A trail of tradition in the foothills of northwest Argentina

[Judi Lynn]

A photo provided by Nora Walsh shows Rodolfo Arnaldo “Terito” Guzmán at the loom in his workshop on El Camino de los Artesanos (the Path of the Artisans) in El Colte, Argentina. The recently upgraded shopping trail is home to more than 20 families and 70 loom artisans who live and sell handwoven textiles from adobe stalls in front of low-slung ranch houses. (Nora Walsh via The New York Times)

by Nora Walsh

NEW YORK, NY.- Nestled in the rugged Calchaquí Valleys of northwest Argentina, in the province of Salta, is a generations-old community of weavers producing some of the best examples of the ponchos and other woven goods that are emblematic of the country.

In the pocket-size town of El Colte, tucked in the municipality of Seclantás, craft lovers will find El Camino de los Artesanos (the Path of the Artisans), a recently upgraded shopping trail where more than 20 families and 70 loom artisans live and sell handwoven textiles from adobe stalls in front of low-slung ranch homes.

An icon of the Argentine gaucho, the poncho has its origins in Indigenous Andean culture, when it was used for protection against the cold and rain and served as a blanket to sleep on. Its style has evolved over centuries to possess characteristic motifs and techniques pertaining to the different regions of the country.

“Seclantás is historically known as the cradle of the Salteño poncho, which is an important symbol of our history, cultural identity and craftsmanship,” said Fernando Escudero, co-founder of travel company Autentica Salta, who frequently brings his clients to shop at the artisan community. “I often give ponchos as a gift because it’s so representative of our culture, and they last a lifetime.”

More:
https://artdaily.cc/index.asp?int_new=152054&int_sec=11#.Y4E_pXrMI5Y





“Seclantás, Argentina