It is funny the things one notices, the things one misses. I am getting ready to return to Oaxaca and what I've noticed here in Boston... it's too damn cold.... And what I've missed here in Boston, according to everyone, I missed the
really cold weather. This is balmy... mid-teens at night, upper 20's during the day. I cracked someone up the other day, when I asked, "Who are all these people? They all look so strange, so different." I am so used to the faces of Oaxaca, the shapes, the color of skin and hair, all of this alien to me.... and, who is that guy in the mirror?
And where are the colors??? I'm used to seeing this look on the streets.
Here, it is all brown and black winter coats, unless they are runners, in which case, it is phosphorescent orange. Even white looks better in Oaxaca. This fiesta falda is from the north part of Oaxaca, Teotitlan de Flores Magon.
I keep flashing back to this exhibition at the Textile Museum that I saw on the day before I left. There was a photography show right next door linked to this show. This gorgeous huipil is from Quetzaltengo, Guatemala.
Beautiful detail work in the collar.
The dyes used by all the textiles in the show were indigo, cochineal and the purple of caracol (shells).
One can see people wearing these wonderful colors every day. It sure brightens one's day. I recognized this posahuanque from Santiago Jimiltepec as being from the costa part of Oaxaca.
The crazy thing is that I can recognize these fabrics and know the area from which each comes, but I could not pick out a Western designer if my life depended on it..... of course, some make it very easy as they put their names on everything. Yes, Tommy Hilfiger, I'm lookin' at you. I ain't no walkin' billboard or free advertisement.
1 comment:
I love the post. The top photo reminds me my shadow theater puppets. I agree… even with my excessive contribution, we don’t have enough colors and textures in Boston.
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