NEXT MEETING:
AUGUST 26, 2009, 7:30 PM at the Winslow Center

GUEST SPEAKER: KATHLEEN MOSSMAN VITALE
Kathleen is not a weaver nor a spinner, but has inherited her mother's love of handmade textiles, particularly those of the Mayan people. As a photo journalist, along with her husband, Paul G. Vitale, retired from Foreign Service, they have come to realize that many of the "old" ways of creating cloth may not survive for future generations to see. Setting out to visually preserve some of the ancient arts of cloth making of the people of Central America, they created Endangered Threads Documentaries, which is a small California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 2004.

Their goal is to produce educational documentaries recording endangered indigenous art forms, especially those in imminent threat of disappearing due to global economic expansion and the resulting homogenization of cultures. Target viewers are museum audiences, weavers, textile enthusiasts, anthropology teachers, students, travelers and the general public.

Of course in the process of recording weaving and embroidery techniques, they have come across those who still spin their own threads to weave with. While their emphasis has been on weaving/embroidery, Kathleen has prepared a talk for us centered on spinning. This talk promises to be interesting both in the historical and the social aspects of the few people who still keep their ancient fiber arts alive.


See you all at the meeting. Remember to bring your own cup and yearly dues if you have not yet paid for '09 - '10. $25 single member or $30 for family membership for the year.