Today, I have been feeling very appreciative of the differences in people. Each one of us on this planet is a product of genetics, and we each reflect the culture, the religious influences, the literature, the music, and the textiles to which we have been subjected, all of our lives.
This week, I have had the good fortune to correspond with someone who lives in a remote part of the world, remote to me; not to him – he lives there! He vends textiles from Uzbekistan, and he gave me permission to share his words about them, and his photos. What a kind person!
I have been thinking about the textiles I have collected from places outside the United States. I do not have a huge number of them, just a representative sample of goods that are important to certain cultures: Panamanian molas, Chilean arpilleras, Hungarian Kalosca work, Chinese appliqué work, Ukrainian counted thread work, Guatemalan fabric, and an unidentified piece, of unknown origin. Other foreign examples I have re-created myself, with needle and thread.
This week, I’ve been reading some books about world textiles and find them to be fascinating. The internet allows me (us) to reach beyond the black box on our computer desk and to become, suddenly, “citizens of the world.” When we reach out to anyone else, in any other country, and I do this all the time, it is a chance to be an arm-chair ambassador.
Personally, I have to hope that my friendliness and generous sharing of knowledge will improve the manner in which my fellow Americans are viewed. We make friends, one kind deed at a time, and to me, doing so is a very satisfying experience.
Check out the latest file about “Uzbekistan: Textiles and Embroideries”
Note: The just realized that the first time I posted this it was listed under “private access” only. I don’t know why. As I’d like to share these thoughts with you, I’ll try again.
Pat
