Kaypi Per 2012 Kaypi Per Quechua words for this is Peru, is a festival highlighting Peruvian traditional arts
s and popular culture, that will be held at the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., July 25-30, 2012. The festival will share the richness and diversity of artistic expression and culture of Peru through dance, music, photo exhibitions, hands-on activities, horses, alpacas and of course, food. Art Market The best Peruvian handcrafters and artists will be part of the art market. Nineteen of the most celebrated Peruvian artisans coming from different regions of Peru will exhibit and sell their crafted workmanship including jewelry, apparel, wool items, textiles, silver, wood carvings and sculptural works. Lectures on the Great Inca Road and the citadel of Machu Picchu Learn about the Great Inca Road know in Quechua language as Qhapaq an and the iconic citadel of Machu Picchu by an expert historian coming from Peru. These family orientated lectures will provide interesting information of these great engineering marvels build by the Inca civilization. Community Based Tourism Peruvian native inhabitants of the Puno region of the Collao Plateau close to Lake Titicaca in the southern Andes present their successful project of community based tourism which has improved their living standards while sharing and preserving their traditional ways of life. Conservation Natives from the Kukama Kukamiria Amazon community present their successful conservation project that they operate in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest for forestry and aquiculture. Photography Presentation of the acclaimed National Geographic photo exhibition "Machu Picchu: A Lost City Uncovered," which presents 40 of the finest photos by explorer Hiram Bingham who made famous the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. Forty spectacular photos of the Great Inca Road known in South America as the Qapac an, which linked all the remote territories that were part of the Inca Empire, the largest pre-Columbian state in the Americas, will be on display.
Cuisine Peruvian cuisine is considered some of the finest in the Americas. Enjoy the best of Peruvian cuisine at the Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe. Peruvian delicacies will be specially prepared by a Peruvian chef, who is working with the museums executive chef, so that visitors will be able to taste the best flavors of Peru. Traditional Drink Pisco is the Peruvian national spirit and the Pisco Sour its national cocktail. Distilled from grapes this fine spirit has been part of the Peruvian culture for more than 500 years. Attend the Pisco Experience class and hear about its history, tradition and more importantly learn how to make a delicious Pisco sour. Traditional Dance and Music Performances of traditional dances from different Peruvian regions and cultural origins will take place in the Potomac Atrium. Colorful original traditional dress and typical musical instruments will be on display. Dance workshops for kids will follow the performances. Horses See an exhibition of the Peruvian Paso horse, which is a breed of light pleasure saddle horse known for its smooth ride. It is distinguished by a natural, four-beat, lateral gait called the "paso llano." A display of fine leather and silver saddlers unique to these horses along with photos of the horses and items can be seen. Photo opportunities will be available. Films Screening of Peruvian documentary films related with culture and the preservation of the environment. Alpacas A pair of the world renowned Peruvian Andean camel-related animal famous for its fine wool will be displayed on the Welcome Plaza. Photo opportunities will be available. Plant Exhibition Planters and gardens of Peruvian and Andean traditional plants that are cultivated for food and traditional uses including several varieties of the potato, peppers, corn, coffee, guava, agave, quinoa and others will be on display.
Kids Activities Native Peruvians in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center will educate and engage kids and parents with native Peruvian culture. Children will have the opportunity to be involved in hands-on activities such as making jewelry and making wooden models of homes. Lessons of Peruvian traditional dances will be in the Potomac Atrium. Children will participate in activities led by Peruvian instructors to connect them with the Quechua experience of Andean children geared toward promoting self-esteem and appreciation of the indigenous culture. Activities will include drawing and painting workshops of the indigenous deities such as the Apus or mountain gods, ancestral storytelling and viewings of videos and photography.
