Current Projects - The Women’s Sewing Circle Project
In the Fall of 2006, ICR presented the exhibit Weavings of War: Fabrics of Memory, featuring beautiful textiles made by women from around the world whose ethnic groups have experienced war, trauma, and dislocation. To accompany the exhibit we hosted nine public events that presented the cultures of these ethnic groups through their members living in the Hartford area. In developing these events, we met many immigrants and refugees who were new to us but who have been living in this area for some time or who have just arrived. Through our joint discussions, we identified several needs that local refugees have, such as greater social involvement, recognition of their cultural heritage and artistic traditions, learning English language and literacy, and wider marketing of their skills including artistic production. In particular, we recognized the power of art ñ especially art based in cultural heritage and familiar traditions ñ to heal people who still experience serious mental health issues because of war-related trauma. This came across very strongly during the final event of the exhibit, a demonstration of weaving and other cultural traditions as well as audience discussion with women from the Bosnian community.
In response to their requests, ICR's Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CHAP), working in collaboration with the Hartford Public Library and Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services, has developed a project to bring women from a variety of ethnic groups together through a weekly Sewing Circle held at the Hartford Public Library, where they work on their textile arts together and share coffee, pastries, and conversation. The project encourages production and sales of traditional crafts among the many immigrant communities in the Greater Hartford area and across the state. Project funders are: the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls, the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, the Aetna Foundation, the Knox Foundation, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council through its United Arts Campaign and its United Way Campaign. THANKS!
The primary project goal is to provide a supportive environment for activities that assist a broad group of refugee women who need an outlet for their artistic talent. The project also enhances health and healing through positive, tradition-based practices that are shared with others from similar circumstances. Additional project outcomes include small business training for the artists, producing and marketing their work to local audiences, and developing educational activities for the public about these newcomers and their cultural contributions.
Women from many different groups are joining us, including a Somali basketweaver, an Assyrian embroiderer and lacemaker, Burmese Karen weavers, Bosnian needleworkers, and Hmong embroiderers. We are accepting donated wool, cloth, and other sewing materials. The women have sold their work at special public marketplaces that CHAP organizes, and at the Hartford Farmers Market from April to October.
