I'm offering two El Cielo Workshops this spring where we'll make our own versions of the traditional indigenous garment know as the huipil (pronounced, more or less, "hwee -pill"), plural, huipiles. I've been collecting (an making my own strange versions) of this indigenous garment since the 1960s when I first traveled to Oaxaca. You may have even seen me wearing one of my collection at a Quilt Festival or teaching event, as they have become a bit of a signature!
The Huipil Reimagined
Feb. 27-March 1
El Cielo Studio, Pipe Creek
Weekend retreat with optional Friday night potluck.Participants will design and print fabrics and other textiles, construct a simple garment based on the traditional huipil of Mayan and other indigenous women of Latin America, reinterpreting the story telling and cultural identity of the garment as a personal work of art. We’ll be doing a variety of surface design techniques, stitching, fabric collage, photo transfers and more. $200 includes most supplies. Accommodations on site. REPEATS May 1 - 3.
An example of one of my contemporary reimagined huipiles.
Embroidery on a huipil from Guatemala.
After some history, examples and shared research (including the work of comtemporary artist Lena ), e will start with designing personal symbols, color ways and icons that we want to incorporate into our reimagined huipiles.
Using a variety of surface design techniques, including photo transfer, ink jet prints, sun prints (weather permitting), stamps and stencils, we will create the fabrics that we want to use for the garments. I have a large collection of huipil and other ethnic textile scraps, as well as vintage lace and embroidery, that we will use also, as desired.
Sunday will be devoted to construction and embroidery. Some participants may want to complete their garments at home, but we'll all have a good start!
If you are interested, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you with details!