Kakaw Designs Shifts to Online Classes, Sales in Guatemala
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Volume 28, Number 1 - Spring 2021 Kakaw Designs Shifts to Online Classes, Sales in Guatemala Creating A Connected Mari Gray CreatingCreatingTextile Community aA Connected Connected Believe it or not, we have been busier for sure, and one that has been surprisingly TextileTextile CommunityCommunity than ever in Guatemala since the pandemic rewarding for me personally. Specifically, hit. We were fortunate to have a solid website the backstrap weaving classes with master and digital presence in place, which proved weaver Doña Lidia López have allowed us To foster a global network of to be key in our case for the “new normal” to explore a variety of different topics to- To fosterenthusiasts a global network who value of enthusiaststhe gether, dedicating a unique class for each whoimportance value the of importance textiles to grassrootsof textiles to technique. It has been a joy to slow down grassrootseconomies economies and spend time on exploring textile tradi- tions from home during such a difficult Header for online workshops ExchangeExchange informationinformation we found ourselves in. Pretty soon after the RaiseRaise awareness awareness of of the the importance importance of strict national restrictions were brought on textiletextile traditions traditions to grassroots to grassroots economies in Guatemala, our artisan partners started economies asking us to help sell their independently- Mobilize textile enthusiasts Mobilize textile enthusiasts produced creations online. This was the first Create conversations that result in action of many important pivots we took in 2020: Create conversations that result in opening up a curated marketplace on our action website. Textiles are an important component of Doña Lidia Lopez Textiles arethe anhuman important experience component time. Many of my own personal long-time Networkingof the human and sharing experience. information textile questions have been answered Networkingcreates and an environment sharing information for through this journey. createsconstructive an environment action for The world seems still uncertain, and constructive action. there is clear need in many of the commu- Making connections between textile nities where we work in Guatemala. Last artisansMaking worldwide Connections promotes between positive Brocade close-up year was especially challenging with the textile artisanssocial worldwide change promotes Now, a year later, we are working on re- two strong hurricanes that caused flooding Interactingpositive with people social change. who have similar fining our online workshops on backstrap in unexpected areas away from the coast values enriches our lives weaving, embroidery, pompom making, (see Deborah Chandler’s article on page 8). Interacting with people who have and more. It has been a learning experience similar values enriches our lives. continued on page 11 1 WARP Newsletter - Spring 2021 COVID-19 and our #kaamnotdaan Campaign Arushi Chowdhury Khannar Nearly a year ago, I wrote an article for To my utter amazement, we received WARP about our revival of the heritage an overwhelming response from people technique of Himroo weaving. While we both in India and abroad. Within two had faced many challenges in re-starting weeks, we were able to secure orders to WARP Newsletter the defunct looms, it felt like we had over- support the weavers for the next two published quarterly by come most of them and I wrote with a months. However, the pandemic dragged Weave A Real Peace burst of optimism of our plans to set up on. The city of Aurangabad where our Volume 28, Number 1 new looms and train more women. weavers live was one of the worst-hit Spring 2021 But a month later, the pandemic hit areas and their low-income locality in Editor: Linda Temple India and we went into complete lock- particular was declared a Red Zone. We down. Initially, it seemed like this was a sent out a second appeal and received an- Send address death knell for the project. With every- other batch of pre-orders. It was amazing corrections to: to see how completely unknown people [email protected] one stuck at home, the weavers could not or mail to reached out to help. Some of our custom- Weave a Real Peace ers said that they didn’t know much about 5753 Hwy 85 North #3044 handlooms but they felt that this craft Crestview, FL 32536 shouldn’t be allowed to die. Some even connected us to their friends and relatives The deadline for who, in turn, placed further orders. And contributions to the so, this little human chain of interconnect- Summer issue of the WARP edness saw us through the lockdown. newsletter is Once the restrictions began to be April 30, 2021 lifted, we started to dispatch the orders Send articles and we had received. However, it was one step correspondence for forward and two steps back all the time. A The Ramzani Jangla is a vintage Himroo design the newsletter to: couple of weavers went down with mild comprising beautiful floral vines. It is woven on Linda Temple a drawloom known locally as a “Paaga Loom” 1230 NE 70 Oklahoma City, OK 73111 come even come to the weaving center [email protected] to weave. Moreover, our grant partners 405/921-1064 (phone) diverted their funds towards healthcare, leaving this project high and dry. The situ- Information about an ation was indeed bleak. organization or service in However, necessity as they say, is the this newsletter does not mother of invention. I just had a few pic- constitute an endorsement tures of the products that were midway by WARP. through weaving and were still on the loom. I posted these on our Instagram The drawloom technique enables Submissions may be page with an appeal to the social media designs to have a much larger scale edited or shortened at the universe: “Please support the weavers than typical jacquard looms and discretion of the editor. of Aurangabad. Pre-order our products hence the Ramzani Jangla has a and we will promise to deliver them stunning tapestry like effect once lockdown ends.” The campaign title cases of the virus. Weaving continued to was “KaamNotDaan” which translates to be slow and we are still completing orders “WorkNotAid”. The idea was that we do that we received last year. But, I think the not want dole for our self-respecting and pandemic has taught us all to be more proud weavers but your pre-orders today patient and understanding that there are will help them meet their daily expenses larger forces beyond our control. Con- till the looms are running again. continued on page 6 2 WARP Newsletter - Spring 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting - June 18-20 Kate Colwell Plan now to stock up on your favorite breaks during the day where you can run snacks, dress in your best handwovens, over to the auction and place your bids. Weave A Real Peace and greet friends new and old at the June In the evening we’re back to Zoom Meet- Membership 18-20 Virtual Annual Meeting: Unravel- ing for members only and we will have Information ing Borders, Weaving Networks a Show and Tell. Members who make art www.weavearealpeace.org On Friday night we have expanded and members who work with artisans can the welcome circle to a 90 minute Zoom make two minute videos of their work to 2021 Annual Dues (USD) Meeting to see everyone’s face while ac- show off on Saturday evening. The op- $50 - Individual in US/Canada commodating our burgeoning mem- $90 - 2 year special - Individual US/ tions of opening your favorite beverage Canada bership. There’s an option to meet with and joining small groups of friends or in- $40 - International Individual/ friends in small breakout rooms after the terest groups in breakout rooms will also International Sister Guilds Circle. be available Saturday night. Simple living - Choose an amount Saturday will be a packed day with Sunday morning we’ll have our busi- you can live with scheduling 11:30 am to 8:30 pm EST to ness meeting and there will be at least accommodate time zones across the $40 - Sister/Gift Subscriptions one speaker. $75 - Friend of WARP Americas. We are tentatively planning a We are open to finding times to show $50 - Professional: Guild/ Business/ Keynote and panels including teaching short videos, author presentations, etc., Non-profit Organization during a pandemic, art and activism, and during breaks on Saturday or extending $150+ - Patron of WARP scholarship presentations. This section into Sunday afternoon. If you have some- of the meeting is Zoom Webinar and will thing you want to present please e-mail All memberships are for 12 months, and be open to non-members. The auction me [email protected]. I look forward expire 12 months from date of joining. will run concurrently and there will be to seeing you all there. Members have access to annual Membership There are several Assistantships What’s in this Newsletter... Directory through a secure available for people to help with the ‘members-only’ section of the web Kakaw Designs ..........................................1 Annual Meeting and currently these site, a quarterly newsletter, and can skills are needed: Covid-19 and #kaamnotdaan ..............2 participate in the WARP Google Discussion Group. • Social media before the meet- 2021 Annual Meeting to be Virtual ....3 ing Assistantships Available .........................3 Dues are used for printing, mailing, • Video editing skills prior to the WARP Membership Information .........3 and office expenses. Weave A Real meeting Peace (WARP) is designated a 501(c)(3) From the Office .........................................4 • Zoom technical support during nonprofit organization by the Internal the meeting 2021 Online Auction ...............................4 Revenue Service. All donations to WARP are tax deductible in the Member Profile: Betsy Blosser..............5 Please contact Kate Colwell, kcol- United States. [email protected], if you would like to WARP on Social Media ............................5 apply for an Assistantship.