Thanks to the Textile Research Centre Leiden for this article about Surayia Rahman and her role in the revival of kantha in Bangladesh. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood and Willem Vogelsang are experts and proponents of textiles from around the world and the knowledge that they assemble at #TRC-Leiden is impressive.
The iconic photo in the TRC article is by @Anil444Advani, a friend of Surayia and one of the earliest supporters of THREADS.
#Bangladesh #Nakshikantha #SurayiaRahman
We’re happy to announce that THREADS will screen at the Gendered Threads of Globalization conference at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. The conference is March 10 – 12. THREADS will screen at 3:35PM March 11 in Room 103, Fine Arts Building as part of a session on Bengal. Director Cathy Stevulak will make a presentation and answer questions about the film. She will join experts Sanchita Saxena, Naza Mahjabeen Sabet and Farah Khan in discussing “intersections of gendered labor and its exploitation in the region; the revitalization and reinterpretation of heritage Bengali textiles as art and luxury items; and the rise of “slow fashion” and women’s empowerment in the two Bengals.”
The poster for the conference features artwork from Surayia Rahman and the women of Arshi, the embroidered tapestry “Gypsy Wharf.”
#Bengal #Bangladesh #Artisan #nakshikantha
Poster for the GToG conference featuring art of Surayia Rahman.
Posted by: Cathy and Len
In our most recent newsletter you can learn about the trip that we took to Bangladesh and India to bring Threads to multiple audiences including women and girls as well as artisans. Bringing the film back to Bangladesh, where the story started, has been one of our goals for years. We are very thankful to the many friends and sponsors who made this possible.
THREADS screening at Chhayanaut, Dhaka, organized by Spreeha. Photo credit: Salil Halder.
We are working now on making Threads available on DVD and for streaming or download. We’ll announce here and on Facebook when you and others can buy your own copy of the film.
Thank you again to all of the loyal friends and supporters who have helped to make this film possible!
Posted by: Cathy and Len
Some of the Quilts of Valor at Jubilee Lodge.
Today Americans celebrate Memorial Day, commemorating the sacrifices of those who have died in the service of their country. We were reminded of those sacrifices when we recently screened Threads and had a lively discussion about the film at Jubilee, an active adult community in Lacey, Washington.
Just outside of the hall where we showed the film was a very moving display of quilts made by residents of Jubilee for wounded service members at nearby Madigan Army Medical Center. These “Quilts of Valor” demonstrate the skill and dedication of the makers, and received a certificate of appreciation from the Warrior Transition Battalion at the hospital.
We brought one of Surayia’s nakshi kantha tapestries, “Gypsy Wharf,” for film attendees to examine. Although “Gypsy Wharf” is very different in style and theme from the Quilts of Valor, the quality and diversity of stitching traditions continues to amaze us. We are always energized by meeting people who, like Surayia and the women of Arshi, turn thread and fabric into visually intricate and wonderful works of art that can warm and help to heal spirit and body.
Thank you to those who have served to make us free and to those whose commitment to others gives hope.
Posted by: Cathy and Len
We are happy to join people around the world celebrating International Women’s Day March 8.
On this day, we particularly salute women artists who open doors to economic opportunity, preserve culture and foster creativity and community development. Artisan enterprise today is the second largest employer after agriculture in the developing world, and, as Threads shows, the work of artisans can have a ripple effect, positively impacting the lives of generations.
We encourage everyone to think about handmade goods when making consumer choices and to support living artists whenever possible. We believe that a world without poverty is possible, and that each of us can make a difference toward this goal.
Surayia and the women she worked with share their skills and together create timeless art. With creativity and determination, they feed and educate their children. We salute their accomplishments.