29 August 2007

Sewing all the Way to Here is the outcome of the Afghani Embroidery Project organised by the Shepparton Art Gallery, and funded by the Australia Council for the Arts.

This exhibition celebrates Shepparton’s growing Afghani community, entwining their craft practices with other local artists’ work to produce a site specific art work with in the Community Gallery.

Over 40 local Afghani and Australian women have worked together for the past year under the direction of professional artist Kate Durham, to produce this extraordinary exhibition. 

Sewing all the Way to Here demonstrates a wide variety of textile skills and approaches to materials, marrying traditional Afghani embroidery with experimental textiles. Embroidery techniques are practiced widely in Afghanistan, both in making clothes and decorating domestic spaces.

Gallery Director Kirsten Paisley said the social impact of this project is of equal importance to the artwork.

“The women have found commonalities in thread that span their cultural backgrounds and it has provided an opportunity for Afghani women to socialise and meet new friends.”

”It has helped local women understand something about the emerging Afghani community,“ Ms Paisley said.

The group hopes to work together and explore commercial applications for their craft.

The group will celebrate the exhibition with family and friends on Saturday 1 September at 2.00pm.

The exhibition is open to the public from 31 August to 7 October 2007.

For further information contact the Shepparton Art Gallery on 5832 9861.

– Released 30 August