Colorado State University presents special Peruvian Highlands weekend trunk show and video

The current exhibit at the Colorado State University Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising concludes with a special trunk show and video presentation on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27. The exhibit, “Weaving Lives: Transforming Textile Traditions in the Peruvian highlands,” closes on Aug. 2.

On July 26 and 27, videos featuring Andean spinning and Andean knitting will be featured, along with a trunk show of naturally-dyed, hand-woven and hand-knit items made by artisans from the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. The video presentations and trunk show will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in Room 136 of the University Center for the Arts Annex.

The exhibit explores the vital traditions and transformations of weaving, spinning and dyeing in Peruvian Highlands villages. Textiles traditions and the current weaving culture of nine communities are associated with the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, Peru.

The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco has established local weaving associations throughout the Andean highlands to teach and preserve these traditions of fine handmade textiles and to promote economic and community development.

The Avenir Museum is one of the few university collections with an added emphasis on international objects, including a collection of 500 kimono and more than 300 textiles from Central and South Asia. Western artifacts include 19th and 20th century men’s and women’s apparel, elaborate fans and hats, beaded flapper dresses, shoes, handmade lace and famous designer apparel.

Among the jewels of the collection are designer dresses from the late Mr. Blackwell, Arnold Scaasi, Carolina Herrera and Calvin Klein. It is also home to the internationally renowned Hellmann lace collection, which includes rare examples of 18th and 19th century handmade lace.

The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising is part of the Department of Design and Merchandising in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Museum hours are 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday –Wednesday and Friday and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum is closed on national and university holidays.

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