A Visit with Jacobo Mendoza
This is a virtual trip to visit Jacobo Mendoza, a master rug weaver and expert in natural slow dying techniques at his home and workshop in Teotitlan del Valle in Oaxaca. This presentation was a live discussion with Jacobo and his family to show how they get from raw wool to a beautiful masterpiece for your wall or your floor.
The hosts of the tour are Heidi Levassure, who owns an art gallery in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, and Barbara Erickson, a textile lover and long-time friend of the Mendoza family. They provide the background and the translations for this virtual visit.
Jacobo Mendoza is a Zapotec, one of the many ethnic groups in Mexico who survived the invasion of the Spanish in the 16th century. He learned to weave from his father, starting when he was 7 years old. Today Jacobo is one of the most celebrated weavers in his medium, not only for his exceptionally fine work and designs but the brilliant colors he archives with only natural dyestuffs, many of which he grows and some that he discovered and now teaches others to use.
It is fascinating! Instructions for ordering are at the end of the video.
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