Mexican Rebozo Shawls at Olana & Beyond: From Uncertain Origins to Compromised Future

October 28, 2020

This talk by one of the world’s leading scholars and advocates of Mexico’s rich tradition of textile art will focus on a little known story in Olana’s diverse collections. Marta Turok takes as her focus Olana’s important holdings of uncannily well preserved “rebozos,” traditional shawls primarily used by indigenous women that were purchased by the Church family during their travels in Mexico. She will give a brief overview of the history of the Mexican rebozo and share the challenges facing the future of this emblematic garment, including activities being undertaken for its revitalization.