Showing and sharing the techniques and uses that are still in the memory and in the domain of a few, now few, is the objective of the meeting on esparto, scheduled for November 19, at 15 pm, at Palácio Gama Lobo, in Loulé.
The meeting, in an informal setting, as part of the Loulé Criativo project, will focus on past uses and what the potential for future use of esparto as a raw material might be.
Esparto was once one of the most processed raw materials in the Algarve region, particularly in the municipality of Loulé. The village of Alte was a center of production, manufacturing coffers, cedars, doormats and, more recently, pieces with a decorative purpose.
Worked with the same technique used with the palm, the empreita, the plant is used in its natural state, being moistened before use, to make it malleable and plaitable.
But in Alte, in addition to this way of working esparto, another was of great importance, namely the use of trodden esparto. After soaking, the esparto was then stepped on, so that it could be easily twisted, allowing the production of rope with different thicknesses and from there onwards, different pieces.
The meeting is open to artisans, designers and the general public. Admission is free.
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