The stitching is done by a group of women, where one creates the subject and draws the cartoon on unbleached cotton, members of the team stitch full-time for up to three months, then another artisan does the stretching and mounting.
The artwork is stunning, and the stitching is master level. Most of the artworks are for sale. Up for the month of November, please go see it.
If you're too far away, go here for more info: PaxRwanda.com
Meanwhile, just look:
One of the leaders studied in Europe, and you can detect the influence of Japanese woodblock prints, of German expressionism, of the Impressionists blended into these original expressions of African identity and experience.
Most of the stitchers have little education, and this stitched art is a livelihood for them as they take part in the recovery of Rwanda from the genocide.
these are stunners. Love the zebras.
ReplyDeleteThere's one very old lady who specializes in animals, and this is her work. The unfinished fantasy giraffe is unfinished because she died. Do Julie honored her work by hanging it as she left it, unfinished, unstretched.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful exhibit, so lucky it came here.
The picture where Julie is showing the back she did to oblige you readers, to show that the back looks exactly like the front.
ReplyDeleteI not only looked, but I embiggened too. I can see why you were so taken with the exhibit. I like the sense of collaboration between artists.
ReplyDeleteYes. There are people from both sides of the Hutu/Tutsi conflict working together.
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