Please note - this website is currently under construction and will be completed in the coming weeks.
The Friends of the Ixchel Museum thank you for your patience. (May 2012)
About Friends of the Ixchel Museum
Friends of the Ixchel Museum (FOIM) is a U.S. charitable foundation established in 1984 that promotes interest in the Mayan textile tradition of Guatemala and the work of the Museo Ixchel. In this way, it contributes to the understanding, preservation and protection of this important cultural legacy.
FOIM is made up of Guatemalan and North American volunteers who share an interest in Guatemala and their commitment to increase appreciation of Mayan textile art.
Every year, the Friends sponsor publications and projects both in the U.S. and in Guatemala. Among them are the educational programs, ethnographic research and photographic documentation in several communities as well as the classification and cataloging of the museum’s collections of textiles and photographs. It has also made possible the English translation and publication of several of the museum’s works, the production of videotapes in Spanish and English, and a Spanish language activity book for children.
Its work to publicize and promote Guatemalan textiles includes exhibits in the United States and a biannual newsletter describing FOIM activities and those of the museum.
President’s Letter
Dear Friends of the Ixchel Museum,
In last year’s letter I described a large number of exhibits and projects undertaken by the Ixchel Museum and your Friends organization, made possible through your contributions. This year I would like to focus on a smaller number but in more detail.
This year, field research is scheduled to study five villages near Lake Atitlán in the Department of Sololá. These villages are not well represented in the museum’s collection and not well documented in the literature. With the completion of this trip the museum staff will begin work on our next major exhibit focusing on the textile traditions in the towns around Lake Atitlán. The plan is to produce another bilingual catalogue like Embroidery - stitches that unite cultures to be available when the exhibit opens in 2012.
Work continues on renovating the permanent exhibition galleries. The highlight of this project is the installation of what we have been calling the ‘map’ project. In addition to being a linguistic map of Guatemala, it shows the location of 127 villages and images of their huipils organized by linguistic group. Nothing on this scale has been attempted before. Within the next few months we plan to publish the ‘map’ in two forms, folded so it can easily be carried, and flat so that it can be mounted and be used as an educational device. The US Embassy and a number of Guatemala foundations have committed to placing them in primary schools throughout the country. The fall edition of the bulletin will feature the ‘map’ and hopefully we will have a better name for it by then.
Your donations have also funded a preliminary renovation of the children’s area. We have engaged an artist/architect to design children friendly hands-on exhibits and weaving tools to make the museum experience richer for children. We have plans for a second phase project based on usage and feedback. We are also committed to having a world-class website available this year to improve communications to our members and visitors.
I want to thank you for your generosity this last year in supporting the Friends of the Ixchel Museum. Our work continues only because of your financial support. I encourage you to continue your membership and to think about donating at a higher giving level. We need your support to continue the work of the museum and helping to preserve the weaving traditions of Guatemala and the Maya women who continue them.
Thank you and best wishes for the holiday season,
Raymond E. Senuk
President, Friends of the Ixchel Museum
