Posted by: taniacavenecia
on Dec 12, 2010
My favorite materials to work with right now are Tagua nuts and Acai seeds. There are so many reasons why I'm drawn to these materials. I love that they are natural elements, each one with it's own organic shape, size and markings. The fact that they are eco-friendly materials is all the more reason to make use of this wonderful resource. These seeds and nuts come from the Amazon rain forest of South America, I brought my supply back with me on my last trip to Peru. In a previous post I went into how they are harvested and why they are eco-friendly but in this post I want to explain the design process behind a articular necklace from my Acai & Tagua Collection. The entire collection was designed with the idea of showing the beauty and elegance of these materials. The combination of the shiny and modern look of Sterling silver with the natural and organic qualities of the seeds is what makes the style timeless.
The necklace design pictured here started with the color palette. Warm shades of brown, from a reddish honey brown to a dark chocolate and the cotton cord is a perfect in between neutral shade. A cluster of four, one larger Tagua nut and three smaller Acai seeds, each one attached to a sterling silver ring by a knotted cotton cord with sterling silver at the end. The smallest seed is simply attached by sterling silver making it more like a charm. The cotton cord has a special wax coating giving it durability and a nice sheen. The entire necklace is finished off with sterling silver hardware. With it's simplicity and modern elegance this necklace is perfect for everyday and a nice conversation starter, when I wear mine I'm always getting asked whats it made of.
http://TaniaCaveneciaTorres.com
Posted by: taniacavenecia
on Oct 29, 2010
Lark Calderon-Gomez is a native California artist. Raised in Southern California and now residing here in the San Francisco Bay Area where she has studied oil painting under painter Phyllis Shafer. I first heard of Lark when I came across one of her oil paintings from her series "Julia's Journey" , pictured above. The modern, romantic and latin feel of the work caught my attention but it was the eyes that conveyed that there was a story to tell behind these paintings and indeed there was. The entire series of paintings is inspired by Lark's grandmother Julia, her travels and struggles in leaving her home in Guatemala for a new life.
Each work of art is like another chapter that draws inspiration from her grandmother's life. A young brave woman in Guatemala in the 1940s who makes the decision to leave her country in hopes of something better and embarks on the difficult journey to the United States where discovers a whole new world. Lark weaves a wonderful story and each of her paintings are like little gems making you want to see more.
Posted by: taniacavenecia
on Oct 21, 2010
Few have heard of this very small island in the high altitude of the Andes in Lake Titicaca. But in November of 2005 - The Director-General of UNESCO, Kochiro Matsuura proclaimed Taquile island of Peru and its textile art as one of the 43 new Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity along with Japan's Kabuki theater and the Zambian Makishi Masquarade. Why did the Taquile people receive this honor? Taquileos are known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing which are regarded as some of the finest quality handy crafts in Peru. Their textile art is produced as an everyday activity by both men, women and children and worn by all members of the community .
The art of weaving on Taquile island goes back to the ancient Inca civilizations which means elements from pre-Hispanic Andean cultures are still being kept alive. The weaving is done on pre-Hispanic fixed and pedal looms. The most characteristic garment is the calendar waistband, depicting the annual cycles connected to ritual and agricultural activities. The calendar waistband has attracted the interest of many researchers as it depicts elements of the oral tradition of the community and its history. Although new designs and contemporary symbols and images have been introduced, the traditional style and techniques are still maintained.
My husband and I had the opportunity to visit this Island last year and were amazed at how small it was and how the people differed from other Andean groups. The women and girls wore black mantas or long head scarves which we had not scene in other parts of Peru. The typical llama was not present on the island but instead lot's of woolly sheep. What seemed like an easy climb up the hill to the village was actually
quite challenging because of the high altitude. We enjoyed our afternoon there and ate a meal of delicious local trout. We look forward to going back one day and were glad to have met such warm and interesting people . ~ above are a few photographs from our trip to the Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca, Peru.
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