Candice, Eileen, Jeremy, Stacy, Trey started off their first workshop with everyone sharing the clothing and accessories they had been asked to bring along and explain why the brought them. This exercise was meant to show that the things one likes can be made in different ways and turned into different things. Then the group engaged in a cutting and pasting activity in which they were asked to cut out shapes, patterns, colors and lines that they liked from magazines given to them. The following activity was about creating icons or symbols that tell stories. The women were asked to draw different things in their lives that represent something important to them. Finally, the participants created a new article of clothing for a child (in our afternoon session, they had to design for one of the visitors.) For homework the women need to think about an idea for an actual product to develop before our collaboration is over.
Chichicastenango
A 30-minute boat ride to Panajachel and an hour car ride (or 4-hour multiple transfer bus ride on public transportation as some from our group experienced) got us to Chichicastenango