Threads of Tradition: Introduction to Phulkari Embroidery with Rafia Shafiq

Accès

À propos

Led by Oakville-based artist Rafia Shafiq, this workshop invites participants to engage with the rich textile tradition of Phulkari by embroidering classic motifs onto fabric. Each participant will work on a piece with pre-drawn Phulkari designs, allowing for guided exploration of the intricate patterns that define this heritage craft. Participants will leave the session with their own embroidered fabric, along with a needle and threads to continue their practice beyond the workshop. Parents attending with young children are welcome; Phulkari-inspired coloring sheets will be available to spark creativity in little ones while adults engage themselves in the embroidery process. Participants who use reading glasses are strongly encouraged to use them for this workshop.

Dedicated to promoting the intricate art of phulkari embroidery she has successfully built her business, Dhaga Art, in Canada. Specializing in the revival of phulkari, she actively conducts workshops across the Greater Toronto Area, collaborating with various institutions such as museums, colleges, universities, textile studios, and art galleries. Rafia has collaborated with the Town of Oakville, earning recognition as the selected artist for the Community Spirit Awards. Renowned for her unique custom embroidered hoops, she has carved a niche in the North American market by crafting one-of-a-kind products.

Threads of Tradition is a collaboration between the Town of Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills, the City of Burlington in partnership with the Art Gallery of Burlington, and the Halton Region. Each year the Municipalities of Halton commission a multidisciplinary artist, artist team or collective to lead an interactive activity as part of Culture Days. The project is offered in each of the four municipalities and aims to engage residents, while providing support and exposure to Halton-based artists.

Organisateur

Town of Oakville

The Town of Oakville is located on Treaty 14 and 22 lands, the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. Oakville is home to many different First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. A vibrant and impressive community within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Town of Oakville is a beautiful lakeside town with a strong heritage, preserved and celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Since the 1800s, it has become one of the most coveted areas to live and work in Ontario, with 225,000 residents calling Oakville home. The town offers all the advantages of a well-serviced urban centre with first-rate facilities and amenities while maintaining its small-town feel.