Jequitinhonha Valley textile art exhibition opens in Rio de Janeiro

The Museu do Folclore Edison Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro is hosting a free exhibition titled ‘Arte têxtil de Turmalina e Veredinha – Jequitinhonha, MG’, running until November 29. The showcase features handmade cotton fabrics, intricate embroidery, and crochet work produced by artisans from the municipalities of Turmalina and Veredinha in Minas Gerais.

Historian Ana Lima Kallás, who conducted the field research, notes that while textile arts in the Jequitinhonha Valley are ancient, embroidery has recently surpassed traditional weaving in popularity among local practitioners. The exhibition also serves as a platform for social and environmental discussion. It highlights how the expansion of eucalyptus plantations has reduced the land available for family-based cotton farming, threatening the raw materials essential to this craft.

Additionally, the exhibition addresses gender dynamics. Historically marginalized as a purely domestic female activity, the craft is evolving through the formation of artisan associations, transforming it into a professionalized source of income for many families in the region.