Join us at the Almonte Old Town Hall for a fundraiser and view a traditional Mexican textile show! In collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum presents the live exhibit of traditional Mexican dress, tapestries, and art! Available for purchase through a silent auction, the Mexican textiles from the collection of William Hodge and Robert Wylie will be displayed alongside the textile art of Elia Morales. The funds raised will support the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.
The textile show will take place on Saturday, September 9, from 6pm – 9pm, and tickets are $25! Tickets include complimentary refreshments, including margaritas courtesy of Jose Cuervo, and admission to all three Fibrefest sites on Saturday, September 9: the Almonte Community Centre, Almonte Old Town Hall, and the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.
Hodge and Wylie have spent the last four decades immersed in fibre arts; creating, teaching, and learning, with a special interest in Mexican textiles. The pieces on show have been purchased from artisans across the Mexican states of Chiapas, Coahuila, Guerrero, México, Mexico City, Michoacán, and Oaxaca, and feature handwoven textiles made from handspun wool and cotton. With an array of textures and colours, achieved by both natural and synthetic dyes, the collection presents a variety of eye-catching garments, accessories, and household items!
Mexican artist Elia Morales’ exhibit, “Weaving Stories”, will be showcased throughout the event, where she will introduce her art. A Graphic Designer of the National School of Plastic Arts of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), she actively shares her expertise by delivering lectures and presentations on various aspects of sensory design. She has served as a moderator in numerous national and international conferences, where she engages with audiences and facilitates topical discussions. Morales has worked as a designer at the National Museum of Cultures and at the Cultural Dissemination Office of UNAM, and as an independent designer for corporate groups and events. Her plastic work involves different techniques, including engraving, enameling, textile, and Washi Zoo Kei. Her work has been exhibited in several universities and venues nationwide.
The venue will be open from 10am – 4pm throughout Fibrefest weekend on September 9 and 10, where the collection will be on display. The auction will open at 10am on the 9th and close at 12pm noon on the 10th.
As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, with Almonte being named after Mexican General and diplomat Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, this event is very timely. Join the celebrations with an evening of fun and art while supporting a local charity!