Mexican Textiles Instructional Residency Programs
Weaving, Embroidery or Tapestry

Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
 All Residency Programs + Dates in 2024 & 2025
Missed the April 1 Deadline? E-mail Us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note: The focus of the master instruction in these three separate residency programs is Mexican textiles. For a residency program with master instruction in Peruvian (Andean) textiles, we offer the Peruvian Textiles Instructional Residency: Andean Weaving in Cusco, Peru. For a (separate) residency program with master instruction in making natural dyes for textiles, we offer the Natural Pigments Instructional Residency in Oaxaca, Mexico and Cusco, Peru.

These three comprehensive, customized instructional residency programs offer competitive professional opportunities for emerging and mid-career, national and international artists age 20 and over.
 
Mexican textiles are the expression of Mexico’s diversity and complex sociocultural systems; through their narratives, iconographies, and techniques, they reflect a multiplicity of artistic traditions and identities. Clothing in Mexico signals wealth and power, they incorporate elements of class and gender differentiation in the process of performing and negotiating identities. Therefore the intricate language of textiles reflects a history of contention and resistance as a result of the amalgamation and negotiation of Mesoamerican and European civilizations.
Lienzo de Tlaxcala, 1585, Fragment in the Benson Library, UT Austin 
RSMT1Aztec Weaver, Florentine Codex Book 10, ca. 1545-1590

Textiles are also sources of information for the cultural patrimony of each community. Both weaving and embroidery are techniques used to develop complex narratives, and are important ideologically in structuring roles and identity patterns. In Oaxaca, the diversity of textiles is as rich as the natural environment. Each weave and embroidery has had a destiny, and with the complex process of assimilation and negotiation, some have disappeared or have suffered gradual or radical transformation; other have become more sophisticated in their narratives, techniques and/or coloring.
 
Artists-in-Residence Bella Leonard (UK) and Camille Auclair (UK), Stephanie Gamble (USA), and Samar Hejazi (Palestine/Cnada) with Master Instructors
RSMXTXT
Arquetopia Foundation International Artist Residency Artists in Residence Textiles Montage 1Artists-in-Residence and master instructor in technique workshop

The Mexican Textiles Instructional Residencies are mentored production residency programs that include 3 or 4 weeks of master instruction (27 hours total for Weaving or Embroidery; or 36 hours total for Tapestry), at 9 hours per week, in Mexican textiles techniques. Resident artists learn how to use the traditional back-strap loom, including how to assemble it, and basic weaving techniques; or they learn Mexican embroidery techniques for which we offer instruction in the following: cross-stitching, chain-stitching, shading, and pepenado hilván; or they learn tapestry techniques, using the large floor loom. Each technique is offered separately. Instruction is in Spanish, though resident artists need not speak Spanish in order to successfully complete the course. Artists wishing to learn multiple techniques may apply for consecutive residencies. Individual mentoring is provided by our directorial and curatorial staff for personalized research assistance/resources, project guidance, and critique; participants of this program also work independently in our spaces.

With three separate programs to choose from, traditional Weaving, Embroidery, or Tapestry, artists join an integral program in which they learn the technique, approach iconography and traditional textile production systems with more resources, and get a better understanding of Mexican culture.

RESIDENCY DURATION / TIME PERIOD
Weaving or Embroidery: Sessions of 3 weeks, with option to extend for 1 to 3 more weeks of continued production as a standard Art, Design or Photography Residency.
Tapestry: Sessions of 4 weeks (fixed).
 For each of these separate programs, dates are not predetermined but are proposed by the applying artist.

WHAT THESE COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS INCLUDE
Technique Instruction:
  • Weaving or Embroidery includes 27 hours master instruction (9 hours per week)
  • Tapestry includes 36 hours master instruction (9 hours per week)
Staff Support:
  • Each resident artist meets weekly with our directorial and curatorial staff for personalized mentoring, research assistance/resources, project guidance, and critique
Accommodation and Local Transportation:
  • Furnished, private bedroom
  • 24-hour access to the kitchen for residents to prepare their own meals; residents are responsible for their own meals/food
  • Wireless Internet
  • Use of Arquetopia’s residency common spaces
  • Shared, serviced (single) bathrooms with modern fixtures and showers
  • Housekeeping
  • Downtown arrival pickup and departure dropoff transportation provided
  • Though cheap, everyday public transportation is also available from the residency vicinity into the city, Arquetopia also provides scheduled transportation into downtown Oaxaca once per week by van
Studio Workspace and Materials:
  • 24-hour access to shared studio with natural light
  • Personal workspace with large table
  • Some tools provided
  • Materials and supplies for the instructional course provided
  • Materials and supplies for extended project production not included but available for purchase locally

RESIDENCY PROGRAM TUITION INFO & APPLICATION DEADLINES
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for program tuition info and application deadlines for these (separate) programs.
TO APPLY
Click here to apply for any of these (separate) instructional residency programs.

Arquetopia Mexican Weaving Residency 2023 2024
Arquetopia Mexican Embroidery Residency 2023 2024
Arquetopia Mexican Tapestry Residency 2023 2024
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