Rug and Textile Appreciation Morning: Preserving Textile Traditions of the Andes
This presentation and weaving demonstration will explore the profound and transformative journey of 10 Andean weaving associations collaborating with the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Together, they have successfully revived ancient textile techniques practiced by Inkan and pre-Inkan cultures — methods that were once on the brink of disappearance.
Attendees will gain behind-the-scenes insight into the master weavers' experiential process of learning complex, historical structures. The presentation will highlight a variety of masterfully revived techniques, including knotted four-cornered hats, cross-knit looping, advanced finishing techniques, discontinuous warp and weft, and pre-Columbian resist dyeing. This program celebrates the magnificent artistic and technical achievements of contemporary Andean master weavers, demonstrating how reclaiming ancestral knowledge serves as a powerful tool for cultural identity, economic empowerment and living history.
The program will be accompanied by an Artisans Gallery trunk show, where you can browse and buy handwoven accessories and home goods from the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco throughout the day.
About Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez
Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez is an internationally recognized authority on traditional Andean textiles. Born in Chinchero, Peru, her lifelong connection to the fiber world began as a child while shepherding and learning the foundational arts of spinning and weaving. She studied at the National University of San Antonio Abad and has published several books. In 1996, Callañaupa Alvarez founded the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization and preservation of ancient Andean textile traditions. Under her leadership, the CTTC has grown to support 10 distinct weaving communities, ensuring that ancestral techniques are passed down to future generations.
How to Participate
This program is free and open to the public. You can join us in person at the museum or watch the livestream online. Please register in advance and choose how you would like to participate. We will email virtual attendees a link and instructions for joining via Zoom. When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.
About Rug and Textile Appreciation Mornings
Collectors and experts discuss textile topics and display examples from their personal holdings. This series is named in honor of late Textile Museum trustee emeritus, Harold M. Keshishian. Browse upcoming programs
Additional Information
Photos and/or videos of attendees of this program may be taken and shared on social media, websites or marketing materials. Please contact MuseumEd
gwu [dot] edu (MuseumEd[at]gwu[dot]edu) if you have questions about photography or recordings at this program.