets you sleep on, bath towels and dishtow...
Can you remember your first day in kindergarten? Your first class in college?
I was six years old on my first day in a formal school setting.
Those days first grade was called Sub A in South Africa. Three front teeth missing, two braids, a brand-new uniform a few sizes too big, an empty bookcase (the boxy kind), and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrapped in wax paper. Me being the first...
These days you can explore virtually any place on Earth or under the oceans without getting up from your couch. Travel vlogs and blogs abound. Google Earth can zoom you to even the remotest locations for a 3D view, a street view, or a bird’s eye view. Very little is left for the imagination. Minimal risk and expense. Zero suffering.
Yet, as many who wander agree, virtual experienc...
_700.jpeg "Independence: What's It to You?")
A holiday means you can sleep in today. Or not.
Ear-shattering machine-gun-like percussion jerks you from slumber before the day breaks. Incessant whistle blows, and cheering over a megaphone follows. Torch-runners arrive in the village after running all night. The annual celebration of Guatemala’s independence from Spain is in full swing.
Across the Atlantic in West Africa, the national flag fl...
