Navajo weaving workshops draw crowds

Maybe you have glanced at it on your way to class or to the hill, but have you ever stopped in? The CU Museum of Natural History is stitching up a way to draw in crowds with weaving workshops.

The CU Museum of Natural History is displaying its third installment of their Navajo Weaving collection. The collection is called “Landscapes” and focuses on patterns and color. “So it’s real earth tones and kind of heavy on patterns.... It’s really beautiful stuff,” said Jessica Holm, CU museum graduate assistant.

In order to draw more people in, the museum hosted a weaving workshop last Friday afternoon to let students and families practice similar techniques used in the tapestries.

“We kind of aim it at CU students. We advertise in the Buff Bulletin and stuff. But we get a lot of families too, which is great,” said Holm. “It’s a fantastic turn out, this is the third time we’ve done this now, so we get more people every time. [There’s] great word of mouth on it, people really seem to enjoy it.”

There are over 850 pieces in the collection, which include not only Navajo art, but also Hispanic and Pueblo work as well. Most of the pieces are over a hundred years old. The tapestries weaved with wool string are sensitive to light, moisture and how they are hung. The exhibit is intentionally kept dim to help preserve the collection.

The collection is mainly due to the work of Joe Ben Wheat, a museum curator who began acquiring work beginning in 1953 until his death in 1997.

For some students this is their first time visiting the museum. “I walk past this exhibit all the time and I had no idea this was here, but it’s pretty cool. I like the atmosphere of this place,” said Maggie Field, a junior majoring in environmental design.

“I’m going over Spring Break to work with Native Americans in the four corners region, camping and learning about their lifestyle. So maybe this will help me get in touch and prepared for it. So maybe I can show off my pouch, maybe they’ll like that,” said Field.

The Landscapes collection will remain on display until May 29, 2010.