"Crown of Coca"

By Brian Wilkes

During my trips to the Peruvian Andes in 1998 and 1999, I saw that campesinas often work in the fields and town with babies slung from their shoulders. The baby may be human, but also an alpaca, llama, puppy, lamb or even a piglet. This woman has put her charge in hand-knit baby clothes with a crown of ceremonial coca leaves, an important medicine plant at high altitudes. This cria (baby alpaca) smiles because it knows it’s mommy’s favorite. I worked to capture the dazzling colors and intricacies of Andean textiles as well as the almost unbearable cuteness and innocence of the alpaca cria. May this bring you a smile every time you look at it.