 |
ASUR'S ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
* The Textile-Ethnographic Museum |
..Back
Room 6
This is the Jalq'a room. Here there is a different light, a different atmosphere,
quite distinct from that of the Tarabuco room, produced by the tones of
the Jalq'a textiles. Now the scene is seemingly without light, as the Jalq'a
attempt to represent a world inside the earth -- one inhabited by the deity
who is the inspiration for the Jalq'a designs. Against the dark depths of
greens, blues, and wines, the reds, the red-oranges, the pinks illuminate
like flashes of lightning.
|
 |
The space is chaotic: it evokes a world in perpetual creation
of species real and imaginary. For their quality, for the beauty of their
characters and figures, and for the daring of their representation of chaos,
these textiles constitute a unique human inheritance, worthy of being considered
modern art (but art that at the same time speaks of age-old indigenous mythology). |
Room 7
This is the historical room. It exhibits the changes which have taken place
in the designs during the 20th century, changes influenced by the social
climate before and after the Agricultural Reform -- a reform which greatly
affected indigenous community life. Here one can appreciate the extraordinary
creativity of the last years (the effect of the renaissance in indigenous
art program) in relation to the weaving of the past.
Hall of the Weavers
 |
This is an open space where female weavers - and sometimes
male weavers - are located which their looms. The visitor may sit down and
observe the work of the indigenous artists and may converse with them. |
THE MUSEUM SHOP
The Shop offers textiles and ceramics produced by those in
the Program. The sale of these products - promoted in large part by the
existence of the Museum - provides a regular source of supplementary income
for these indigenous communities. This additional income has succeeded in
slowing the emigration from the countryside to the city, as it has provided
the possibility of survival on heavily eroded land, where agriculture is
depressed and insecure. It has also brought pride to the weavers, allowed
them to organize and administer their own workshops, and placed value on
their culture.
In this way the Museo textil Etnografico, constantly visited not only by
numerous tourists but also by campesinos, has made possible not only a reinvigorated
spiritual movement in these native villages, but also their actual continued
existence. |
 |
| Exhibits |
In addition to the regular functioning of the Textile-Ethnographic
Museum, ASUR produces traveling textile exhibitions as well. The following
are some of the exhibits which have been organized by ASUR: |
| |
| 1 |
"Voces e Imágenes Indígenas," an exposition presented
on the occasion of the 6th Conference of First Ladies of the Americas. National
Museum of Art, La Paz, 1996. |
| 2 |
"Renaissance de l'Art Indigène" - Biarritz, Francia. 1996 |
| 3 |
"Renaissance de l'Art Indigène," a show chosen to represent
Bolivia at the International Festival of Latin American Culture and Cinema
-- Biarritz, France, 1996. |
| 4 |
"El Renacimiento del Textil Tradicional", a show highlighting
the renaissance of traditional textile production -- Alianza Francesa, La
Paz, 1995. |
| 5 |
"Bolivia en su Diversidad," an exposition organized by the Consular
General of Bolivia in Santiago, Chile, 1994. |
| 6 |
"Tejidos de Ajllakuna", a show displaying the work of several
especially selected weavers-- B.H.N. Gallery of Art, La Paz, 1993. |
| 7 |
"Textiles y Diferenciaciones Etnicas del Centro Sur de Bolivia",
an exhibit highlighting the textile artistry of South Central Bolivia -
Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, U.S.A., 1992. |
| 8 |
"Textiles de las Regiones Jalq'a y Tarabuco," a permanent exhibition
in the United Nations Building in the city of La Paz, 1991. |
| 9 |
"Programa Textil Jalq'a" - Museo Nacional de Arte. La Paz, Bolivia.
1989. |
| 10 |
"Programa Textil Jalq'a," -- an exposition for the Conference
on Indigenous Peoples. International Labour Organization, Palais des Nations.
Geneva, Switzerland, 1989. |
| 11 |
"Indígena," -- an exhibit of the Bolivian textile forms
which have inspired the work of three Italian schools. Castillo Sforzesco,
Milan, Italy, 1996. |
* ASUR Publications
ASUR has broadened its cultural mission through new publishing activities,
as well. The organization has published five titles, which have been sold
both locally and throughout Bolivia.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
* ASUR: Bolivia's Representative to the World Crafts Council
Since October of 1995 ASUR has been Bolivia's official representative
to the World Crafts Council. This designation is a great honor for the Institution;
it is also an opportunity to explore other perspectives, in order to develop
its activities further.
..Back
[ASUR] [Geografic Area]
[Museum] [Textiles] |