2021-01-24
Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama (© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motion)
库纳族人的手工艺品，巴拿马圣布拉斯群岛 (© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motion)
Is it possible for an article of clothing to express the essence of an entire people? Well, not usually, but for the indigenous Guna people of Panama, the colorful hand-woven textiles seen here may be an exception. Molas, which means 'clothing' in the Guna language, are traditionally displayed on both the front and back of women's blouses. Even today, many Guna women prefer to wear them over modern attire. The textiles often feature abstract geometric patterns, as well as images from nature such as turtles, flowers, birds, and fish. Guna women of yesteryear were known to paint their bodies with those same geometric patterns and designs, and by the late 1800s they had begun weaving them onto cloth instead of painting themselves. Today, the production of molas is still generally done by women, who use an intricate process called reverse appliqué, where as many as seven layers of fabric are sewn together to form a panel, which is then hand-cut to create the vibrant designs.
Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama (© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motion)
库纳族人的手工艺品，巴拿马圣布拉斯群岛 (© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motion)
Is it possible for an article of clothing to express the essence of an entire people? Well, not usually, but for the indigenous Guna people of Panama, the colorful hand-woven textiles seen here may be an exception. Molas, which means 'clothing' in the Guna language, are traditionally displayed on both the front and back of women's blouses. Even today, many Guna women prefer to wear them over modern attire. The textiles often feature abstract geometric patterns, as well as images from nature such as turtles, flowers, birds, and fish. Guna women of yesteryear were known to paint their bodies with those same geometric patterns and designs, and by the late 1800s they had begun weaving them onto cloth instead of painting themselves. Today, the production of molas is still generally done by women, who use an intricate process called reverse appliqué, where as many as seven layers of fabric are sewn together to form a panel, which is then hand-cut to create the vibrant designs.
2021-01-25
Lightning strikes near rock formation, Church Rock, Red Rock Park, New Mexico (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
红石公园教堂岩附近的雷击，新墨西哥州 (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
It's okay if this stormy shot stirs your spirit with holy awe: They call this wind-carved edifice Church Rock for a reason. Surrounded by an enchanting Southwestern landscape, it's a sight that almost invites you to get lost out here—and if you look at a map of these parts, you'll see that's not too hard.
Lightning strikes near rock formation, Church Rock, Red Rock Park, New Mexico (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
红石公园教堂岩附近的雷击，新墨西哥州 (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
It's okay if this stormy shot stirs your spirit with holy awe: They call this wind-carved edifice Church Rock for a reason. Surrounded by an enchanting Southwestern landscape, it's a sight that almost invites you to get lost out here—and if you look at a map of these parts, you'll see that's not too hard.