Six local women have stitched their stories into a new exhibition at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Working with Sydney artist Nelia Justo, the women are sharing their stories of identity and heritage in an exhibition as part of the centre’s 40th birthday celebrations.
Linkages, Knots and Graftings features three connected exhibitions: Keloid by Melbourne artist Megan Evans, Trade winds from elsewhere by Justo, and Textile Tales Woven Journeys, which is the outcome of a community arts project developed by Justo in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Curated by Carmen Grostal, the exhibition was born from a desire to develop community connection and celebrate women’s creativity.
Photographs and text share treasured heirlooms of personal and cultural significance from 22 women in Sydney’s west as well as six local women: Helen Kassa, Vicki Couzens, Yunuen Pérez, Emeretta Cross, Violetta Veliz and Lily Wong.
Justo explains that women are customarily the producers and bearers of textile articles within families, often passing cherished articles on through the generations.
“The wealth of cultural history contained in often seemingly simple textiles cannot be underestimated and collectively can carry significant meaning in a community,” she said.
“These stories of textile articles holding personal significance for the women may in addition hold wider cultural and historical significance. They’re at risk of disappearing if they remain undocumented.”
Items shared with the artists include a smocked cotton top, a hand-woven bag and a poncho.
Veliz said she brought the poncho with her when she migrated from Chile. “I have it at home hanging on the sofa and every time I see it I remember my sisters and brother, my father and the whole country.”
Writer Melinda Austen has recorded participants’ stories as part of the project.
Justo will be holding an artist talk from 2pm-4pm this Saturday during which the local women will share their objects and stories as well as encouraging stories from the audience.
Linkages, Knots and Graftings opens at 6pm-8pm tomorrow and runs until May 18.
