Sewn Threads, Cut Threads – Portland SWANA

October 21, 2023 - November 21, 2023

This exhibit showcases the work of folx who are part of the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) stitching community. The works encompass diasporic, immigrant, mixed, and queer stitches in a contemporary context with an ancestral throughline across time and space, oceans, continents, languages and mediums. The textile works range from Palestinian Tatreez embroidery and Egyptian Khayamiya appliqué to Armenian Janyak needlelace and many other regional stitches. Additionally, there will be new works drawing from multiple artistic disciplines, both ancient and modern, including writing, multimedia, propaganda, visual and plastic art, and inter-and-multi-disciplinary works. The event will include presentations by the artists and other cultural programming as well. And of course all SWANA events include food, music and dance.