In the second of Jean's Timor articles, she recounts the red herrings, interesting dead ends, and eventual resolution of a question set her by a friend here in Ubud, who brought her an old Timorese cloth and asked her where it was from. "Though I didn't know exactly where it was from," she says, "I had a sense I knew: handspun with a bold black centerfield and indigo blue motifs on the side panels made me think immediately of the island of West Timor. We asked if we could keep the textile and bring it with us when we next went to the island."

In her third recent article about Timor, Jean explores how the art is being transmitted between generations. Part of the mission statement for Threads of Life has been to improve the livelihood of women, and this has been accomplished beyond our expectations. But the financial success of the weavers has decreased the weaving pool. Where many weavers have paid for their daughters to go high school and even University, the likelihood that such a well-educated young woman will come back to her village and weave decreases. On her recent trip to Timor, Jean decided she would photograph households where multiple generations are maintaining a textile tradition, both to show that the traditions are still being passed on and to give the images back to the weavers. As Jean writes, "It would reflect my appreciation of their shared commitment and in some small way make the weavers more aware of how proud they can be of this commitment."

Pilu Saluk man's headdress, 2014
Mollo Utara, Timor Tengah Selatan, Timor
Commercial cotton, natural dyes, slit tapestry
18 x 232 cm
Dyed by Bebali Foundation
Woven by Yuliana Takesan 

We have been working for several years to encourage the revival of the traditional costume once worn by meo warriors in the area of Mollo. It consists of nine pieces of intricately woven slit tapestry weave with separate parts tied around the head, waist, arms and legs. The long fringes covering the face were said to create a veil between the worlds as men went into battle knowing they were facing death. While the women are improving their weaving skills, the Bebali Foundation dye studio is supplying the natural dyed threads. In time, the dye skills will be re-taught to the weavers.