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CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
'We need spaces like this': Local Palestinians finding peace by creating community quilt
Social Sharing If you spent some time in Waterloo Park this summer, you may have seen a group of people sitting together and embroidering a quilt. They are part of Tatreez Studio, a local Palestinian community arts organization. They spent five nights throughout the summer meeting in the park to work on The Tatreez Quilt Project, which entailed creating a community quilt using a special embroidery technique called tatreez. Tatreez is an important part of Palestinian identity. The symbols used in the patterns can instantly signal where the textile is from or where the artist who has done the embroidery is from. The theme for this year's quilt translates to: Killing the flowers does not delay spring. Part of gathering together for these workshops is to mourn the lives lost during the Israel-Hamas war. Since the war started in October 2023, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza, according to local health officials there. Tatreez techniques are usually passed down from mother to daughter says Ala' Al-Thibeh, an artist and founder of Tatreez Studio. "[Tatreez] does get passed down within families so it has been an amazing experience," she said. Using natural materials is a way to connect to the land and to her ancestors, Al-Thibeh said. She said the theme reminded her of the poppy flower. "The poppy blooms every spring, it is a symbol of resistance because no matter what is going to happen, Palestinians will continue to thrive," Al-Thibeh told CBC News during one of the workshops in Waterloo Park. Nimra Bandukwala, a community artist and co-facilitator, dyed the patches with different materials found in the Middle East. The ingredients include: cochineals, rust, sumac berries, onion skins, pomegranate, coffee and more. Bandukwala said now more than ever people mostly receive the news of the war alone on their phones and it is a challenge to be a person with compassion, empathy and openness given the updates. "So to come to a space like this … moving between laughter and heaviness, nothing really compares. We need spaces like this." The group planned to finish the tatreez quilt by late summer but the timeline is flexible. Bandukwala said the quilt will be finished when it is finished. "It will take the time it takes." Al-Thibeh looks at the collaborative exercise not just as a community-building practice or act of resistance but also a form of cultural preservation. Being a tatreez artist, she said, "has connected me in a way I never thought I'd be connected to others, especially through social media." Al-Thibeh said she has taught and learned from people around the world. The group hopes the quilt will be part of a traveling exhibit.
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Travel + Leisure
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This Small Town in Colorado Is Obsessed With Art—and It's Home to One of the Most Unique Outdoor Sculpture Gardens in the U.S.
On the edge of Loveland, Colorado—a small city with an outsized art scene about an hour north of Denver—a quiet park unfolds along the Greeley-Loveland Canal. Walking paths wind through 26 acres of gardens where birds flash through the trees, and the air carries the scent of summer wildflowers. Among it all stand 82 hand-carved stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artists—an open-air exhibition of artistry, rich with symbols of community and ancestral roots. This is Chapungu Sculpture Park, the largest outdoor art center in the United States devoted to Zimbabwean stone sculpture. Its name, Chapungu (pronounced Cha-POON-goo), refers to the 'Great Spirit Bird' or "Eagle of Zimbabwe," the national emblem of the country, which is also frequently depicted as a protector and messenger. Many of the stone pieces at the park were created by sculptors who are continuing an artistic tradition that dates back to the mid-20th century and draws on centuries of spiritual and storytelling practices. The works are often abstract or semimetaphorical, depicting themes like motherhood, familial harmony, and the relationship between people and nature. No two pieces are alike, and each reflects the individual hand of its creator—artists who worked on-site in Zimbabwe before the collection made its way to Colorado. Aerial view of Chapungu Sculpture Park. Chapungu is free and open to the public and has been since the park's founding in 2007. In addition to the stone sculptures, the property is also an outdoor oasis in the middle of the city. Wheelchair-friendly walking trails wind through gardens of native plants and pollinator-friendly flora. In the summer, the chatter of bird song is often joined by live music. The Sounds of Centerra music series kicked off on the Great Lawn on Saturday, July 5, and will continue on the following Fridays in July. The event is free, and snacks and drinks are available for purchase. The Grandson Protecting Grandfather statue. Kira Vos/Chapungu Sculpture Park Chapungu Sculpture Park is located just east of the Promenade Shops at Centerra, a Loveland neighborhood. The park is open daily, year-round from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The entire Chapungu walking park is wheelchair accessible. Chapungu Sculpture Park is one of the many examples of public art in Loveland, a city that is considered one of the state's top art towns. In addition to the 82 sculptures of Chapungu, Loveland has more than 400 other public works of art, nearly 200 restaurants, and 35 parks.
