Mexican Fiber Arts Weekend-Driftless Curiousity

This unique 3-day offering is a collaboration between the Mexican Folk Art Collective and Driftless Curiosity – the organizations who brought you the Driftless Region’s Día de Muertos Celebration. We are bringing special guest artists from Mexico, Nadia Figueroa, Pedro Netzahualcoyotl, and Liliana Filomena Ortiz, who will lead workshops on natural dyes and traditional weaving. On Friday, they will use dried marigold petals from the 2023 Dia de Muertos Celebration, as well as other natural dyes like walnut, indigo, and grana cochinilla, to teach color recipes that have been passed down for generations in Mexico. On Saturday and Sunday, they will use a small wooden frame loom to teach two simple designs using traditional weaving techniques. Each participant will go home with a piece they create. Nadia is a fashion designer from Mexico City who specializes in “slow fashion” and has dedicated her time to researching the original dye recipes of the Florentine Codex from the Central part of Mexico. Pedro (visa pending) is a national award-winning textile artist who belongs to the 5th generation of Nahua weavers in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Liliana (visa pending) is a textile artist who specializes in natural dyes, sustainability, and biocultural reconnection. These artists will collaborate to share their expertise in Mexican Fiber Arts. Instruction will be given in Spanish and translated into English, with multiple translators available to assist throughout the weekend, making this offering a great language immersion experience as well!