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An Invitation to an Amazing Oaxacan Adventure

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Embroidery of Atitlan



The town of Santiago Atitlan is the largest village on the lake and is famous for its striped clothing with elaborate embroidery of birds 



Women here work from their imagination and inspiration. Inspiration is a word you hear bandied about a lot. But they’re also not above referencing an Audobon or a Sibley’s bird ID book to create their realistic and naturalistic embroidered pieces. 



The skill level is just off the charts. Traditionally the birds were put down in a more linear fashion but now you see them in all kinds of configurations. On this huipile above, they seem to be flying all about. Do you think the wearer imagines herself a bird or do you think she just wants to be surrounded by a swirling flock? 



A whole piece devoted to various parrots 



And this one my friend bought was all birds of prey. 


 
Nowadays some women specialize in embroidery and job out the striped fabric that forms the base of the huipile to backstrap loom weavers. Notice in the photo above the embroiderer has asked for brown and golden stripes to match her bird designs. This is a complete departure from tradition 


Look at the incredible detail on this trio of songbirds above.



Two of my great loves birds and textiles rolled into one. I’d love to go back here (when we start post corona traveling) and go birdwatching in the morning and study embroidery in the afternoons. My bird guy friend tells me this is the town where you Can see the famous colorful quetzal bird. But I had to save that for another trip. 

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