Lajara, Valeria

1975 : Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
Valeria's speciality is native textiles and hand loom crafts. Her Macramé Sashes  and Jewellery (Macramé and silver)  are unique.
Valeria has directed several workshops on textiles to share her expertise with other craftsmen:
- "Taller de Extensión Universitaria". Córdoba National Univeristy. June 2002.
- "Pampa Textile Workshop" August and September 2002 at the First National Art Meeting. Rosario.

Other Courses and Training

Valeria's has taken part of several workshops and seminars:
- 1996 to 2000. "La Rueca" (distaff) textile workshop. Prof. C. Goldín. learning: Alternated Toba Textiles, Pampa, Mapuche, Andean, Creole and Caranchi textiles, Mexican and Guatemalan Precolumbian textile techniques (Supplementary weft), contemporary tapestry, Introduction to Chaquiras, Prehispanic gauzes, Creole braiding, Paracas and Nazcza rings, Paraná river prehistoric nets.
- 1998. "Tapestry in Northwestern Argentina" Seminar by craftsman F. Cruz. Complejo Cultural Rosario.
"Tapestry as a Creative Element" Textile workshop by Prof. Ana Mazzoni Collar. Salta city.
"Ikat Technique" by F. Cruz. Salta.
"El Surí". Textile workshop by Prof. C. Goldín. Rosario. Covering: Tubular, Andean and Tola textiles, use of natural dyes and waist hand loom assembly.
- 1999. Women Dyers and Weavers Meeting. Fiambalá, Catamarca. Crafts Strenghtening Programme organized by SPN and MATRA. Covering: Use of natural dyes, spindles and distaffs.
"Macramé". Workshop by Laura Repetti. Universidad Abierta.
"First National Meeting of Textile Arts" Rosario. Santa Fe.
- 2000. "Bolivian Textiles". Seminar by Prof. Graciela Suarez. Rosario National University.
"Double Cloth of Ancient Peru". Seminar by Prof. Graciela Suarez. Rosario National University.
"Chala basket techniques". Cahuané Crafts Fair. Capitán Sarmiento. Buenos Aires.
- 2001. "Introduction to the Textile World of the Precolumbian Andes" Seminar. Rosario National University.
"Contemporary and Precolumbian Textile Art". Seminar by Dr. Luis Massa.
- 2002. Morón Municipal School of Folkloric Arts and Crafts. 1^st and 2^nd courses in Textiles, Chaquiras, Braiding, Sprang, Weaving and Beaming.
"Precolumbian and Contemporary Textile Art". Seminar by C. Goldín. Rosario National University.

Exhibitions and Contests

1995.
- Museo Histórico Provincial de Rosario. "El Surí" Group Exhibit and Workshop.
1996.
- Centro Cultural Bernandino Rivadavia. "La Rueca" Group Exhibit. Rosario. Santa Fe.
1997.
- Centro Cultural La Cooperación. "La Rueca" Group Exhibit. Rosario. Santa Fe.
- XI Meeting of Thread Artisans. Cañada Rosquín. Santa Fe.
- IV Meeting of Independent Artisans. Casilda, Santa Fe.
1998.
- Traditional Crafts Exhibit. Centro tradicional "El Fortín". Pergamino. Buenos Aires.
- National Fair of Creole Crafts. Cañada Rosquín. Santa Fe.
- XI Cahuané Crafts Fair and V Youth Meeting. Capitán Sarmiento. Buenos Aires.
- " Ñandereko ". Corral de Bustos. Córdoba.
- X  Crafts Fair, Evolución. Pergamino. Buenos Aires.
- XI Crafts Fair, Evolución. Pergamino. Buenos Aires.
1999.
- Exposición Rural. Exhibit. Corrientes city.
- Sociedad Rural Argentina. Exhibit. Buenos Aires city.
- Rosario Crafts Exhibition. Group Exhibit. Rosario. Santa Fe.
- XII Crafts Fair, Evolución. Pergamino. Buenos Aires.
- XII Cahuané Crafts Fair and VI Youth Meeting. Capitán Sarmiento. Buenos Aires.
- National Fair of Creole Crafts. Cañada Rosquín. Santa Fe.
2000.
- First Special Judges Mention at the National Textile Artists Biennial Meeting. For her work "Muchas manos, pocos peces". Organized by the Provincial Department of Culture, Salta province. Salta.
- Sociedad Rural Argentina. Exhibit. Buenos Aires city.
- Exposición Rural. Group Exhibit. Rafaela. Santa Fe.
- Centro Cultural Villa Hortensia. Group Exhibit. Rosario. Santa Fe.
- XXXIX Equestrian Fair. Bragado. Buenos Aires.
- XIII Cahuané Crafts Fair and VII Youth Meeting. Capitán Sarmiento. Buenos Aires.
- X Crafts Fair " " Peyrano Folkloric Festival ".
2001.
- Galerías Pinamar S.A. gallery Exhibit. Pinamar. Buenos Aires.
- Textile Art Exhibition. Exhibit. Mendoza city.
2002.
- Second Master craftsmen Fair. Bernardino Rivadavia Cultural Centre. Rosario. Santa Fe. Sponsored by UNESCO, Federal Secretariat of Culture and the Ibero-American Association for Cooperation and Develoment of Argentine Popular Art. Organized by the Department of culture of the Municipality of Rosario and Rosario National University.
2003.
- Colón Crafts Fair. Colón Entre Rís.