Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez is an indigenous Quechua weaver from the mountain village of Chinchero, in the Cusco region of Peru.  Chinchero, known as the "birthplace of the rainbow," is referred to as the weaving center of Peru and is famous for its especially vibrant colored textiles.  Nilda will share a presentation about the rich textile traditions of the Andes by the master weavers of her culture.  She will also share about her involvement in the revitalization of the pre-Columbian techniques, natural plant dyes, and the important role that textiles play in the rituals and ceremonies of her culture.   Nilda will share with us demonstrations of traditional backstrap loom weaving and the spinning of alpaca wool into yarns.  Additionally, she will have an assortment of hand made textiles available for a small market to help support the weavers involved in her non-profit organization The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC).

Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Donation: $25; no one turned away for lack of funds. Contact us for assistance.

About Nilda

Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez was born in the small community of Chinchero, Peru. Like many other children, she was responsible for taking care of her family’s flock of sheep. Watching over them in the fields, she spent her time learning to spin and weave with her friends. As she grew and learned more complex designs, her curiosity was sparked. She could see there was a powerful history behind the art of her people, but that it was slowly being lost. When Nilda was a teenager she befriended an ethnobotanist and anthropologist who moved to Chinchero in the 1970s. With their encouragement, she embarked on a journey that would change the fate of Cusco textiles. After becoming the first person from her community to attend college, she went on to become one of the founders of the The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco,a non-profit organization that promotes the empowerment of weavers through the revitalization and sustainable practice of Peruvian ancestral textiles in the Cusco region. Together they help enable the weavers to maintain their identity and textile traditions while improving their quality of life through education and promotion of their textile art.  Now as the director of the CTTC, and also an award-winning author of multiple books on Peruvian Weaving, an international speaker, and expert in the textiles of her region, Nilda has traveled around the world sharing the special and ancient knowledge of her culture's artisans.

Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco:  www.textilescusco.org