September 11 to November 15 Embroidery exhibition in Lorca

One of the cultural trademarks of Lorca at the MASS museum of the Paso Azul

“El bordado popular: Legado de generaciones” is an exhibition in Lorca which celebrates the city’s long tradition in the field of embroidery, where the most elaborate and opulent items of clothing and other accoutrements include those which are worn in the spectacular Easter Week processions every year.

But the embroidery of Lorca goes far beyond these merely ceremonial accoutrements, and this exhibition focuses not on the exquisite craftwork of those who dedicate thousands of hours every year to creating the eye-catching decorative uniforms for Semana Santa. Thes exhibits are more “popular” pieces, although there are certain notable exceptions such as the typical regional costume which was gifted by the Region of Murcia in 1947 to none other than Eva Perón, the iconic First Lady of Argentina whose life was the theme of the musical Evita and who came to the Region in 1950.

The exhibition is being held by the Paso Azul, one of the leading groups taking part in the Semana Santa processions, at the Museo Azul de la Semana Santa (MASS), and is intended as a display of the historical, artistic and cultural value of the embroidery created.

Other pieces include les high-profile costumes, place mats, tablecloths, aprons, bedspreads and simple clothes, as well as religiously themed embroideries. There are also photographs from the collection of José Rodrigo and Pedro Menchón, now held by the municipal archive, showing portraits of the simple folk of Lorca dressed in these clothes many years ago, and also the workshops in which the embroidery was fashioned.

Given the time when many of them were created, it is not surprising to find that almost all of the exhibits were created by women, whose patience, dedication and sheer skill is inevitably an underlying theme of the exhibition.

“El bordado popular: Legado de generaciones” can be visited until 15^th November every day of the week from 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.30 (except Sundays, 11.00 to 14.00 only).

For more local information about Lorca, including news and what’s on, enquire at the tourist office (Palacio de Guevara, telephone 968 441914, email lorcaturismo@lorca.es, or visit the home page of Lorca Today.