Woman's ceremonial belt (faja) 1945 - 1950

This Woman's ceremonial belt, or faja, was woven by Maya artists, and I can only imagine the conversations and ceremonies it was part of! It’s a riot of magenta and purple, shot through with tiny rainbows. You can almost feel the weaver's hands, the way the threads pull tight and loosen, building up this pattern like little colorful DNA strands. I like to imagine the artist starting with an idea, a sketch maybe, but then letting the materials lead the way. Making something like this, it's not just technique, it's feeling, it's memory, it's being part of something bigger than yourself. Each little knot, each colour choice, is like a brushstroke, building up into something that's both practical and deeply meaningful. It reminds me of a Sheila Hicks woven sculpture. It's all connected, this history of making.