Lago Atilan, Guatemala 2001

Guatemala is a vividly rich environment in terms of both culture and nature. Surrounded by towering volcanos, some of which erupt regularly, towns, villages and locals engage in diferentiation through textiles. In markets such as this one the local pattern and colors are abundant and available. To the trained eye, an observer can determine the region, if not the exact town and perhaps even the family where articles of clothing are made. Textiles are an ancient form of expression and people wear their colors and patterns with pride. As an outsider, it is usually when one style s next to another that I could see the differences. As with anything, awareness, familiarity and sensitivity to subtleness opens up worlds of understanding and possibility.