The Indigenous Art Museum has revitalized the virtually lost art of weaving in Bolivia…
Christi and I begin our day at the rather hedonistic hour of noon. Our constant travel schedule is very tiring and we’re taking advantage of the fact that we have no obligations today for a very easy morning. My camera is not ready yet, the shop owner says. Come back at 4 pm. Sucre is now enjoying its siesta so we amble back to the hotel la Posada for another of their excellent lunch specials: fresh crusty bread, soup, Mexican chicken and chips, and delicious vanilla ice cream.
Next, we visit the Indigenous Art Museum (ASUR), which is unquestionably the real deal. This museum has revitalized and reinvigorated the virtually lost art of weaving for which the indigenous peoples from the surrounding Jalq’a and Tarabuco regions are historically famous. The museum highlights the evolution of weaving into an art form. Pieces can take more than two months to complete and they feature highly complex visual motifs. We will probably never encounter such exquisite and authentic textiles on our trip again so we delve deep into our pockets and purchase a beautiful design by weaver and artist, Teresa Flores from the Tarabuco region. There is an associated music exhibit, which is less appealing but the Tihuanaku (an important pre-Columbian culture and precursor to the Inca Empire) artifacts dating back to 700 AD are impressive. Two indigenous words I learn today are Aqsu (woman’s shawl) and unku (men’s shirt/tunic).
Later we return to the camera shop. The owner shakes his head and gives me back my camera – still broken. Spend the rest of the day soaking up the atmosphere and architecture of Sucre. Tomorrow it’s the evil sibling, Potosi.
Blog post by Roderick Phillips, author of Weary Heart – a gut-wrenching, heart-wrenching, laugh-wrenching tale
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