Dear Friends, The monsoon that usually winds down in March didn't really get going until April and is still going through May. The start of our year's post-monsoon fieldwork season has seen trips to Lombok, Flores and Kalimantan. A further two-week visit to Savu was also planned, but bad weather meant flights to the island were cancelled and when ferries started running again they were so dangerously overloaded that our field team decided it was not safe to go. Work in West Kalimantan has become focused on a dozen weavers who are still committed to maintaining their natural dye traditions. For most of the area’s weavers, the struggle with declining natural resources has led to the abandoning of natural dye traditions. For Ibu Rupina and her colleagues, the land Threads of Life bought near their village has become a dye plant garden and nursery. In Nggela, Flores, the patient process of building trust with the village weavers continues. A surprising discovery about contemporary production in the village makes the ongoing work even more important to the survival of the local tradition. |  | Meanwhile in Lombok, our first visit in six months found the Mawar coop has produced its first two natural-dyed Osap supplementary weft textiles. While production of two textiles seems like a small amount to produce in six months, we see it as evidence that there is interest and ability within the group to move forward and make more textiles. April also saw Threads of Life participating in the first arts fair at the Asia House in London. The Asia House is a nonprofit organization promoting Asian arts and culture in London. With its elegant meeting and exhibition facilities it offered a beautiful venue for art from all corners of Asia. For the three-day event Threads of Life was represented by Lesley and Diccon Pullen, whose detailed knowledge of our work has been developed over the course of many field visits to the communities we work with across Indonesia. The fair was a success for all involved and plans are already afoot for the next fair. From June onwards we have a lot of field trips, so watch this space for more news to come! Best wishes, from William, Jean, Pung, Lolet and everyone at Threads of Life and the YPBB Foundation |
| | Detailed descriptions, cultural references and photographs with high-resolution images catalog a varied and exciting sample of the best textiles produced by the weavers' cooperatives associated with Threads of Life. |
Traditional links between l ivelihood, culture and nature are expressed through some of the world’s finest basketry. Diverse cultural arts, including pottery, woodcarving and bead work, also retain a remarkable vitality. Books, music and DVDs illustrate and entertain. | | The classes offered at the gallery on the history and diversity of Indonesia's textile arts are an excellent way to gain a new level of appreciation. News of any tours, events or exhibitions we are offering is also to be found here. |
Threads of Life sells its textiles, baskets, or other cultural artifacts through its gallery in Ubud, Bali, and occasional overseas exhibitions and sales. Books, music and videos are available online. | | YPBB stands for Yayasan Pecinta Budaya Bebali and is the name of the Indonesian nonprofit that the Threads of Life business is partnered with in its community work. Read more about YPBB's projects and funding. |
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