Avenir Museum Features Lecture, Workshops and Sale with Silk Road Artisans of Uzbekistan

In conjunction with the exhibition Silk Road Artisans of Uzbekistan, the Colorado State University Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising will offer several events.

The museum will feature guest lecturer Raisa Garieeva, an Uzbek business leader, who served as director of the Aid to Artisans project in Uzbekistan, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 8 in Room 136 at the University Center for the Arts Annex. Garieeva will share examples of innovative artisan work over the past 10 years as the artisans have successfully entered international markets. The lecture is free and open to the public and no reservations are required.

The museum also is offering three workshops, April 10-12, featuring Zarina Kendjaeva, one of Uzbekistan’s leading and award-winning young textile artisans. Kendjaeva embroiders luxurious suzani textiles which exhibit rich natural dyed colors from pomegranate, onion skins, madder and indigo. As the daughter of a prominent natural dye and rug weaving family, Kendjaeva learned embroidery at age 14 from her mother and acquired hook work skills from one of Bukhara’s last artisans to practice the technique. Kendjaeva has exhibited widely and regularly teaches workshops. She received the 2004 UNESCO Seal of Excellence for her work. In 2005, Kendjaeva competed with 700 women in Bukhara to receive the top Zulfinya Award, a state medal for her achievements in handcrafts.

Saturday, April 10 – Natural dyeing – dyes include indigo, madder, onions and pomegranate skins. Some previous dye experience is necessary.

Sunday, April 11 – Suzani embroidery – chain stitch embroidery. Some previous embroidery experience is necessary.

Monday, April 12 – Suzani embroidery – repeat of April 11 workshop.

Workshops run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are limited to 20 participants per workshop. Cost per workshop is $100 plus an optional lunch. For additional information and registration form contact Linda Carlson at (970) 491-1983 or Linda.Carlson@colostate.edu.

In addition, there will be several sales of Uzbekistan textiles and ceramics in the Avenir Museum Administrative Offices, Room 131 University Center for the Arts Annex. These sales will include suzani embroidery, ikat fabrics and scarves, and a variety of other Uzbek artisan crafts. Sale dates and times are 8 p.m. Thursday, April 8, following the lecture by Raisa Garieeva; noon – 1 p.m. Saturday, April 10; noon – 1 p.m. Sunday, April 11 and noon – 1 p.m. Monday, April 12.

The Shaver-Ramsey Gallery at Cherry Creek in Denver, 2414 East 3rd Ave., also will hold a sale of Uzbek artisan crafts from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on April 16 and 17. For more information on the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising, its exhibition schedule and related activities, please contact Linda Carlson, curator, at (970)- 491-1983 or Linda.Carlson@colostate.edu.

-30-