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A "fingered" design taken from one of the Mixtec "Serapes" collected by the artist during trips to Oaxaca State, in South-East Mexico. (above)
The Mixtec Culture, living in extreme poverty in the mountains West of Oaxaca City, in an area refered to as the "Sierra Mixteca" , has remained ostracized since the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish during the sixteenth century. For this reason, it has one of the most authentic and un-changed design cultures, dating back to early Mezo-American design principles. Serapes, worn by all the men, are woven using a "backstrap" type of loom, by the women. These "looms" consist of a collection of carefully carved "sticks" and are kept taught for weaving by the weight of the weaver, leaning back, with one end of the loom strapped behind their back.
The Mixtec Culture, living in extreme poverty in the mountains West of Oaxaca City, in an area refered to as the "Sierra Mixteca" , has remained ostracized since the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish during the sixteenth century. For this reason, it has one of the most authentic and un-changed design cultures, dating back to early Mezo-American design principles. Serapes, worn by all the men, are woven using a "backstrap" type of loom, by the women. These "looms" consist of a collection of carefully carved "sticks" and are kept taught for weaving by the weight of the weaver, leaning back, with one end of the loom strapped behind their back.