EMBROIDERING IDENTITIES

Curators

Abbie Adams

Artists

Samak Bilab Bi Delo

Palestinian women traditionally used embroidery as a means to define and redefine their identity over the course of their lives, developing different colours and symbols local to regions. Pieces were embroidered and pieced together to create a thobe, a dress made up of panels, each conveying a message, story, patch of identity through embroidery. For example, a woman from Ramallah would be recognisable by the white base and red cross stitch of her thobe, while a Bethlehemian’s multicoloured sleeves of purple, yellow and green would identify her, the embroidery on the kaaba (chest panel), radah (yoke), and shinyar (lower back panel) told the story of future hopes and past experiences.

During this workshop, While learning history and contemporary practice of Palestinian Embroidery we will be learning or refreshing our skills of cross-stitch to make our own embroidery patches on pieces of naturally dyed Hebron cotton. We will explore symbols of meaning, personal narratives, and distinctive imagery that can be used to define, or identify each of us within our own complex lives

Please feel free to bring a garment you wish to stitch these patches to so you can leave wearing them, proud. Everyone of all abilities welcome.

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Samak Bilab Bi Delo 2016 by artist Julie Fox and designer Eliza Collin. SBBD uses design and craft to forge local networks between artisans, designers and vulnerable community members. Through research, communication, and collaboration, we have been able to strengthen relations with local partners in the region and move forward steadily towards our goals. We aim to create a sustainable and international trade network which serves to provide support to educational programs while highlighting the many artisanal traditional skills, processes and materials. By creating a product which is not only made in Palestine but also emblematic of the rich material culture and history of the people of the region, we are working to develop an alternative narrative of contemporary Palestine.

@samakbilabbidelo

This event was generously supported by: