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Peru is a country of varied terrain and a staggering array of ethnic art traditions. With three distinct climates — coastal desert, highland and jungle — pre-Colombian artisans of various regions used local resources or traded to obtain sought after materials from other areas. The Spanish conquistadors brought with them new influences. Catholicism was blended with indigenous beliefs, and new imagery was fused with traditional motifs. Now, these ancient arts are put to contemporary uses, such as woven rugs, ceramic pieces or alpaca sweaters, while still utilizing traditional methods and materials. Motifs seen on ceramics and in weavings reflect Peru's pre-Colombian cultures. Still, ethnic arts of Peru are at risk. Crossroads Trade helps support projects such as the Center for Traditional Textiles, a collaborative of villages working to preserve their traditional dying and weaving techniques.
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