Marcos Bautista Vasquez has worked with fiber since he was nine years old. He grew up in Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec community in Oaxaca, Mexico known for its weaving. His parents taught him to spin, dye, and weave as part of their family business. Since moving to Indiana, Marcos has continued to weave. He also sells his family’s rugs in an ever expanding market throughout the United States. His style combines innovative designs with traditional Zapotec motifs.
“Most people prefer to get the job done quickly … I like to be patient and take my time with the weaving.” - Marcos Bautista Vasquez
Marcos’s nephew, Aldebaran Bautista Montaño, has been weaving for the past three years. Though he lives in Oaxaca, the pair has been meeting via Zoom and periodically in person. Marcos is teaching Aldebaran how to care for the materials, finish weavings, and make natural dyes using plants found in Oaxaca. For Marcos, this apprenticeship is an opportunity to pass on his traditional knowledge, especially since weaving has become less common among young people in Teotitlán.