Studio Session: Weaving Through Borders with Ana Gloria (Martha) Rodriquez

Weaving Through Borders: A Design Workshop Talk with Ana Gloria Rodriguez, artist and owner of Kosay Kumeyaay Market

Basketry is a design form that has embodied resistance, resilience, and world-building with local materials throughout history. In this studio session, the Design Lab will visit Kosay Kumeyaay market to engage in dialog with Ana Gloria Rodriguez  (Kumeyaay), a master weaver of baskets and community whose work passes on the living traditions of the San Jose de la Zorra community of Kumeyaay on the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.  “Baskets pervade just life. Social life, daily life — what you need to survive,”  said basketry and ethnobotany expert Sherrie Smith Ferri (Dry Creek Pomo).  Weaving, an artistic tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years, is recognized as the highest art and design form of California, and San Diego has more reservations than any other county in the nation, making it a vital hub of this form, which has been continuously practiced here for thousands of years. Rodriguez will also speak about her work as owner of the Kosay Kumeyaay market, an Old Town gallery and store where she represents fine basketry, pottery, craft, and garments made by artists in the region’s Yuman groups, which include Mohave, Cocopah, Maricopa, Quechan, Hualapia, Havasupai, Yavapai, Kumeyaay (Diegueño), Kiliwa, and Paipai. These communities reside in the territory from northern Mexico to Oceanside, and from the coast to the Colorado River, where weaving as an art and design form takes different forms depending on local plant resources. Ana Gloria Rodriguez will share with us some of this history and the design thinking that informs this intersection of weaving baskets and weaving community, and the ways in wihch baskets embody cultural conservation, resistance, and resilience.

WHAT IS A STUDIO SESSION?

Studio Sessions provide introductions to design skill sets that address the needs of industry, civics, community engagement, and group collaborations. Through a series of workshops and interactive experiences, participants gain hands-on know-how in a variety of design competencies that enhance their skills and provide them with deeper insight into relevant practices.

Basketry is a design form that has embodied resistance, resilience, and world-building with local materials throughout history. In this studio session, the Design Lab will visit Kosay Kumeyaay market to engage in dialog with Ana Gloria Rodriguez  (Kumeyaay), a master weaver of baskets and community whose work passes on the living traditions of the San Jose de la Zorra community of Kumeyaay on the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.  “Baskets pervade just life. Social life, daily life — what you need to survive,”  said basketry and ethnobotany expert Sherrie Smith Ferri (Dry Creek Pomo).  Weaving, an artistic tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years, is recognized as the highest art and design form of California, and San Diego has more reservations than any other county in the nation, making it a vital hub of this form, which has been continuously practiced here for thousands of years. Rodriguez will also speak about her work as owner of the Kosay Kumeyaay market, an Old Town gallery and store where she represents fine basketry, pottery, craft, and garments made by artists in the region’s Yuman groups, which include Mohave, Cocopah, Maricopa, Quechan, Hualapia, Havasupai, Yavapai, Kumeyaay (Diegueño), Kiliwa, and Paipai. These communities reside in the territory from northern Mexico to Oceanside, and from the coast to the Colorado River, where weaving as an art and design form takes different forms depending on local plant resources. Ana Gloria Rodriguez will share with us some of this history and the design thinking that informs this intersection of weaving baskets and weaving community, and the ways in wihch baskets embody cultural conservation, resistance, and resilience.

About the Speaker

Ana Gloria (Martha) Rodriquez (Kumeyaay, Mat perhaw- San Jose de la Zorra) is continuing a family tradition of passing on the knowledge and expertise of the Kumeyaay people to the next generation. Following the wishes of the Elders to keep our Language and Culture alive and vibrant. Work Sycuan Tribal Government – Education/Cultural center for over 20 years. Founder of Tipey Joa Native Warrior grassroots organization (Social Justice).

Artist and owner of Kosay Kumeyaay market that is focus on the Yuman groups arts and crafts. Instructor at Kumeyaay Community College presenting classes in Basketry, Pottery, and Kumeyaay Foods. Also assisting with the Kumeyaay Language classes and the Kumeyaay Tools class.

Host multicultural women’s circle every month at Kosay.

Aligning with UC San Diego’s COVID policies, this talk is hosted entirely online. Please register in advance for this meeting via Zoom.

Note: You will enter the Waiting Room between 3:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. and not be allowed into the Zoom meeting until 4:00 P.M. All talks may be recorded and posted online.

WHAT IS A STUDIO SESSION? Studio Sessions provide introductions to design skill sets that address the needs of industry, civics, community engagement, and group collaborations. Through a series of workshops and interactive experiences, participants gain hands-on know-how in a variety of design competencies that enhance their skills and provide them with deeper insight into relevant practices.