Women’s Handwork: Ritual, Creativity and Community in the Afro-Indigenous Diaspora

A panel and demonstration of quilting, lacework and porcupine quillwork with master artisans and religious leaders

In Black and Indigenous communities in the Americas, women create objects of beauty and utility that are often connected to ritual/spiritual practices.  These handmade items, whether culinary, textile, ceramic, or formed of other materials, are important resources in the transmission of cultural values, community ethics and marketable skills to younger generations. 

This conversation and workshop gathers five elder women from Afro-Brazilian, African American and Lakota communities whose work combines spiritual leadership and hand crafting traditions in textiles, beading and quillwork.  The first hour will be a conversation circle about the handwork the women produce and the second hour will be an opportunity for audience members to learn basic skills and make small pieces to take home.   

Panelists include:

• Cecilia Bernice Bull Bear – Lakota Bear Clan elder (porcupine quill art)
• Patti Archambault – Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux elder (star quilts)
• Iyalorixa Valnizia Pereira – Candomble religious leader from Bahia, Brazil (lace)
• Ebomi Marilene P. de Jesus Cruz – Candomble elder from Bahia, Brazil (headwear)
• Sheila Johnson — Chaplain and community activist in Denver, Colorado (community sewing instructor)

We invite you to join us on Wednesday, May 29 from 5pm until 7pm at the Shattuck Hall of the Iliff School of Theology for this conversation and workshop.  Free of charge.  Donations accepted.

Date:              Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Time:              5pm to 7pm

Location:        Iliff School of Theology, Shattuck Hall, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver Colorado (corner of Iliff Avenue and University Blvd)

Space is limited. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Rachel Harding at rharding@iliff.edu

This event is a collaboration between the Veterans of Hope Project and the National Alliance of Pan African Seminarians (NAPAS) at the Iliff School of Theology.