Casa da Lã de Bucos (Bucos Wool House)
Cabeceiras de Basto, 2011-2012
Exhibition tour of the Casa da Lã de Bucos, located in Cabeceiras de Basto
At Casa da Lã de Bucos, wool is still processed by hand, with the entire process managed by a group of women who transform the wool fibers, from sheep to yarn, for a variety of uses.
The importance of documenting this craft in greater detail and from a technical perspective stems not only from the desire to preserve this knowledge, which, due to a lack of apprentices, is no longer passed down through practice, but also from the recognition that a seemingly simple craft embodies valuable wisdom resulting from centuries of evolution and years of learning and refinement by those who, even today, still know how to practice it.
Between 2011 and 2012, we documented the wool cycle in Bucos, a project that saw significant community involvement and resulted in our contribution to the book “Mulheres de Bucos - Trabalho da Lã” and in the curatorial process for the installation of the museum section of the Casa da Lã, which can still be visited today.
Housed in the former Bucos elementary school, Casa da Lã serves as an interpretive center dedicated to woolcraft. Every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, visitors can watch live demonstrations of various woolcraft projects being created by a group of women who enjoy sharing the secrets of wool with their guests.
Link: Casa da Lã de Bucos
Women of Bucos Book
The book documents the work of these women who are dedicated to woolcraft. It features technical research, a photographic record, and texts written by Alice Bernardo. Published by the Cabeceiras de Basto City Council.
“Casa da Lã” Exhibition Tour
The exhibition layout at Casa da Lã was designed to give visitors an overview of the wool cycle as it is practiced in Bucos, as well as to highlight the artisans involved in the entire process. For this exhibition, Alice Bernardo was responsible for all the photography, as well as the texts and overall structure of the exhibition.
