Mexican Village Weaving

Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild will present a program on Mexican Village Weaving, taking place at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1710 S. Highland Avenue, Lombard, Illinois on September 9, 2014 at 10 am, and featuring Laura de los Santos.

Laura, a docent at the Field Museum, will explain Mayan textile production through archeological evidence and traditional mythology. Each highland village has its own style and identity in weaving and many of the current modes of dress can be traced back to the Classic Era of the ancient Maya, more than 1,500 years ago This program explores how the ancient Mayan tradition is kept alive through 21st Century Yucatec Mayan weavers and their work.

On September 23, 2014, in conjunction with this program, the Guild is sponsoring a guided tour of The Ancient Americas, the permanent exhibit at the Field highlighting indigenous populations of the American continents. The group will see textile representations in stone and ceramics and learn about the importance of textiles to various cultures of the Ancient Americas. The fee for the tour, not including transportation or lunch costs, is $15.00 for members.

The Guild welcomes non-members to an initial meeting free of charge. Members have first priority for workshops and other events and nonmembers may be asked to pay an additional fee.

The Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild was organized in 1949 to promote and advance handweaving by coming together to teach, encourage and inspire one another by sharing our knowledge and resources, and providing the opportunity to learn from experienced weavers. Members come from the western suburbs and Chicago. The guild is open to anyone interested in weaving. Meetings are held at the Congregation Etz Chaim, 1710 S. Highland Avenue, Lombard, IL, on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10 am September through June. Dues are $25.00 per year payable in June.

For more information, please contact the Guild by e-mail at IllinoisPrairieWeavers@yahoo.com or visit our website at www.IllinoisPairieWeavers.org.