ArtAndes Blog

The next generation of weavers is more scarce than ever experienced. With the allure of a mining or a construction job in the current gold rush, albeit not usually a good job, it draws people away from their cultural art and heritage. We don't see the interest that was once there. We work hard at keeping the enthusiasm up. Having Wilber Qusipe come to the mid-west every summer to demonstrate is very helpful, for him, myself and that pride has a trickle down effect in his family and community.

When I was recently spending time on the loom in Lima, being taught by Wilber and his son Samual ( an ongoing process) apparently Wilber's 17 yr old daughter Solette found this a positive example and for the first time in her life, she has started weaving. Typically females weave on the pre-Colombian backstop loom and males on the Spanish style floor loom that we use for our rugs. We have successfully added one more weaver!