The Contemporary Village

PUBLISHED IN OBJECT August 2007

Umoja=Unity

“When I was in a camp I made Baskets to buy clothes.Baskets were used to trade goods, 10 baskets=1goat” Mary Anwat Nimbol .

Ogun the African God of the Earth and Ezulie Freda,goddess of the celestial realms stood like strange totems in the Craft Victoria window.City workers gathered round with curiosity and awe, admiring the pressed beads and sequins that covered the simple polystyrene forms.A Metal Mermaid bedazzled and bewildered, while simple basket shapes and leather bags were more familiar with their simple colourways and shapes.

In partnership with the City of Maribyrnong and with the Support of Arts Victoria Artist and textile designer Sarah Thorn had conducted a series of workshops with Sudanese women (both from the North and South) inviting them to develop new designs based on traditional techniques.

The women brought with them not only traditional skill sets but stories of their migrant experience and a renewed commitment to both culture and community. Thorn’s long held fascination with African art and technique and her own experience as a designer allowed her to facilitate fresh ideas and encourage the participants to develop new ways of thinking about their own designs as well as giving the group the opportunity to connect and share their stories.

Viewing traditional craft of any kind can often be a challenge to the contemporary eye. Place these objects in the cool setting of the Craft Victoria street level window/exhibition space and they take on a different context. The city workers, unaware of the challenges faced by the makers, or the history associated with the craft they are able to appreciate the work simply as vibrant and energized craft. Perhaps in this way the work is closer to its original story- one of skill and commerce not just story and tribalism with which that are inextricably linked.