Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Weaving a Way of Life

India Sketch Journal 2013 Aug 4 by Meera Rao

India Sketch Journal 2013 Aug 5 by Meera Rao

On one of my walks in the city, I came upon this amazing set up of a weaving stand right by the road side in front of a closed store. There was a ditch right there and a couple of bamboo poles were laid across to cross it.  There were bamboo ladders and poles tied around to help with the weaving as the screen/mat that was being woven got bigger! There was even a bright blue tarp for shade. The stones as weights on the weaving 'loom' are quite simple and innovative as well.  This link shows that the technique is an ancient one dating to BC!  I was so taken by the whole scene that I decided to devote two days of sketching and give the loom part with the stones its own little sketch :) 

India Sketch Journal 2013 Page 30by Meera Rao

“A weaver who has to direct and to interweave a great many little threads has no time to philosophize about it, rather, he is so absorbed in his work that he doesn't think, he acts: and it's nothing he can explain, he just feels how things should go.”
 Vincent van Gogh

5 comments:

Carol Blackburn said...

Hi Meera, I could watch people doing things like that for hours. Their skills are to be appreciated for sure. Blessings to you!

padmaja said...

Their expertise is amazing and it hurts when people try to bargain with them, not appreciating the labour behind the work. I have a weakness for the bamboo curtains and have a lot of them at home.

Peintures said...

interesting!

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Carol! I missed seeing the actual work being done -- only saw the set up - must have been taking a break!

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, I waited around for a little while to see if someone would come and start working but then had to leave :( I came back a day later but still no one working the 'loom'! would have loved to sketch the weaver!

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