Workshops and presentations

“As a weaver you interweave your feelings with the threads. You paint your own ideals and the hopes of your people in a tapestry.”  – Hector Surco

Surco Tapestry Art organizes weaving workshops and presentations in Spanish and English on a regular basis.

The History of Tapestry Weaving in South-America

In this presentation you learn:

  • The main civilizations in South-America that developed a weaving culture
  • Illustrations of the use of tapestry art in those cultures
  • Important symbols obtained from their cosmovision you can find in their work
  • The influence on the weaving art by the European countries conquering South-America
  • The Contemporary Tapestry Art movement and the resurge of native culture

Duration: 2,5 h
Location: Surco Tapestry Art, Cusco
Including:

  • Tea, coffee or a soda & snack.
  • Guided tour through the workshop
  • Presentation booklet ‘The History of Tapestry Weaving in South – America’.
  • Participation certificate.
  • Discount voucher for online or offline purchases.

Price: $70.00,- (USD) p.p.

Symbolism in Andean Tapestry Art

In this presentation you learn:

  • What is the Andean cosmovision
  • The chacana (Andean cross) and the connection between the worlds
  • Symbols of nature spirits like the sun, moon, mountains, water and wind.
  • Symbols of animals like the condor, puma, serpent and hummingbird.
  • Symbols of medicine plants like mama Coca and San Pedro.
  • Geometric forms and the Inca calendar.
  • Important figures like the Pachamama, the king and the shaman.
  • All symbols will be illustrated with work of arts.
  • We will begin the presentation with an ancient Inca tradition: the kint´u, where you can make a wish.

Duration: 2,5 h
Location: Surco Tapestry Art, Cusco

Including:

  • Tea, coffee or a soda & snack.
  • Guided tour through the workshop
  • Presentation booklet ‘Reading an Andean Tapestry’.
  • Participation certificate.
  • Discount voucher for online or offline purchases.

Price: $70.00,- (USD) p.p

How to Value Pieces of Contemporary Tapestry Art

In this workshop you learn

  • A basic understanding of the market of Andean tapestries
  • How to recognize contemporary Andean tapestries
  • Different styles and positioning of artists in tapestry art
  • How to evaluate the use of materials
  • How to evaluate the use of techniques
  • Certificates of origin and authenticity

Duration:      4 h

Location:      Surco Tapestry Art

Including:

  • Lunch, tea, coffee or a soda & snack.
  • Guided tour through the workshop
  • Workshop guide ‘How to Value a Contemporary Andean Tapestry’.
  • Participation certificate.
  • Discount voucher for online or offline purchases.

Price: $110.00,- (USD) p.p.

How to Create your own Tapestry Design

In this artesan course you learn:

  • The basic themes and symbols in contemporary Andean tapestry
  • Options in style, size, materials and purpose of use
  • How to create a first sketch or cardboard to scale
  • Choice of colors and coloring your drawing
  • Locations where you can create a real-size cartoon
  • How a cartoon is transferred to the warp threads on a loom
  • Introduction into basic weaving techniques
  • Tips where to get materials

Duration:      15 days from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Location:      Surco Tapestry Art, Ancawasi.

Including:     All meals included; tea, coffee or a soda & snack during breaks.

Workshop guide ‘How to Create your own Tapestry Design’.

All materials included.

Excursions to

  • the Cusco Textile Centre, museum of ancient textiles
  • Chinchero weaving centre, archeological site
  • Moon temple in Anta with ancient ceremony
  • Salkantay mountain (Apu Salkantay)

Participation certificate.

Discount voucher for online or offline purchases.

Price:             $350.00,- (USD) p.p.

From January 2024 there´s an option to include your stay in this offer at $35,- p.p.p.n. Please, contact book@surcotapestryart.com for more information.
Pre-announcement Retreat ‘Weaving the story of your life’
“As my Popo used to say, life is a tapestry we weave day by day with threads of different colors, some heavy and dark, others thin and bright, all the threads having their uses. The stupid things I did are already in the tapestry, indelible, but I’m not going to be weighed down by them….” -Isabel Allende

In a weaving retreat you use tapestry weaving to transform your life. Weaving is a very meditative art that helps you develop a lot of positive qualities. As you learn how to weave, you learn how to find and express beauty in your life.  You learn how to create a vision and turn it into reality.

Surco Tapestry Art is preparing a beautiful retreat program for August – September 2024. Details will follow lately. Would you like us to keep you posted?  Join our email newsletter!