Initially, all our Mayan textiles came from the Handicraft Project of the Comité del D. F. They had workshops in Mexico and the refugee camps, and also obtained items from collectives and co-ops inside Guatemala. The members of these co-ops were also refugees; internally displaced by the militarization of the countryside. The Comité was under the direction of the Maryknoll Sisters and employed four American or European women volunteer workers. As the project evolved it was moved to Guatemala City and was placed under the umbrella of CONCERN America. Eventually, their long-term goal was achieved when the administration of the project came into the hands of Pop Atziak, an indigenous producer group in Guatemala. We now deal directly with them under the name "Samajel B'atz'".
Samajel B'atz' is Quiché Maya for 'weavers of thread'. 'B'atz' is a word with a dual meaning, both thread and history. The women weave both the thread and their history. The intimate cultural connection between weaving and history makes the preservation of weaving so important to the self definition of the Maya.
The backstrap loom is known from cultures world-wide. Mayan textiles are among the finest examples of this craft. For those interested in the technique, two books worth consulting are "Backstrap Weaving" by Barbara Taber & Marilyn Anderson, and "Guatemalan Textiles Today" by Marilyn Anderson. Marilyn Anderson studied the Mayan women and their craft in the '70s, taking many black and white pictures which she filed away. After the repression of the '80s began she used these to illustrate a book, "Granddaughters of Corn". A sad commentary on our concern for the Maya may be taken from this Amazon.com used book ad "Comments: VG retired library HB w/dj unmarked except usual library markings lite surface wear to dj only pages are excellent appears unread."
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Teardrop Crafts
2600 Columbia Avenue
Castlegar, B.C., Canada, V1N 2X6
tdrop@web.ca
© 1998-01-22 George Richards update=260704