Wednesday, October 14, 2009
This year in 9 of Afghan villages,nearly 43 women used new looms in order to weave for a customer long away,the world's largest office furniture company Steelcase Inc.
Their effort which is around 43 rugs in a new Common Threads collection, go on sale this fall by Steelcase subsidiary Designtex.The important aspect is that the contract goes much beyond a business deal that exists between Steelcase and Arzu Rugs Inc. It also enriches many lives of Afghan women and girls through education, wellness as well as a decent wage.
Living in an poor and war-torn country, Afghan women and their children struggle to survive each day. Most women are uneducated; many have been left widowed by war and have hardly any resources in order to support their children. Less than half of all children are in a position to attend school, and girls seldom go on to secondary school.
Arzu, a nonprofit venture that commenced five years ago in the United States, employs women weavers in the northern regions of Andkhoi, Bamyan and Kabul, additonally providing rent-to-own metal looms and raw materials.In order to work for Arzu, women need to sign a contract agreeing to send all of their children to school upto age 15 and take literacy lessons themselves. Just a year ago, Grand Rapids-based Steelcase formed a vital link with the nonprofit, organized by former Goldman Sachs & Co. partner Connie Duckworth.
The organization Arzu employs 32 Afghans full time to keep track of the weaving business and also to supervise the women's health and education commitments.
Arzu's conventional rugs price range from $800 to $15,000, while the Common Threads collection ranges between $6,500 and $11,000. Most part of the profits are placed back into the Afghan weaving program. The Arzu-Steelcase contract made its impact on a number of aspects . The most important factor among it was speed as it was a fast-track project. The normal cycle for rugs to be formed was 12 to 18 months,but these rugs were produced in a much shorter duration.
Their effort which is around 43 rugs in a new Common Threads collection, go on sale this fall by Steelcase subsidiary Designtex.The important aspect is that the contract goes much beyond a business deal that exists between Steelcase and Arzu Rugs Inc. It also enriches many lives of Afghan women and girls through education, wellness as well as a decent wage.
Living in an poor and war-torn country, Afghan women and their children struggle to survive each day. Most women are uneducated; many have been left widowed by war and have hardly any resources in order to support their children. Less than half of all children are in a position to attend school, and girls seldom go on to secondary school.
Arzu, a nonprofit venture that commenced five years ago in the United States, employs women weavers in the northern regions of Andkhoi, Bamyan and Kabul, additonally providing rent-to-own metal looms and raw materials.In order to work for Arzu, women need to sign a contract agreeing to send all of their children to school upto age 15 and take literacy lessons themselves. Just a year ago, Grand Rapids-based Steelcase formed a vital link with the nonprofit, organized by former Goldman Sachs & Co. partner Connie Duckworth.
The organization Arzu employs 32 Afghans full time to keep track of the weaving business and also to supervise the women's health and education commitments.
Arzu's conventional rugs price range from $800 to $15,000, while the Common Threads collection ranges between $6,500 and $11,000. Most part of the profits are placed back into the Afghan weaving program. The Arzu-Steelcase contract made its impact on a number of aspects . The most important factor among it was speed as it was a fast-track project. The normal cycle for rugs to be formed was 12 to 18 months,but these rugs were produced in a much shorter duration.
posted by Whomestudio News
@ 5:34 AM
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Monday, August 3, 2009
The art of a pair of well-known rug hookers drives significance as the feature exhibit for August at the Lunenburg Art Gallery,Canada . "Welcome to Our World" exhibits the talents of veteran rug artist Doris Eaton and Suzanne Gunn, a relative novice to the art. "Welcome to Our World" began with a 5 p.m. reception on July 28 at the gallery and will continue until August 30.
Ms Eaton was born in Massachusetts and she state school of art also in Massachusetts. She moved to Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley in 1950. While raising a family of five children with husband Ron, she sustained her artistic interests with painting classes at Acadia University under the guidance of Professor Ian James and joining the Canning Group of Artists.She began taking rug-hooking classes from McGowan School of Business teacher Edna Withrow by 1962,and then afterward began teaching the art herself through adult education programs.In the meantime ,she also extended her own expertise by taking classes in both US and Canada from experts in this field.
Ms Eaton was later involved in forming the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia and instituting that group's annual rug-hooking school which has been taking place for the past 26 years. A founding member of the Spruce Top Rug Hooking Studio in Mahone Bay, Ms Eaton has received several awards for her accomplishment. Her works have been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the Maritimes,as well as at a 10-day exhibit at the Yamawaki Gallery in Tokyo, Japan in 2003.
Ms Eaton was born in Massachusetts and she state school of art also in Massachusetts. She moved to Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley in 1950. While raising a family of five children with husband Ron, she sustained her artistic interests with painting classes at Acadia University under the guidance of Professor Ian James and joining the Canning Group of Artists.She began taking rug-hooking classes from McGowan School of Business teacher Edna Withrow by 1962,and then afterward began teaching the art herself through adult education programs.In the meantime ,she also extended her own expertise by taking classes in both US and Canada from experts in this field.
Ms Eaton was later involved in forming the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia and instituting that group's annual rug-hooking school which has been taking place for the past 26 years. A founding member of the Spruce Top Rug Hooking Studio in Mahone Bay, Ms Eaton has received several awards for her accomplishment. Her works have been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the Maritimes,as well as at a 10-day exhibit at the Yamawaki Gallery in Tokyo, Japan in 2003.
Labels: Lunenburg Art Gallery, Rugs
posted by Whomestudio News
@ 8:56 PM
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