Hand Woven Textiles of the Living Maya

The exhibition “Hand Woven Textiles of the Living Maya” will be on display at the UU Fellowship Gallery from May 6 – 30.

The garments featured are from the collection of UUF member Karon Winzenz, an art historian and Mayan scholar, who teaches in the field. She earned an MFA at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and has taught traditional textile art.

Winzenz stated her collection is of “garments that were woven on back-strap looms by Mayan women living in the mountainous area of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico.”

After the Spanish conquest, the Maya experienced 500 years of cultural disruption brought on by the decimation of their population through disease, hunger, racial discrimination, and war. Yet, the Mayans endured and some traditional practices have survived.

Many Mayan women still wear traditional hand-woven clothing. Although most Mayan men have adopted western style clothing for daily wear, many still wear traditional hand-woven regalia in religious and civic ceremonies. Clothing for both daily wear and ceremonial use from several villages will be displayed.

The UU Gallery is open free to the public on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 – 3 pm and Sunday from 11 am – 12:30 pm. The UU Fellowship is located on Highway 42 in Ephraim at the south end of the Green Gable Shops.

For more information visit http://www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.