Shtiíp Galbaín: the strength of life

Size: 130x200cm; 4.2x6.5ft

Weaver: Clemente Mendoza Antoño

Price: $600USD

Materials and methods: criollo sheep wool hand dyed with colorfast aniline dyes using an exhaustive method. Handwoven on a Zapotec style loom of the 16th century adapted from European styles. Woven using a 7 threads per inch reed. 

Design, patterns and symbols. 

Thisrug is woven with a stripde pattern that represents the energy lines that our ancestors used to describe probably what we understand as the electromagnetic field these days. For our ancestors all life was energy and we could relate to matter in terms of energy awareness; the ancient nahuales developed very refiined ways to perceive the world and the subtle energy flows that make life possible. Don Clemente chosed to add the energy lines along the whole rug weaving the life cycle pattern and the fifth pointed cross of creation. His strenght for life that is fed with weaving comres across this cosmic act of energy balancing, at his 85 years weaving keeps his strong, active and creative. Don clemente lives with the rythms of the sun, he goes to bed after dusk and still gets up at 6am to start weaving on his loom with the cracking of sunlight with the same strenght for life as his first day on the loom.