Ceremonial punchu (poncho)

This ceremonial punchu, or poncho, was woven by the Quechua people, and it is an amazing feat of design. With its rhythmic stripes, it’s all about process, about the time spent, the attention given. Look closely. You can almost feel the texture, the give of the wool. The colors aren't shouting. It is more like a whisper of reds, browns, yellows and greens. See that band of chevrons about a third of the way down? Each one is like a tiny decision, a little shift in direction, made one after the other. It's not just a pattern; it's a conversation happening right there on the cloth. I am reminded of the work of Anni Albers and her interest in weaving as a language, a tactile and visual form of communication. It is never fixed. It's always moving, always becoming.