The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Embassy of Peru present Kaypi Perú, a festival highlighting the South American nation’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and traditional arts, today,Wednesday, July 25, through Monday, July 30. Kaypi Perú, which means “This is Peru” in the indigenous language of Quechua, includes an art market, music and dance performances, hands-on activities for kids, short films, photo exhibitions of Machu Picchu and the Inka Road, traditional plants, as well as Peruvian Paso horses and alpacas.
An art market will be open daily in the Potomac Atrium from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will feature 16 artisans from various regions of Peru who will be selling an array of items, including handmade silver jewelry, ceramics, textiles, masks, colorful scarves and shawls, figurines, embroidered fabrics, wood carvings and more.
The Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe will feature a collaborative menu of Peruvian delicacies prepared by famed Peruvian chef,Flavio Soloranzo of Señorío de Sulco Restaurant in Lima and the museum’s executive chef, Richard Hetzler.
Visitors can join experts from Pisco Portón for the Pisco Experience in the Mitsitam Espresso Bar area at 3:15, 4 and 4:45 p.m. daily for a 30-minute tutorial on the 500-year history and traditions of Pisco, the national spirit of Peru. Learn how to make a Pisco sour and sample the delicious drink. Seating is limited, first-come, first-served.
At 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. a daily workshop at the entrance of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center will explore the lifestyles of Andean children and what they might do on a daily basis such as tending animals, harvesting or weaving. Following the story, kids will be able to assemble and paint paper cutouts of local ecotourism homes.
At 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Laura Russell will discuss who people think their protectors are and then watch a short video on who Andean children believe their protectors are. Children will then compare and contrast the different protectors and draw and paint them to take home. Free tickets are required for all the activities and are available at the imagiNATIONS Activity Center. All activities are recommended for ages 4 and up.
Throughout the festival, there will be various performances of traditional dances from different Peruvian regions and cultural origins by local Peruvian dance groups, including Mamauca, Raices y Expresiones, Raymi, Victor Ruiz, Yuyarinaypac and Club Libertad. After the performances, there will be a dance workshop for the entire family.
There will be free daily screenings at 12:30 p.m. in the Rasmuson Theater of four short films created by the DocuPeru Documentary Caravan, a media literacy project that has trained more than 550 new filmmakers in 26 countries. Qarwaqiru, Hualgayoc-Collar de Plata), Molinopampa and Yacumama all focus on a water theme.
A Peruvian paso horse will be shown on the outdoor Welcome Plaza from 2 to 5:30 p.m. daily. There will be a display of fine leather and silver saddles unique to this breed, along with a display of photograph.
A pair of the world-renowned Peruvian Andean alpacas, famous for their fine wool, will also be on view. Fabiola and Eric Moranof Rancho el Chalan provided both the horses and alpacas for the festival. Photo opportunities will be available with both animals. For more details about the festival and a full schedule of all programs, visit www.AmericanIndian.si.edu.
