Yagua family in Santa Lucia de Pro. Photo by Anna Loshkin/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Yagua artisan at Santa Lucia de Pro. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Traditional masks made from calabash fruit pods. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Yagua artisan Mariela from San José de Piri with woven doll hammock. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Bora native artisan Camila and grand-daughter in Puca Urquillo. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Bora native artisan Pedro with calabash Amazon wildlife ornamentsin Puca Urquillo. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Ocaina native artisan Pamela hanging yellow dyed chambira palm fiber in Nueva Esperanza, Peru. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Ocaina native artisan Rosa weaving chambira palm fiber bag in Nueva Esperanza, Peru. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Huitoto native artisan Cherly Flores Ribeira with armadillo ornament in Puca Urquillo, Peru. Photo by Campbell Plowden/Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Andrea spent months working with this designer and four artisans to make dozens of colorful balsa wood birds and giant chambira butterflies. The birds included an egret, tiger heron, toucan, macaws and a kingfisher. When we stopped at the mall after visiting the aquarium, I loved seeing these creatures twirl around in a mild breeze.
I was most happy to hear the Chino artisans wanted to resume attending our bird ornament workshops. Half of them have made some birds based on what they learned five years ago, but they were eager to improve the quality of these woven animals they could sell to their visitors and have secure sales to us.
I selected a few baskets laid out on benches and placed an order for elegant two-color models. Lindy reported good progress making lady bug ornaments and planned to attend our artisan facilitator training. We were happy the group looked forward to hosting a bird-making workshop in July with artisans from 3 Tahuayo communities.