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Bonington Vitrines #18: Story Cloth

Bonington Gallery

A woman weaving some colourful textiles.
Exhibitions

This small collection of artefacts, images and narratives convey findings from recent research into: ‘how Guatemalan artisans diversified their textile practices to sustain their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic’.

  • From: Friday 25 March 2022, 10 am
  • To: Saturday 21 May 2022, 3 pm
  • Location: Bonington Gallery, Bonington Building, Dryden Street, Nottingham, NG1 4GG
  • Cost: Free
  • Download this event to your calendar

Past event

Event details

The coronavirus pandemic is still far from over in many parts of the world, including Guatemala where artisanal textile making remains a significant aspect of indigenous Maya cultural heritage and the creative economy. This small collection of artefacts, images and narratives convey findings from recent research into: ‘how Guatemalan artisans diversified their textile practices to sustain their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic’.

Our ethnographic enquiry, undertaken in 2021, was made possible through collaboration with five socially driven textile organisations working in the Lake Atitlan area; A Rum Fellow, Cojolya, Mercado Global, Multicolores, and Kakaw Designs. Analysis of online interviews, videos and photographs taken in the field, provide insights into the creative resilience of artisans as they continued to practice, communicate and market their crafts, throughout the global crisis.

The exhibition also features ‘Connecting with Your Roots’, a scholarship programme funded by Ibermuseums for The Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing, enabling 30 women and girls from Maya groups in Guatemala City to reconnect with their weaving arts heritage. The project is represented in images and a vintage huipil (blouse) the most prevalent form of traje (traditional clothing) worn by Mayan women. Woven on a backstrap loom, the huipil incorporates colours, patterns and motifs symbolizing nature, religious and community affiliation.

Story Cloth is an outcome of ongoing research into the sustainable potential for integrating digital technology into artisanal business models, supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and Quality-Related (QR) funding, Nottingham Trent University.

Curated by:

Katherine Townsend, Nottingham Trent University
Anna Piper, Sheffield Hallam University
Luciana Jabur, Friends of The Ixchel Museum

Supported by:

Friends of the Ixchel Museum
Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena (Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Dress)
A Rum Fellow
Cojolya
Kakaw Designs
Mercado Global
Multicolores

Opening times and visitor information

This exhibition is free and open to the public as well as NTU students and staff.

Our opening hours are:

  • Monday - Friday, 10 am - 5 pm
  • Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm

Visit the Bonington Gallery website for full visitor information.

Contact us

Email boningtongallery@ntu.ac.uk and one of our friendly team will be in touch.

Bonington Gallery is part of Curated & Created — NTU's extra-curricular arts programme. Get the latest announcements and offers straight to your inbox by signing up to our mailing list.

Location details

Address:

Bonington Gallery
Bonington Building
Dryden Street
 Nottingham
 NG1 4GG

Travel Info:

Visit our travel pages for campus maps and detailed information on how to get here.

Past event

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