The story
Two years ago I was on holiday, with my husband and children, on the island of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar is a heavenly island, known for its all-inclusive-holiday-resorts.
Looking for a place to stay that suits us, we ended up at the hotel Panga Chumwi in the village of Matemwe. This hotel attracted us for its location near (ón!) the beach and the fact that the owners Rebecca and Beka attach importance to the environment and local culture.
It was a happy surprise to me that Rebecca had already received textile artists to develop techniques for printing on fabric, together with the ladies of the village.
This gave me the idea, to spend some time in this very relaxing, inspiring location, working on my textile projects. Six Flemish ladies, like-minded souls, go with me.
Rebecca, the hotel's owner is part of the network "Sustainable East Africa" (SEA). She also organizes the yearly ‘creative festival of water’ in Matemwe.
Under the SEA is the "Cultural Arts Centre, Zanzibar" (CACZ) that Zanzibaris promotes cultural heritage. It also supports local artists through training and looking for a market for their work. At present, this organization has been providing good work around Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, in the southwest of the island. Matemwe however, lies at the end of the asphalt road, in the northeastern corner of Zanzibar. No doubt that Panga Chumvi really is the right place to be inspired on our creative holiday.
What's on the program?
We start with visits to existing workshops and ateliers on the island. The aim is to know the colors and scents of Zanzibar. We want to see the techniques and feel the materials used in the local arts and crafts.
We’re not just trying to expand our own horizons, though. We invite the women of Matemwe to come with us on these trips. They will give us a broader view of their cultural and craft traditions. At the same time it is an opportunity for them to take a step outside their little village community and to get inspiration for their own work. For sure it will be a happy discovery for all of us.
After the visits we will go to work!
Each of us has developed and prepared a technique and theme we want to show to each other. We hope to process in this all the impressions and information we gain on these trips around Zanzibar.
Although we bring material from Belgium, we intend to mainly use locally sourced materials.
In many ways, each of us will stretch our talents & habits beyond their current limits. We are sure that both for us ànd for the ladies of Matemwe these three weeks will be an enormous enrichment in artistic, traditional and social terms.
Mieke
Zanzibar is a heavenly island, known for its all-inclusive-holiday-resorts.
Looking for a place to stay that suits us, we ended up at the hotel Panga Chumwi in the village of Matemwe. This hotel attracted us for its location near (ón!) the beach and the fact that the owners Rebecca and Beka attach importance to the environment and local culture.
It was a happy surprise to me that Rebecca had already received textile artists to develop techniques for printing on fabric, together with the ladies of the village.
This gave me the idea, to spend some time in this very relaxing, inspiring location, working on my textile projects. Six Flemish ladies, like-minded souls, go with me.
Rebecca, the hotel's owner is part of the network "Sustainable East Africa" (SEA). She also organizes the yearly ‘creative festival of water’ in Matemwe.
Under the SEA is the "Cultural Arts Centre, Zanzibar" (CACZ) that Zanzibaris promotes cultural heritage. It also supports local artists through training and looking for a market for their work. At present, this organization has been providing good work around Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, in the southwest of the island. Matemwe however, lies at the end of the asphalt road, in the northeastern corner of Zanzibar. No doubt that Panga Chumvi really is the right place to be inspired on our creative holiday.
What's on the program?
We start with visits to existing workshops and ateliers on the island. The aim is to know the colors and scents of Zanzibar. We want to see the techniques and feel the materials used in the local arts and crafts.
We’re not just trying to expand our own horizons, though. We invite the women of Matemwe to come with us on these trips. They will give us a broader view of their cultural and craft traditions. At the same time it is an opportunity for them to take a step outside their little village community and to get inspiration for their own work. For sure it will be a happy discovery for all of us.
After the visits we will go to work!
Each of us has developed and prepared a technique and theme we want to show to each other. We hope to process in this all the impressions and information we gain on these trips around Zanzibar.
Although we bring material from Belgium, we intend to mainly use locally sourced materials.
In many ways, each of us will stretch our talents & habits beyond their current limits. We are sure that both for us ànd for the ladies of Matemwe these three weeks will be an enormous enrichment in artistic, traditional and social terms.
Mieke
Z7 - Seven ladies going to Zanzibar
I introduce you to the seven Flemish ladies who participate in the project. In August we travel together to Zanzibar.
Mieke RecourMieke works with silk, wool and experiments on the strangest textile materials. She loves to share her knowledge.
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Joke VandewalleJoke always looks with an eager and open mind to all the new creative technologies.
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An JustensAn loves the fine work. She fully enjoys her training to become a goldsmith.
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Katrien HouckKatrien is a ceramist. In Belgium her figures come to life in clay. In Zanzibar cotton thread will be thé ultimate material.
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Hilde De NolfHilde has been bitten by the pottery-microbe for almost twenty years now but loves to be inspired by a thousand and one other creative techniques.
In Zanzibar, she will take us to the world of herbs and spices. |
Rika BossaertRika is a centipede in the field of handicrafts: embroidery, quilting, sewing her own clothes, making jewelry. Give to Rika some threads and she's a lucky lady.
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Catharina CamerlinckCatherine makes the most unique and beautiful creations. She's presenting us her workshops 'origami' and 'intuitive painting'. She also did an excellent job on summarize the existing creative projects in Zanzibar
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Zanzibar textile artisans |