An accompanying sales event for the exhibition Stitching Stories: Contemporary Maya Textiles will follow on Saturday, July 20, from 11AM-4PM, at Hijos del Sol, 2715 W. 8th Avenue, Denver.
Multicolores is an artist association representing 70+ Maya women artists, organized in nine groups in seven communities across the Guatemalan Highlands. Through embroidery and hooked rugs, these artists explore themes of identity, historical connection, and personal storytelling. Their artists have perfected the American folk art technique of rug hooking. The rugs are made using recycled garments from paca (secondhand) stores that overflow with castoffs from the United States. For centuries, traje indígena—traditional Maya clothing and rugs featuring distinctive hand-woven, hand-embroidered motifs—has served as a creative expression of identity and community. Maya huipiles (traditional blouses) and rugs are rich in visual imagery and feature ancient symbols and motifs representing Maya cosmovision, femininity and nature. Through the use of colors, materials and pattern, traje conveys information about the wearer, her social identity, geographic and ethnic origins. The artists combine traje motifs and other elements to create unique, expressive pieces of art that also deeply reflect of Maya culture. Multicolores has been featured in exhibitions at the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising (Fort Collins, CO), the Red and White Gallery (Fayetteville, TX) and the Textile Center of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN). Multicolores is a six-time participant in the prestigious International Folk Art Market (IFAM) in Santa Fe, NM. This year, Multicolores is a finalist for IFAM’s Community Impact Award, recognizing the positive impact of Multicolores’ holistic personal and creative support programs for its member artists and, in turn, the artists’ positive impact on their communities.
