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Dreamweaver Arts App

The T'nalak is a traditional hand-woven cloth crafted by T'boli women of Cotabato, Philippines that marks significant life events. It uses intricate patterns created through precise knotting and natural dyes on an abaca fiber base. The distinctive tri-color scheme involves a black background with white patterns and predominant red tints. Considered a valuable commodity, T'nalak weaving is passed down through generations and helps sustain families and communities. The specific T'nalak in question was gifted by Nancy Davidson Short in the mid-1900s, though its exact origin is unknown.

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Cuanico, Adriane Avila
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46 views9 pages

Dreamweaver Arts App

The T'nalak is a traditional hand-woven cloth crafted by T'boli women of Cotabato, Philippines that marks significant life events. It uses intricate patterns created through precise knotting and natural dyes on an abaca fiber base. The distinctive tri-color scheme involves a black background with white patterns and predominant red tints. Considered a valuable commodity, T'nalak weaving is passed down through generations and helps sustain families and communities. The specific T'nalak in question was gifted by Nancy Davidson Short in the mid-1900s, though its exact origin is unknown.

Uploaded by

Cuanico, Adriane Avila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dream Weaver

Presenter:
Adriane Avila Cuanico
The History of T’NALAK
T’Nalak: The Land of the Dreamweavers

T'nalak, crafted by the T'boli people in Cotabato, is a


traditional hand-woven cloth marking significant life events.

Woven from abaca fibers, it undergoes a tie-dye process


using natural dyes from bark and plants, creating intricate patterns
through precise knotting.

The distinctive tri-color scheme involves a black background,


white patterns, and predominant red tints, showcasing both tradition
and creative variations in craftsmanship.
T'nalak, a woven cloth, not only
commemorates significant life events but also
signifies class and individual status,
particularly highlighting warriors in a
community.

Crafted by "dream weavers," women


believed to receive design inspiration from
dreams guided by the spirit of abaca, Fu
Dalu, T'nalak holds immense value.

These skilled women, known for their


embroidery and brass casting, pass down the
intricate fabric-making process through
maternal lines. T'nalak becomes a valuable
commodity, exchanged for essential
resources, ensuring the sustenance of
families within the community.
Nancy Davidson Short
The T’nalak in question was gifted by
Nancy Davidson Short, a former Sunset Magazine
editor, in the mid-1900s. While it's assumed that
she acquired it during her global travels, the Burke
Museum lacks detailed evidence on the exact
date, origin, or how she obtained the item.

Short's position at Sunset Magazine


facilitated extensive travel, possibly bringing her
into contact with the T’nalak in Southeast Asia.
The T'nalak, a traditional Filipino woven fabric, embodies key themes in Filipino
American studies such as bayanihan and damay, showcasing strong community ties in its creation.
Passed down through generations, the weaving process involves communal efforts, preserving
cultural identity and conveying status.

Unfortunately, traditional Filipino fabric production, including T'nalak, remains


overlooked by American audiences, contributing to the institutional invisibility of Filipino culture.
T'nalak weaving, often a source of income through bartering, reflects cultural ingenuity and
economic resilience, as depicted in Carlos Bulosan's "America is in the Heart."
The T'nalak holds deep cultural symbolism, connecting to indigenous practices much like our family
traditions tie us to our cultural identities. Woven by women, it empowers them in the community, reinforcing its
significance as a symbol of ancestral links.
Its role in female empowerment, coupled with its resilience against colonial influence, underscores
its paramount importance in preserving heritage and fostering a deeper understanding of cultural identity
across societies.
The Artifact project provided valuable
insights into Filipino culture, enhancing our
understanding and highlighting institutional
invisibilities faced by Filipinos.

It also fostered appreciation for


ethnography, museum collection and management,
and Asian American studies scholarship.
Reference:

Lauprecht, Janvieve. “The Cultural Fabric of the Southern Philippines: Rare Textiles Make U.S. Debut in Los
Angeles.” Asianweek, 1998, p. 21. Lush, Emily. “Making of: T'nalak Weaving, Philippines.” The Textile Atlas,
The Textile Atlas, 9 Dec. 2017, www.thetextileatlas.com/craft-stories/tnalak-weaving-philippines. Sorilla, Franz.
“Weaving the Threads of Filipino Heritage.” Philippine Tatler, 10 May 2017, ph.asiatatler.com/life/weaving-the-
threads-of-filipino-heritage. “T'nalak Festival: A Colorful Celebration.” International Care Ministries, 20 Sept.
2018, www.caremin.com/2018/09/tnalak-festival-a-colorful-celebration.

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