Hanging by a Thread – Mosaic for Afghan Women

Many of our mosaic students from our Beechwood  Mosaic classes contributed to the NSW artwork - Hanging by a Thread –  Mosaic for Afghan Women

An international community mosaic project.

Francessca O’Donnell is the NSW Rep for the MAANZ,  Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand and was the co-ordinator for the NSW Branch for this project. With fellow mosaicists Laurene Wilson, Wendy Tanner and Annie Balcomb,  completion and installation of this artwork,  will open at the Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery in October, as part of the International year of glass. This gallery houses the largest selection of Australia’s glass art collection. We are very honoured to display this important  artwork  there,  before a Regional tour and possible assembly of these artworks from around the country in Canberra in 2023.

Mosaic artists from around the globe have been working since September 2021 to bring attention to the world about the social and economic conditions of Afghan women and girls after the takeover of the Taliban Over 1000 participants from 45 countries have created a mosaic of 10 x 25 cm to be assembled as mosaic scarves.

Participating artists drew inspiration from Afghan motives embroidered on a dress and made their own interpretation. These small art segments are assembled into a collective artwork. They represent the resilience of Afghan culture beyond its own borders in different parts of the world. Afghan culture will survive outside of its own country and reminds us that our own freedom is also Hanging by a Thread.

 In Australia in Autumn this year, one scarf installation artwork will be exhibited in each state: New South Wales – National Glass Museum in Wagga Wagga, Queensland – Brisbane City Library, Western Australia, South Australia – SA Migration Museum, Victoria - Docklands and Immigration Museum, and Tasmania – Devonport Council.

https://www.facebook.com/mosaicforafghanwomen

 Coordination for Australia by Kristin Wohlers (wohlersKristin@gmail.com) & Beate Linckelmann – a project supported by IYOG 2022, MAANZ Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand, Radiant Heat WA, Mapei Australia    

These are the individual pieces that will form the artwork to be displayed at the Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery.