Please join the Aswan, Egypt Sister Cities Committee at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art on Wednesday, December 2, from 4-5pm for a special tour of this remarkable exhibit An Accomplishment in Creativity: The Egyptian Children’s Tapestries . David Williams, who owns the largest collection of Wissa Wassef tapestries in the United States, will be on hand to discuss the tapestries and other insights into Egyptian culture. This is a great opportunity to join the Sonoma Valley Sister Cities Association and find out more about our sister city in Aswan, Egypt. The best part: this is a free event open to the public.
The tradition of children making tapestries started in 1952 and continues to this day, in the small Coptic Christian village of Harrania, located at the foot of the Giza pyramids. Prior to formal schooling, children between the ages of five and ten are selected to weave images created entirely in their mind’s eye. The joys of childhood fantasy came to life on their looms. Harrania, which up to 30 years ago had not known change for than 2000 years and had no source of income but farming, now prospers. Its tapestry artists are internationally famous and their work is now prized throughout the world. The tapestry shown at left is titled “Sunset” and was created in 1982 by Ashour Messelhi.
This Sonoma Valley Museum exhibition closes December 6, 2015.