Our Season 3 Episode 4 features Judith Cruz Laserna, a craftswoman and cultural manager from the Amazon region of Peru. She grew up in a small community near the monumental archaeological site of Kuélap, a three hour walk from the nearest market. As a child she made dolls from rolled sweaters and secretly took threads to practice warping. From an early age, Judith understood that a textile is not simply fabric but memory, identity, and the state of the soul of the person who weaves it. This upbringing would foreshadow her lifelong commitment to honoring and preserving the traditions of her community.
From a young age, Judith was drawn to the practice of backstrap weaving, learning the craft from her mother. By the age of nineteen she had begun weaving regularly, eventually joining an artisans association where she deepened her appreciation for Peruvian culture and traditional knowledge. Her experiences shaped a deep sense of responsibility to rescue and preserve the cultural practices and artistic traditions of her region.
This commitment led Judith to found the educational association Yachay Ñaupa de Quelucas, an initiative focused on personal, family, and community development through artisanal work. As a traditional artist and educator, she has shared her knowledge across multiple communities, discovering new talent and empowering women through the art of handicrafts.
Judith has received numerous recognitions for her work. In 2020 she was selected as the recipient of a cultural management grant from UNESCO Peru and the Museo de Arte de Lima, chosen from more than 106 applicants nationwide. She has been recognized as a traditional educator and cultural inheritor of northeastern Peru, particularly for her work with rural communities and women in Chachapoyas. She is also a certified evaluator in the professional profile “Expert in Textile Design.”
Judith is also the winner of the national competition Art for the Bicentennial with her project The Bicentennial Poncho, representing artisans from the Amazon region while showcasing ancestral textile techniques and knowledge. The work highlights the enduring relevance of traditional garments and the wisdom embedded within them.
Today she is a weaver, cultural manager, and the first scholarship recipient of a UNESCO and Museo de Arte de Lima program dedicated to training cultural managers in Peru.
Learn more about Judith, her journey, and her award winning work in this episode: https://gestoras.substack.com/p/s3-e4-judith-cruz-laserna-arte-textil-60c
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