Leocadia Cruz Gómez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Cruz and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.
Leocadia Cruz Gómez
Born (1929-12-09) December 9, 1929
Other namesTía Cayita
Occupations
  • Artist
  • weaver
Known forBackstrap loom weaving
AwardsNational Prize for Arts and Sciences (2006)

Leocadia Cruz Gómez (born December 9, 1929) also known as Tía Cayita, is a Mexican artisan from Cosoleacaque, Veracruz. Of Nahua descent, she is known for her experience with the pre-Hispanic backstrap loom weaving technique (Spanish: telar de cintura).

Life

She began learning to weave at the age of eight under her mother's guidance. When she was seventeen, she begun teaching her looming craft to others.[1][2][3]

Her work includes traditional garments such as sashes (Spanish: fajas), underskirts (Spanish: refajos), embroidered blouses, shawls (Spanish: rebozos), jorongos, sarapes, purses, priestly stoles and tablecloths with geometric figures. Her work is part of the collections of the Institute of Anthropology at the Universidad Veracruzana and the Banco Nacional de México. She was featured on a special edition of the journal Arqueología Mexicana. Her work has been exported to the United States, Spain, París and Rome.[2][1][4][5]

Besides her work as an artist, Leocadia has also advocated for cultural education. The lack of raw materials in the region has led to the backstrap loom technique being practiced by only a few artisans, mostly women.[6] She has taught over 1,300 students through workshops organized by institutions like the Asociación de Amigos del Museo de Arte Popular, the National Institute for Social Development (Spanish: Instituto Nacional de Desarrollo Social), and the Unidad Regional Acayucan de Culturas Populares. She also works with local institutions, such as the regularly classes she gives at the DIF center in Cosoleacaque, Veracruz.[1][2][4][5]

In 2006, the Mexican Government gave recognition to her work and efforts to sustain and promote indigenous textile traditions, honoring Leocadia with the National Prize for Arts and Sciences in the category of Arts and Popular Traditions. The prize is the highest distinction the federal government awards to individuals.[4][7]

She founded the Nigan Tonogue Cultural Center (Spanish: Centro Cultural Nigan Tonogue) in 2006, in Cosoleacaque, Veracruz. The name means 'Here we are' in Nahuatl.[8][9][10]

Awards and recognition

Leocadia has received various recognitions and awards, including:[1]

  • Recognition for her participation in the Workshop on Organization for Artisans, held in Zaragoza, Veracruz, awarded in 1999 by the General Directorate of Popular Cultures, the then National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, and the Veracruz Institute of Culture.
  • In November 1998, the State Secretariat of Culture of Michoacán granted her a recognition for her participation in the Second Interstate Gathering of Women Artisans.
  • In August 2000, the Program for the Support of Municipal and Community Cultures (PACMYC) awarded her a recognition for her support as an instructor in the Children’s Workshops.
  • In 2006, she was awarded the National Prize for Arts and Sciences in the category of Arts and Popular Traditions.
  • In 2023 she was given the 'Lifetime achievement Award' of the National Grand Prize for Folk Art (Spanish: Gran Premio Nacional de Arte Popular).[5][11][12]
  • At the Cultural Pavilion of Cosoleacaque, there is a sculpture in her honor, depicting her working in a loom.[5][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Leocadia Cruz Gómez". Secretaría de Educación Pública (in Spanish). 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  2. ^ a b c "CONOCE A: Leocadia Cruz Gómez, Tía Cayita Protagonista 2019". Billie Parker Noticias. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  3. ^ a b Castellanos, Heidi (2023-10-08). "Tía Cayita un emblema en Cosoleacaque por rescatar la técnica prehispánica del telar de cintura". AlorNoticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  4. ^ a b c Jornada, La (2006-11-08). "Tenaz resistencia de Leocadia Cruz por preservar la técnica del telar de cintura". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  5. ^ a b c d Castellanos, Heidi (2023-10-11). "Premian a Tía Cayita en Cosoleacaque con Premio Nacional de Arte 2023". Azteca Veracruz (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  6. ^ "La Jornada: Femenina, la mayor parte de la mano de obra indígena artesanal: Fonart". La Jornada (in Spanish). 2016-05-15. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  7. ^ "Reconocen a cinco académicos de la UNAM con el Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes 2006". La Jornada (in Spanish). 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  8. ^ Castellanos, Heidi (2023-10-06). "Tía Cayita: 93 años de tradición en el telar de cintura en Cosoleacaque". "Veracruz (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  9. ^ Noticias, Alcalá (2023-10-06). "Premio Nacional: El telar de cintura herencia de tía Cayita a las nuevas generaciones". Alcalá Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  10. ^ "Tía Cayita un emblema en Cosoleacaque por rescatar la técnica prehispánica del telar de cintura". Click Noticias (in Spanish). 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  11. ^ "Tia Cayita, orgullo de Cosoleacaque". Itsmo Alternativo (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  12. ^ "Tía Cayita: 93 años de tradición en el telar de cintura en Cosoleacaque". e-veracruz.mx (in Spanish). 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  • CanalEducativoVer. "Demo Bicentenario 01 – Leocadia Cruz." YouTube, March 21, 2009, [1].
  • Garduza, Yanin. TVS Noticias tvsureste.com. "TVS Noticias.- Una vida preservando el arte y la tradición, el telar de cintura.." YouTube, May 30, 2011, [2].
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.