ETD Logo

Endangered Threads Documentaries

San Pablo La Leguna
Sololá, Guatemala

The Tz'utujil-speaking community of San Pablo La Leguna is perched above Lake Atitlán on a steep slope. Here maguey (agave) has traditionally been processed into rope by Maya families. Now spun plastic is increasingly replacing maguey.

Lucas Patsún Mendosa, a maguey worker visiting from the neighboring community of San Marcos, is surrounded by Pablo's wife, María Ixcaya, and their extended family.  Photo by Denise Gallinetti 2005.

Lucas Patsún Mendosa, a maguey worker visiting from the neighboring community of San Marcos, is surrounded by Pablo's wife, María Ixcaya, and their extended family. Photo by Denise Gallinetti 2005.

Pablo Rasam is making a looped bag of spun maguey fiber that he has purchased rather than processed himself. He has worked with maguey all his life, though now he also works with spun plastic.  Photo by Denise Gallinetti 2005.

Pablo Rasam is making a looped bag of spun maguey fiber that he has purchased rather than processed himself. He has worked with maguey all his life, though now he also works with spun plastic. Photo by Denise Gallinetti 2005.

Pablo spins a device in his hand round and round to twist two lengths of spun maguey into a stronger cord.  His wife María holds the center of the maguey lengths as they twist.  Photo by Denise Gallinetti 2005.

Pablo spins a device in his hand round and round to twist a doubled length of spun maguey into a stronger cord. Photo by Denise Gallinetti 2005.

Locations in Sololá:


Back to Photo Anthology