Walter Paucar Velarde

"I was born in August of 1956 in a small town in the Central Andes of Peru. I come from a long line of artisans. My father, Santiago Paucar Amara, was a well-known weaver who won several national prizes. Many of his finest works ended up in Europe, in such countries as Germany, Italy, and France. <br><br> "I began working with my dad at the age of fourteen and, at the age of seventeen, I headed off to the University of Cerro de Pasco. Unfortunately, due to financial reasons, I was able to study for only two years. I thus returned home to dedicate myself full-time to the creation of tapestries. <br><br> "My wife also dedicates her time to weaving and, between the two of us, we transmit the beauty and tradition of our hometown to the rest of the world. <br><br>"We are both very happy to be featured on Novica, and are hopeful that our works will be known across the world so that everyone will appreciate the greatness of Peruvian art. Thank you."