Posted by: Cathy and Len

The cover of “Grandmother Power.”

We had an opportunity this evening to hear Paola Gianturco talk about her new book Grandmother Power.   It’s an interesting collection of stories and photos of grandmothers around the world who are uniting to improve the lives of others — in some cases their own grandchildren, in other cases children on the other side of the globe — in various ways.

Paola has also done a book about women changing the world through craft called In Her Hands.

Surayia is herself a grandmother, as well as someone who changed many lives through her re-imagining of the traditional quilting of Bengal, nakshi kantha.  We hope that, through the documentary Threads, the stories of Surayia’s art as well as the social story of the lives that were changed for the better by art, will be told to a wide audience.

Many thanks to the World Affairs Council of Seattle for organizing an interesting event.

 

Posted by:  Len

We noted a few months ago on our film Facebook page  a fascinating chance encounter that we had in Ottawa, Ontario, at a restaurant.  The owner not only knew Surayia but was very familiar with her work and spent hours with us discussing Bangladesh and the film project.

We see today that Feroze bhai will be retiring from the business.  Cathy and I send our thanks and best wishes for the future.  And thanks as well for the panch foran!

 

 

Posted by:  Len

Here is a link to our latest film newsletter.  We have made a lot of progress, but there is still more to do so that Threads: the Art and Life of Surayia Rahman can be launched to the world in 2013.  With your help we will make it!