The stunning traditional textile art of khayamiya made in Egypt is in danger of being lost with only twenty makers still creating the complex decorative appliqué pieces which take years to learn how to do. The art may date back to the time of the pharaohs and was originally used for tent decoration.
#art #TextileArt #FiberArt
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/egyptian-traditional-textile-artisan-cairo
@NatureMC Unfortunately what you describe is happening all over. But it is heartening to see people pick up the baton and take a craft in a new direction.
An interesting book I read earlier this year might interest you: Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, & the Last People Keeping Them Alive by Eliot Stein. Some really fascinating stories there.
@JD_Cunningham Oh thank you very much, that books sounds like the perfect rabbit hole for me! 🥰 It's also the way I like to experience landscapes: listening to the stories of people who do something with passion.
I think that we sometimes need more improvision to get people in contact with ancient crafts. In our #culturalHeritage animations in the museum, we had one of the last specialists of our region with #embroidery with glass beads, showing also ancient pieces: https://www.cronenburg.net/treasures/
@JD_Cunningham This is fascinating for the public and they love it but would never start a training of years.
So I made an animation with ready-made vintage braids to craft an easy pendant: You need some cardboard, some fabric, glue, and a piece of trim (or beads/sequin). The young suddenly wanted to try it because it was some easy steps. Later they asked how to stitch beads to fabric ... and experimented. So it can begin ...
Julé Cunningham
Petra van Cronenburg