Santa Fe International Folk Art Market co-founder and Creative Director Judith Espinar recently spent two weeks in Kyrgyzstan as a participant in the US State Department’s Speakers Program. She consulted with organizers of the Oimo Festival and spoke about craft development in Kyrgyzstan. 

Highlights of her trip included meeting with the president of Kyrgyzstan, Roza Otunbayeva and her ministers, visiting with the Ministers of Culture and Economic Regulation and giving seminars and lectures to artisans and trainers, visiting local folk artisans of Tamchy Village, attending the opening ceremony of the Oimo Festival, as well as a short side-trip to Ethno World in Moscow.

During her visit, she worked with more than a hundred government officials, trainers and artists. Judy felt that just by being there as a representative from the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market and talking to them, she was able to validate their organizations and the work they are doing. The seminar participants also asked Judy to look at their work and share her thoughts.

From referencing other work in the same medium and keeping in mind the Market’s standards of excellence and tradition, Judy recommended that they revive natural dyes and in turn use their own yarn and fabrics.

The experience of viewing video footage of stories narrated by artists from other women’s cooperatives in different parts of the world – expressing a common voice and vision – that the participants were able to connect with, and that moved Judy as well.