FROM THE CLOUDS | AN EXHIBITION
Showcasing the work of Dixza Rugs Organic Farm, Francli Craftwear and James Bannister
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A collection of traditional and contemporary Zapotec rugs, limited edition backpacks and film photography
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At Open Surf, where bespoke trumps mass produced. A surfboard factory and shop that celebrates craft, knowledge sharing and the ways we can experiment and express individuality
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The ancient way of weaving rugs in Teotitlan Del Valle, Oaxaca, is with a deep respect of the natural and spiritual world, with natural dyes and fibres, powered by muscle and firewood from renewable resources.
In this village is Dixza Rugs Organic Farm, home to an indigenous Benizaa family: Mario Bautista Martínez and Leonar Lazo González and their two sons Samuel Bautista Lazo and Celestino Bautista Lazo. The family are keeping the millenary weaving tradition alive, farming the land of their ancestors in a sustainable way and sharing the skills and knowledge of their culture through demonstrations and workshops.
FRANCLI CRAFTWEAR
In collaborative makers residency, Ali Goodman and Dixza Rugs Organic farm combined their respective knowledge of sewing and weaving. The family and what they taught her was the inspiration, their daily farm tasks and activities her brief. The result was a limited edition bag for each member of the family, incorporating a Zapotec rug of their choosing.
Ali returned to the UK with a selection of rugs from the farm to continue the collaboration at her workshop in Cornwall.
James Bannister is a documentary and editorial photographer based in the UK and working internationally.
At Dixza Rugs Organic Farm James learned about traditional natural dyeing techniques with Leonar, accompanied Celestino on his daily farm tasks and sat with Mario as he worked the loom.
To honour the slow craft and patient labour of the Benizaa peoples, James has chosen to hand print the photographs from his visit in the darkroom.