HANDICRAFTS FROM PERU

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32564, 25 March 1971, Page 6

HANDICRAFTS FROM PERU

Many of us have almost forgotten the thousands of Peruvians left homeless and destitute after last year’s earthquake. But not Miss Jeni Williman, a Christchurch girl who was climbing in the area when the disaster occurred. “They’ll just be getting over the rainy season now. I dread to think what it will be like—pretty chaotic I’m afraid,” she said yesterday. Miss Williman is doing something constructive to help. When the earthquake struck she and a friend were just a day’s walk from Yungay where 20,000 were buried. Fourteen Czech climbers with whom they had camped were among the 35,000 dead.

Originally she had planned to continue on to Canada and stay with friends. After the earthquake her own plans became secondary.' “There didn’t seem to be much I could do in Peru, so I decided to spend the rest of my overseas allowance on craft work which I could sell here,” she said. Hampered by the language —“I couldn’t speak much Spanish”—she was finally assisted by a Peruvian Government official. "He works for a volunteer organisation, father like V.S.A. or the Ptace Corps, which is part of the Ministry of Housing. I left my money with him, and he bought the articles' and had them sent over.” Initially Miss Williman had hoped to have the articles in

Christchurch, and on sale, six months ago. “But the mail situation is difficult, to put it mildly,” she said. The cartons crammed with the crafts of Peru have finally arrived, and Miss Williman is now busy setting up an exhibition in the Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery; The display will open on Friday evening, running until Wednesday. Ida Lough, the well-known Christchurch weaver, considers the weaving is of a very high standard. It is very fine, with intricate designs and symbols incorporated. The wool used has a tough, springy feel. Alpaca wool is also frequently used. MODERN LOOK Much of the clothing has a centuries-old tradition, but it is the fashion of today. There are some super ponchos, woven in natural wool and alpaca with brown and black designs, and trimmed with soft alpaca edging. The woven bags, also in fawns, browns, and black, have been carry-alls for Peruvian women for generations, but they would be equally at home in city streets as shoulder bags. With a little imagination plenty of uses could be found for the small, square cotton purses, brilliantly, embroidered, which come from southern Peru. They would make for example, ideal evening bags. Peruvians use them to carry cocoa leaves, which they chew for cocaine. The woven belts are a myriad of colour, and for the true ethnic look there are slings, multi-coloured, woven ropes which the women use to strap their bundles on their backs.

Canterbury weavers will no doubt be interested in the half dozen back-strap looms, primitive but effective, as is the simple bobbin used to spin the wool. “Each of the notched ends of the loom are held on stakes, and one end is strapped around the weaver’s waist. She can exert tension simply by leaning back,” said Miss Williman. COMMERCIALISM Some of the handwork shows signs of commercialism, but few would consider it corrupted. One of the beautifully-woven and won-derfully-coloured rugs has'a label indicating it was marketed by a cooperative. “But much of the handwork sold in city shops is done by pea-

sants who have moved in to the city and make their living selling their work," she saidThe mingling of Christian and pagan influences in Peru is evident in the papier mache ornaments, and the handpainted candles. Miss Williman will also be showing some carved wood and leather articles ■ she brought back from Peru. The gallery walls will be decorated with Peruvian posters. The reason for the display will not be. forgotten. “Although I don’t like to remember the earthquake too much, I have some good photographs of the devastated areas,” she said. Profits from the exhibition will go to the Canterbury University Students’ Association Peruvian relief fund.