Event Details
Participants engrossed in the 'hands on' process of creating arpillera dolls themed on displacement during the full day workshop.
(Photo: Breege Doherty) |
| Workshop: | Stitching our Stories: Displacement, Healing, New Possibilities |
| Description: | This workshop is an initiative of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building in partnership with the Colombian Embassy in the UK, Ulster University and Conflict Textiles. It coincides with the visit to Belfast by the Colombian Ambassador to the UK, HE Roy Barreras, and the Mampuján Women Weavers of Dreams and Flavours of Peace. These women, from the war-torn region of Montes de Maria in Colombia, have created textiles depicting their collective stories of atrocities and displacement. They credit this process as central to their journey of healing, re-building, commemorating and looking forward.
The workshop, facilitated by Breege Doherty & Eva Gonzalez, Conflict Textiles, will incorporate:
-Sharing of stories related to conflict, displacement, healing; and the individual & collective responses.
-The Women Weavers of Mampuján’s journey of establishing the Museo de Arte y Memoria de Mampujan.
-An insight into the Conflict Textiles archive and their long term connection with the Mampuján women.
-A ‘hands on’ exercise, in which participants will create arpillera dolls representing elements of their shared stories. (We invite you to bring a scrap of material of special significance to you).The final creations will be presented to the Colombian Ambassador at Ulster University as part of the evening programme.
Thursday, 23rd November | 10am to 5pm | Art Gallery, Building BC, Ulster University, Belfast Campus
Evening programme
1) 5.30pm: Participants are invited to join with Colombian Ambassador HE Roy Barreras, who will formally launch the exhibition Conflict Textiles / Ulster University, Belfast - The search for the disappeared at the Belfast Campus Library. A donation of two arpilleras from "Conflict Textiles collection" to "Mujeres tejiendo sueños y sabores de paz, Mampuján" will be signed by the Ambassador. (Photo gallery / Galería de fotos)
2) 6pm: Small reception
3) 7pm: Ambassador's lecture exploring his role as a member of the negotiating team during the Colombian Peace Agreement negotiations and the importance of culture in reconciliation. This will be followed by a discussion ending at 8pm.
Weblinks:
(CDPB blog, October 2023) Stitching our Stories with the Women Weavers of Mampuján
(CDPB blog, December 2023) Colombian delegation visits London and Belfast |
| Commissioned by: | Centre for Democracy and Peace Building (CDPB), Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Date(s): | 23rd November 2023 - 23rd November 2023 |
| Venue: | Ulster University, Belfast Campus
Art Gallery, Building BC |
| Curator: | Roberta Bacic and Conflict Textiles team |
| Facilitator: | Eva Grosman, CDPB; Breege Doherty & Eva Gonzalez, Conflict Textiles |
| Outcome: | This workshop, supported by Community Relations Council incorporated many elements. The morning session featured inputs from Inclusive Global Histories (NMNI), Conflict Textiles and The Women Weavers of Mampuján and gave participants an understanding of the breadth, depth and power of arpilleras and textile language.
The 'hands on' session - making arpillera dolls themed on displacement - allowed participants to reflect on the morning inputs and connect with displaced people in a very tangible way. The fusion of Colombian arpillera techniques and Conflict Textiles methodology was evident in the two outcome pieces produced.
The first piece incorporated a Northern Ireland background landscape onto which the arpillera dolls made in the workshop were placed. This textile has already journeyed back to Colombia for display in the Museo de Arte y Memoria de Mampujan. The second piece with a typical Colombian setting populated with the dolls made by the Colombian women who attended the workshop, will remain in Northern Ireland.
When asked to describe their sense of the workshop in one word at the closing session, participants gave the following responses:
"Connection, sharing, tapestry, emotional, powerful, unity, belonging, international, fraternity, co-operation, learning and knowledge".
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| Documents: |
• Workshop invitation, 23 Nov 2023 - view
• Como hacer muñec@s arpilleras con medias - view
• How to make an arpillera doll with tights - view
• De muñec@ a arpillera: 9 pasos (español) - view
• From Doll to Arpillera: 9 steps (English) - view
• Workshop programme, 23 Nov. 2023 - view
• Inclusive Global Histories presentation, NMNI - view
• Galería de fotos, taller 23 nov. 2023 - view
• Photo gallery, workshop, 23 Nov 2023 - view
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