Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez was born in the small community of Chinchero, Peru. Like many other children, she was responsible for taking care of her family’s flock of sheep. Watching over them in the fields, she spent her time learning to spin and weave with her friends. After becoming the first person from her community to attend college, she went on to become one of the founders of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, a non-profit organization that promotes the empowerment of weavers through the revitalization and sustainable practice of Peruvian ancestral textiles in the Cusco region. Together they help enable the weavers to maintain their identity and textile traditions while improving their quality of life through education and promotion of their textile art. Nilda has traveled around the world sharing the special and ancient knowledge of her culture’s artisans.

City-wide Events

Tuesday, April 4th, 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

El Barrio’s Artspace, PS 109, 215 E 99th St., NY

Textile Study Group of New York presents Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez.  The founder of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco will give a lecture presentation on Andean textiles and several of her projects working with museums in the revitalization of Pre-Columbian techniques.  Handmade textiles will be available for sale to support the weavers in her non-profit organization.

Wednesday, April 5th, 7:00 pm – 9: 00 pm

Golden Drum, 97 Green Street, G1, Brooklyn, NY

“Andean Textiles: Connection to Nature and the Spiritual World” 

Nilda will share a presentation about the rich textile traditions of the Andes by the master weavers of her culture.  She will also share about her involvement in the revitalization of the pre-Columbian techniques, natural plant dyes, and the important role that textiles play in the rituals and ceremonies of her culture. Nilda will share with us demonstrations of traditional backstrap loom weaving and the spinning of alpaca wool into yarns.  Additionally, she will have an assortment of hand made textiles available for a small market to help support the weavers involved in her non-profit organization The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

Friday, April 7th, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

NYU, The Great Room, 19 University Place, 1st Floor, NYC

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies is pleased to present an encore screening of the short film “Following the Thread” by Kathy Brew with special guest, Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, featured in the film about the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.  Following the film, there will be a Q & A with Nilda about Andean textiles as well as a display/pop-up market of some of the beautiful textiles.