|
|
About our Artisans
This is a story about one group of MayaWorks artisans. You can also read the story of the angel makers of Xetonox by clicking here.
Santiago Atitlanis a small indigenous village on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlan in the Highlands of Guatemala. The Maya there speak Tzutujil, one of the several dialects of the ancient Mayan language. A visitor to Santiago Atitlan is overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people, the beauty of the volcano-ringed lake, the color of everything, and the quality of the artesanía.
MayaWorks proudly sells pastoral stoles made in Santiago Atitlan and eagerly shares the story behind these special products. We share it here with you.
Clerical Stoles -- One Padre's Legacy
By Marcia K. Lang
The hem of the priest's white clerical garment swept across the dusty cobblestone steps as he straightened the red fringes of his favorite ceremonial stole. The stole fluttered at his sides as he thought about the padre who started the tradition of weaving these stoles in this village of Santiago Atitlán. He hurried to mass together with the Maya Tzutujil weavers whose lives had been changed by one padre's vision.
Local inhabitants, called Santiagueños, are renown for their production of contemporary clerical stoles, a weaving tradition started in the 1970's by the Maryknoll priest from Oklahoma, Stan Rother, fondly referred to as Padre Aplàs. The American priest selflessly dedicated his life to helping the Mayans after he relocated to the highlands of Guatemala in 1968. All villagers proudly link his name with the history of one of their finest handicrafts.
Living among the people, Padre Aplàs witnessed and experienced the overwhelming poverty of his parishioners. As he came to know the Santiagueños better, he admired their creativity and envisioned the day when their living conditions would improve. The padre dreamt of developing a secure source of income while using their weaving skills. Opening the parish doors, he invited the weavers to set up their looms and talked about developing a unique product they could market locally and internationally.
Padre Aplàs turned to what he knew well, clerical garments. He showed the villagers his own vestments, then worked together with them to design the unique stoles that have become the village trademark.
For three decades the weavers refined their designs, incorporating well-known Christian symbols into their abstract images. Inspired by their own religious and weaving traditions they created stoles in blazing rainbows of primary colors with a diffusion of hues from the unique palette of Guatemalan dyes. No two stoles are exactly alike. In one stole layers of magenta, cinnamon bark, burnt tangerine and burgundy are woven together and then interlaced with stylized symbols - a lime fish darts across a patch of the deep indigo sea, a golden cross shimmers in a background of regal purple or a simple adobe church stands invitingly against a pale azure sky.
Not every weaver in Santiago has the talent to create the stoles, but those who have learned, the Asmajma, pass on the knowledge to their children and immediate family members. Weavers carefully select the finest materials; they choose only from first quality yarns that have been dyed with special products and are subsequently washed to prevent staining.
MayaWorks arrived in Santiago Atitlán in 1997. Together with Diego Chávez, a respected local leader, they started new productions. Shortly thereafter, C. M. Almy, a supply house for Christian products, contacted MayaWorks hoping to find a source for specifically designed liturgical stoles, which are used to celebrate each season of the Christian calendar. The project flourished under the capable guidance of Diego Chávez and his family. Using their imagination and skill, expert weavers turn out ordinary stoles in a day; the C. M. Almy stoles take twice as long to weave but command more than twice the price.
During the turmoil of the 1980's Padre Aplàs was cruelly murdered by military forces. He died a martyr on July 28, 1981. Beloved by his parishioners, his heart was removed and buried in the church he served. His spirit continues to live on in every weaver and is woven deeply into every symbol. The padre's dream endures: a legacy of dignity, peace and freedom.
Sitting in the midst of her patio, Candelaria, a master weaver, looks across the slope of the volcano, beyond the cresting waves of mystical Lake Atitlán and passes her shuttle rapidly, listening to the rapid beat of the loom. With dedication and love Candelaria weaves the black design of three nails, the crown of thorns and the rugged cross into the dark purple yarn. She is reminded of the love and sacrifice of Her Lord, her priest, her countrymen. She raises her shoulders with dignity, smiles in recognition of those who sacrificed their lives for her. Candelaria whispers: "Their spirits live on in me, my creativity, my stole."
© 2000
Each stole sold by MayaWorks means more work for weavers in Santiago Atitlan. More work means more food on the table, more opportunity for children to attend school, better health care, and hope for a more stable life. A stole from MayaWorks links its wearer to the people of Guatemala and serves as a reminder to all who see it of the one world we share.
MayaWorks "Traditional Variegated" stoles are made in shades of green, red, purple, and blue. A white matching stole is also available. They are decorated with symbols such as crosses, shafts of wheat, bread, fish and chalices woven in the bright colors of Guatemala. They sell for $35/each or a set of five (one of each color) for $150.
For more information or to order stoles, please Email MayaWorks at info@mayaworks.org.
|
|
|
|
Cart 
