At the Textile Museum, the Centro de Textiles "first and current exhibit "Weaving Lives"," I saw many different quilts, clothes, ropes, fabrics, and other textiles and yarns. Since the museum itself was very small we were able to free roam.
The most memorable thing that I saw was a tablet over the various animal hairs used for the yarn and fabric. These animals included the sheep (used after the Spanish conquered Peru for almost every fabric and blanket), alpacas (valued for their soft hair), llamas (used for rope and thicker fabrics, since the hair was more coarse than alpaca hair), and vicuna (a least common species that was praised for the quality of its hair as well).
I also saw some of these hair spun on a drop spindle, which is a display of spinning, the beginning of yarn production. A spinner will spin yarn whenever they are needed or can, and the majority of the time required for producing textiles is spent while spinning, while the rest of the time is spent plying. Plying is the process of twisting two single strands together in opposite direction of spin, and most of the yarn that is spun is also plied, because it is stronger than a single spun yarn, with the finest textiles being made by the finest yarns. It was very interesting to learn these ancient textiles aren't just made by one animal, nor are they just crafted as simply as taking the yarn and making the textile.
The rest of the museum included different blankets, ropes, and other textiles made by the Inca, as well as the different dyes, processes, and purposes that were associated with each textile. It was very interesting to see the variety in symmetry with the blankets and apparel; most of these fabrics had simple translational symmetry of a certain them repeating over and over again, or changing color ever other theme, as well as horizontal symmetry. There were a few, however, that, while they may have had horizontal symmetry, had a different theme from each subsequent theme. It is very intriguing to think whether this was something that happened ever so often on this Inca fabrics, or if there is some underlying meaning or story underneath these themes.
While I was unable to take pictures in the museum, I was able to take pictures inside the store that had similar styles of fabric (for sale) in the center. I also have a picture of a vicuna for anyone who wants to know what they look like.The Textile Museum was very fun and insightful, as well as helpful in understanding some of the symmetric qualities and quantities in Inca textiles. The link for the center is http://www.textilescusco.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicuña
At the Museo Historico Regional, the group and I were able to see different artwork and sculptures that were created after the Spanish Conquest in 1532, as well as historical videos about some of the people that kept the Inca name alive after the conquest.
Like the cathedral, most of the artwork is based on Spanish Catholicism, as well as some Spanish traditions, and the detailed sculptures are entirely made of wood and painted over. I really enjoyed the paintings and sculptures in the cathedral, and the same can be said for the work in this Museum.
What I did find most interesting were the two videos, both based on different historical figures that helped to try and keep the Inca tradition alive: Tupac Amaru II and Garcilaso de la Vega. Tupac Amaru II was driven to stop the Spanish oppressors by means of violence and revenge, which ultimately lead to his execution (by being dismembered fours ways by horses) on May 18, 1781. Through this became a "mythical figure in the Peruvian struggle for independence and indigenous rights movements and an inspiration to a myriad of cause in Peru" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Túpac_Amaru_II).
Garcilaso de la Vega (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcilaso_de_la_Vega_(El_Inca)), on the other hand, reflected his Inca heritage through his nickname, "El Inca," as well as his many writings; El Inca was born in Peru and grew up learning Quencha, though he was also the son of a Spanish conquistador. When his father died, he went to go reclaim his inheritance, but was denied. He then decided to stay in Spain and joined the Spanish Army, and received the rank of Captain. After the fall of the Inca Empire, El Inca decided not to return to his homeland, instead creating writings and translations, including Historia de la Florida, a recollection of a conquistador's travels through Florida. Both of these historical figures were very interesting to learn about, and that helped wrap up the day. It was a very informative, interesting, exciting day, and I can't wait to visit another museum in Cuzco.
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