Art Workshops in Guatemala - Fiber Arts/Beading/Textiles Course Descriptions

Textiles / Weaving / Fiber Arts

BACKSTRAP WEAVING - We offer one on one backstrap weaving instruction with local indigenous weavers. You can either take the classes in our instructor's home - which is a fabulous opportunity to not only learn to weave, but also to spend time with a Guatemalan family, experiencing indigenous life in a small village, on a day to day basis - or in a courtyard setting in Antigua.

One of our participants, Kennerly Clay (pictured here) wrote a story called "Backstrapped" about her experience with us - click here if you'd like to read it. BACKSTRAPPED

If you are an experienced weaver, you'll learn centuries-old techniques that you've admired in Guatemalan weavings for years. If you are a novice, we've told our instructors to begin at the beginning, and teach you as they do their young daughters - who begin to weave around the age of 9 years. And for those who want to improve or simply maintain their Spanish language skills -- it's a lot more fun that sitting in a classroom for half a day !! You'll improve your Spanish, just by being around it!!

Our instructors do not speak English, so some basic Spanish is very helpful for this class. However, since weaving is something you learn by demonstration, not by explaination, don't let your lack of Spanish stop you from this great experience. Just don't forget your dictionary!!

I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful experience I had in Guatemala. The backstrap weaving lessons were exactly what I wanted and they worked out perfectly for me. I had wanted to get to Guatemala for years, but I really didn't want to do the 'tourist' route, so your program seemed an ideal situaiton for me. The class really turned out well -- thank you again." Louise / Yr 2000

Participants taking backstrap weaving stay with our participants from other workshops, so you have other like minded folks to buddy around with. We provide transportation to the village, and the backstrap loom, threads and additional helpful teaching materials are all included.

All of our instructors live in a small village called San Antonia Aguas Caliente or its neighbor Santa Catarina Barahona. Both are well known for their excellent textiles and beautiful huipils and are located just 20 minutes outside Antigua. Our instructors include Elda Lidia Tarton de Santos and along with her sisters Vilma Carmelina, Odilia and her daughter Lesbia Edelmira.

WEAVING, TEXTILES AND CRAFT TOUR # 1 - Every weaver is familiar with the quality and rich variety of Guatemalan textiles. This and travel to various villages in Guatemala, each noted for its distinctive 'huipil' and weaving style. There will be opportunities to weave, but the focus of this workshop is learning, traveling and observing (it's our only 'tour' - not a hands-on workshop)

We base out of the beautiful old colonial capital of ANTIGUA, with field trips, lectures by local experts, and demonstrations - along with a typical meal with a local family in a nearby village. We also go into Guatemala City for a behind the scenes special tour of Museo Ixchel, Guatemala's ethnic costume museum, as well as some magnificent fabric stores. We also spend time in the western highlands -- the heart of the Mayan indigenous world - and home to spectacularly gorgeous LAKE ATITLAN. We spend time in Santiago Atitlan and other lake villages, visiting weaver's cooperatives and learning about some of their inspiring community development projects. *** This tour is appropriate for appreciators of fine fabrics - as well as those who make them.

WEAVING, TEXTILES AND CRAFT TOUR # 2 ** THE SEQUEL - Well, our sequel is just that. A requested follow up to our popular Weaving, Textiles and Craft tour. Except, unlike with the movies, it is an even more interesting and in-depth look at weaving communities in Guatemala. After a short stay in lovely and familiar ANTIGUA, we head further into the highlands, and base out of Quetzaltenango (Xela). You'll learn about and visit ikat weavers and tyers in nearby Salcaja. You'll journey to Totonicapan and Nahuala, MOMOSTENANGO, possibly even ZUNIL, traveling through the beautiful Almolonga valley. We can't skip LAKE ATITLAN, even though we've been there before. It is incredibly beautiful and there are plenty more villages to explore. Since we stayed on the Santiago Atitlan side of the lake for our orignal tour, this time we'll stay closer to Panajachel and visit a few villages and cooperatives that we didn't see the first time around. What an adventure !!

**It is not necessary to have been on the original tour to join us on this one. It is open to all all appreciators of fine fabrics with an adventuresome spirit.

WEAVING, TEXTILES AND CRAFT TOUR # 3 ** EXPLORING THE VILLAGES OF LAKE ATITLAN - Join artist, photographer and collector Richard Nelson November 2008 exploring the villages surrounding lovely Lake Atitlan. Again we'll spend a day in Antigua before heading up to the lake where we'll spend six delicious days at the lovely Posada Santiago. We'll meet with weavers and cooperatives in San Lucas Toliman, Santa Catarina Polopo, San Antonio Polopo, can't miss the wonderful natural dye experience in San Juan la Laguna and also San Marcos. Richard had the incredible experience of being in San Lucas Toliman during the devastating '76 earthquake and, and consequently offers a unique perspective to this tour.

WEAVING, TEXTILES AND CRAFT TOUR #4 ** EXPLORING NEBAJ AND THE IXIL TRIANGLE - Well, our fourth itinerary is finally a reality!! Join us as we journey to the IXIL TRIANGLE, three villages surrounded by the Cuchumatanes mountains, located in the heart of the Quiche Mayan highlands. It is an area that was isolated for many years and was particularily hard hit during the 30 year civil war. It is also one of the most beautiful areas of Guatemala. High mountains, foggy mists, gorgeous high altitude light, green fields, and of course Guatemala's greatest asset, her beautiful people wearing colorful traje.

Liza, along with our fabulous assistant Cecilia Aragon, test drove this route with two photograhy workshops last year. So, along with our tour leader and noted fiber artist and author Karen Searle , we'll head even further north in Guatemala to more fascinating and remote locations. After a day in lovely and familiar ANTIGUA, we'll pass through Chichicastenango, on our way to Nebaj. The mountain views are breathtakingly beautiful !! We'll base out of the Villa Nebaj, and spend time exploring the triangle villages of Nebaj, Chajul and San Juan Cotzal for a personal and in-depth look at Quiche rural weaving communities.