San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
In the Main Gallery:
July 17 – September 23, 2007
Woven Witness: Afghan War Rugs and Afghan Freedom Quilt
Further exploring the impact of war on traditional textile arts, this
exhibition takes a closer look at the influence of war on the
evolution of traditional Afghan rug design, from the Russian invasion
through the current U.S.- Taliban war.
Whether individual rugs were woven as political statements, personal
reflections, or as souvenirs for soldiers, only the weavers could
reveal for certain.
Regardless of intent, these examples are a powerful testament to the
relevancy of the rug form, its expressive capacity, and the ability of
a people to adapt to the ravages of war.
Accompanying this exhibition, the Museum will also display the Afghan
Freedom Quilt: Silenced Voices of the Afghan Diaspora, a collaborative
project sponsored by the Foundation for Self-Reliance. The quilt is a
collection ofblocks made by war widows in Afghanistan and assembled in
the San Francisco Bay Area. Pieces sewn for this quilt are symbolic
interpretations of what human rights, empowerment, equality, peace,
hardship, sisterhood and freedom meant to each individual
contributor. The Foundation for Self-Reliance conducts life-skills
training and economic empowerment programs for Afghan women
immigrants.
Co-presented by the San Francisco Bay Area Rug Society and the
Armenian Rugs Society, and the San Jose Peace Center.