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February 2015

Every year we look forward to gaining a richer understanding of the many cultures in Laos and sharing the stories of local people and traditional knowledge with you and our visitors in Luang Prabang.

Last year, 20,500 foreign and Lao visitors, including primary school and English-language students, gained a deeper understanding of the many ethnic groups of Laos through our exhibits, library, and activity centre.

Below are a few of our favorite moments from 2014!

Opening of the TAEC Boutique in Luang Prabang

TAEC handicrafts come from 12 provinces in Laos and sales support over 600 rural artisans. Purchases of TAEC handicrafts also promote the passing down of knowledge in weaving, silverwork, applique, and embroidery to keep these traditions alive in Laos.

Hosting Navajo Weavers from New Mexico, USA

As part of a US Embassy cultural exchange, three generations of Native American weavers visited Laos. TAEC hosted the weavers in Luang Prabang including visiting weaving villages and a public presentation at TAEC.

Visiting Schoolchildren in Luang Prabang

Our Education Team visited nine schools and shared the importance of diversity with over 500 children. Seven of these schools also visited TAEC. For many of these children, their morning at TAEC was their first museum visit.

Creating a New Exhibition with Women in Luang Prabang

Caregivers to Culture Keepers: Stories from Women in A Changing Laos will be on display through August 2016. Produced in collaboration with PhotoForward, an international media arts programme, the exhibition shares the lives of women today with photos, videos, and objects.

Representing TAEC in the USA

Three of our staff traveled to the US this year. As an AAM Fellow, Keuay (TAEC Manager) attended the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting. Khoun (Co-Director) and Alai (Shop Manager) brought Lao handicrafts to the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe. We look forward to returning to IFAM in Santa Fe in July 2015!

Receiving five tablets for field research

As part of the Map Your World project, TAEC Community Researchers developed a survey and began collecting information about handicraft income to women in Luang Prabang. See the results of our night market survey.

First Book in TAEC Ethnography Series Released

The English translation of The Tai Daeng of Hua Phan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic is now available at TAEC and our on-line shop. Translated from Thai into English by Linda S. McIntosh, this first book in the TAEC Ethnography Series gives historical background and documents the contemporary lives of the Tai Daeng in Laos.

Sumitr Pitiphat, professor of Anthropology at Thammasat University of Bangkok, Thailand wrote the original book and has studied the Tai peoples of Laos, northern Vietnam, and southwest China. The book explores traditions and changes including this group's traditional belief system and their conversion to Buddhism and the external factors that have led to changes in their handwoven textiles.

“Translation of this book into English brings information about the Tai Daeng in Laos to a larger audience. We hope it will build greater understanding of the rapid change facing ethnic groups here,” notes TAEC Co-Director Tara Gujadhur.

The publication received support from the Henry Luce Foundation and Translation Project Group/AAS Southeast Asia Council and private donors.

Receive a 40% discount off of the cover price of $25 if you purchase the book at our on-line shop before 31 March. Use the code TAIDAENG.

Tai Daeng Textiles Featured at TAEC Boutique

In February and March, TAEC Boutique will feature silk textiles from Tai Daeng villages in Hua Phan province in the northeast of Laos. Traditional wall hangings, like this Pha Thong Hai Hin (Plain of Jars textile) show the skill of the weaver and depict daily activities in the village. To create this large textile, silk is hand spun, dyed, and then hand woven.

The textile above shows the landscape of the village including mountains, animals and birds, houses, fields, and the main street with cars, bicycles, cows and buses all sharing the road. The Plain of Jars is also shown. This delicate piece includes silk cocoons as decoration on the edges. A large and intricate textile, like this one, takes several months to complete.

Meet Linda S. McIntosh,

TAEC Advisor

From the start of TAEC in 2006, Dr. Linda S. McIntosh has been an advisor and currently chairs our board of advisors. She has curated exhibitions for the Centre and for other institutions in Thailand, Laos, and the US. Now a resident in Luang Prabang, McIntosh has been visiting rural communities in Southeast Asia since 1996. Besides this translation, her latest books include Carving a Community: the Katu People for the TAEC exhibit of the same name and Art of Southeast Asian Textiles. Her next publication will focus on Indonesian textiles and ornaments. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her doctorate from Simon Fraser University, Canada.

McIntosh says, “Access to research written in different languages is important especially when completing a comprehensive literature review. I hope future research will build and expand the data presented in TAEC’s publications.”

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Our mailing address is:

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

PO Box 222

Ban Khamyong

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

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