Macramé exhibit to open in O.W.
It’s an ancient art that has been rediscovered with a modern twist…and this weekend an elaborate display of macramé just may inspire Belizeans to learn how it’s done. This morning I received a preview at the Embassy of Taiwan.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
For the past two months these macramé masters have been hard at work, fashioning some amazingly intricate items. The complicated collection of knots can be combined to create just about anything the imagination can come up with.
Macramé comes from the Arabic word makrama, which means: big ugly wall hanging…somehow that doesn’t seem to fit.
Linda Tsai has been teaching the art of macramé in Belize for two and a half years. Today her students have become experts in their own right.
Linda Tsai, Macramé Instructor
“We want them to create their own design for the people here to see what the macramé we learn and we make here.”
“When they think that macramé is Oriental arts, but this time we are combine Western and East to make it different, such as the gift wrapping and Christmas trees, something like that.”
Janelle Chanona
“Is it hard? Some of these pieces look so complicated. Is it hard to make?”
Linda Tsai
“If you start from the basic knot it’s not that complicated. It takes time to learn.”
According to Tsai, Belizeans have been eager to learn the delicate techniques.
Linda Tsai
“Our embassy already did four times for the public, each time we provide free material and free lessons.”
Janelle Chanona
“And people come?”
Linda Tsai
“Yes. Each time it’s over twenty ladies come. We just put them on Saturday. Maybe after the exhibitions we will open the classes again.”
And if you don’t think you can create these colourful objects de art, there’s always the art of giving.
Linda Tsai
“When you want to send gift for your best friends or your relatives, you want to make your gift, make it special.”
The macramé exhibition will be on display at the Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk this Saturday, April twelfth and in Belize City in May.
