New Immigrant
Zarhoona Ahmedzai teaches Ivy traditional Geraf Embroidery at the MAWA Craftstravaganza
MAWA recognizes that women artists come to Winnipeg from different parts of the globe, and bring distinct cultural art forms with them. MAWA hires new immigrant artisans to share their expertise. We hope to build intercultural connections, networks, and support systems between women artists of all backgrounds.
The MAWA New Canadian Artisan Outreach Program
This program will be continuing in fall 2011. Below is the information on the Pilot of this program, conducted in spring 2011.
MAWA Celebrates International Women’s Day with a Mega-Workshop!
Craft Practices from around the World
Erna Andersen led folks in crocheting old shopping bags into new strong totes
Saturday March 5, 2011, noon-4 pm at MAWA
Free! All genders welcome! All ages! A light lunch will be served!
Most materials will be provided. All you need to bring is plastic grocery bags, the more colourful the better!
At our much anticipated 3rd Annual IWD crafting event, four master craftswomen will be on hand between noon and 4pm to share their skills in embroidery, beading, crochet and more. Come early and stay late! Enjoy good food, good company and some good-old-fashioned fun, making art with friends. This event is supported by the Provincial Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister of Labour and Immigration, Jennifer Howard; the Manitoba Craft Council; the Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Winnipeg; Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library; The Edge Gallery; and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM).
Geraf Embroidery with Zarghoona Ahmedzai. Zarghoona will teach a traditional Afghani technique that is often used to embellish traditional clothing. The embroidery forms a solid pattern of geometric colour. It is created by counting threads in the weave of the cloth, and applying small, even stitches. Zarghoona is originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, although she taught handicrafts to refugees in Pakistan for many years before coming to Canada seven months ago. As well as teaching geraf, she will show examples of other regional Afghani embroidery techniques. She will be assisted by her daughter.
Plastic Bag Crochet with Erna Andersen. Learn crochet basics and recycle at the same time! Erna crafts beautiful bags and bowls out of old plastic shopping bags. The stitches are simple and fast to learn. And what could be better than making your own reusable grocery bag out of flimsy old ones? Erna moved to Winnipeg two-and-a-half years ago from Denmark. She now works with other newcomers at Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM).
Oromo Beading with Sifo Boramso. Sifo creates traditional, east African jewelry using age-old designs passed down to her by her grandmother. Headbands, earrings and bracelets are created using a simple hand-method (not a loom). This jewelry once adorned all Oromo women, although traditional beading designs are being lost. Oronia is now part of Ethiopia and is that country’s largest state. Sifo immigrated to Canada two years ago and is very active at IRCOM, implementing childcare and literacy programs.
Japanese papercutting with Michino Phillips. This age-old artform involves careful balance of positive and negative space when cutting images and patterns out of paper with a sharp knife. Participants work with black paper to achieve dramatic effects. Michino learned her craft from her father, a master papercutter. She has lived in Winnipeg with her Canadian husband since 2008.
And Keep Crafting!
Embellish and Embroider… Making old clothes new again!
With Lweh Say
Lweh Say (second from right) led an afternoon of stitching
Saturday, April 2, 2011, 1-3 pm at MAWA
Free! All genders welcome!
Embroidery materials will be provided, but please bring clothes you would like to decorate.
Needles will fly through the air, stringy bits will lie on the floor, and skills will be shared by Lweh Say. Lweh is a Karen (southern Burmese) embroiderer who uses cross stitch and a unique raised stitch to create traditional floral and geometric designs. Lweh studied embroidery as a schoolgirl, working on the most difficult of materials: silk. She has since passed her skills on to her daughter and now to women of MAWA.
The MAWA New Canadian Artisan Outreach Pilot Program has been funded by the Women’s Endowment at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.