Cairo and remembering Iran
I am back in Cairo and it feels as if I have been living out of suitcases for the last three months. In a way I have - there was a short week at home after Australia (home is now where the stash is since I have family all over the place) followed by a ten day teaching trip in Tehran, then Sri Lanka, then just long enough in Cairo to repack and Syria.
I have an exhibition opening in a week at the American University of Cairo Gallery. Other than this I have nothing heavy in the way of commitments until I go to Malaysia in late October.
I have decided that the only possible way to catch up with my blog is to run two parallel streams - one on what is happening now, one a flashback to our travel! I have to do this as I have so many photographs to show!
NOW...
We arrived back last night to find that we have no water. There was an ominous gurgling in the shower, and a very large series of copper coloured splats of thick brown mud hit the floor. It reminded me of visiting elephants in Sri Lanka - but that is in another flashback. Then intermittent spurts followed by a significant water hammer. So - we are unshowered until it can be repaired.
FLASHBACK...
I taught two groups of women in Tehran. The first was a group sponsored by the Ministry of Education. They were eighteen quilting teachers from all over Iran, and were an absolute delight to teach. Most of the work had been done before my arrival by Patch Iran - the local quilting Guild. Michelle Gilder from the guild was my co-teacher and translator and organiser and – well – everything. She is a talented teacher, and Patch Iran started from a group of her original students, and now has its own premises and courses.
Michelle had organised an initial ten days with the ladies before my arrival, and had worked through a really brilliant short initial course, where most of the pieces they made were put together as a bag to hold their mat, ruler and cutter. Even the straps were Seminole pieced.
However, other than the few ‘taster’ photos in the next few days, you are going to have to wait. The Quilters’ Companion, an Australian Patchwork Magazine, is gong to run a story on the course and it will be available for all to read. I will let you know which issue it is appearing in for those who wish to follow the story.
I took over the students at the intermediate stage, and taught two classes. Then the Patch Iran students and others arrived for the Advanced class – a four day course.
Between the two Bob and I were able to escape for a day off. We hired a car and driver and drove down to Isphahan – so had one precious day there. I have told you about some of this, but had no access to photos when writing it up. Because of this I actually avoided talk of the incredible patterns of this exquisite city. So – feast your eyes! More will follow in the next few days...
Click on each of the photos below will take you to a set of more photos on that theme.
Isfahan...
Our guide, Mr Shansavandi, realised how interested I was in patterning. I guess this wasn't hard after the way I was twisting and turning at the Chelun Sortun Palace...
We wound through the back streets to a really old mosque, the Hakim Mosque, with the entrance and door from the from the Buyid Period - it is Isfahan's oldest mosque and dates from the tenth century. This was really fascinating, especially the entrance with its deep incised patterns...
The Imam Mosque...
Ali Qapu Palace...
Isfahan Bazaar and tearooms...
Metalsmiths in the Isfahan bazaar...
Abyaneh...
I have an exhibition opening in a week at the American University of Cairo Gallery. Other than this I have nothing heavy in the way of commitments until I go to Malaysia in late October.
I have decided that the only possible way to catch up with my blog is to run two parallel streams - one on what is happening now, one a flashback to our travel! I have to do this as I have so many photographs to show!
NOW...
We arrived back last night to find that we have no water. There was an ominous gurgling in the shower, and a very large series of copper coloured splats of thick brown mud hit the floor. It reminded me of visiting elephants in Sri Lanka - but that is in another flashback. Then intermittent spurts followed by a significant water hammer. So - we are unshowered until it can be repaired.
FLASHBACK...
I taught two groups of women in Tehran. The first was a group sponsored by the Ministry of Education. They were eighteen quilting teachers from all over Iran, and were an absolute delight to teach. Most of the work had been done before my arrival by Patch Iran - the local quilting Guild. Michelle Gilder from the guild was my co-teacher and translator and organiser and – well – everything. She is a talented teacher, and Patch Iran started from a group of her original students, and now has its own premises and courses.
Michelle had organised an initial ten days with the ladies before my arrival, and had worked through a really brilliant short initial course, where most of the pieces they made were put together as a bag to hold their mat, ruler and cutter. Even the straps were Seminole pieced.
However, other than the few ‘taster’ photos in the next few days, you are going to have to wait. The Quilters’ Companion, an Australian Patchwork Magazine, is gong to run a story on the course and it will be available for all to read. I will let you know which issue it is appearing in for those who wish to follow the story.
I took over the students at the intermediate stage, and taught two classes. Then the Patch Iran students and others arrived for the Advanced class – a four day course.
Between the two Bob and I were able to escape for a day off. We hired a car and driver and drove down to Isphahan – so had one precious day there. I have told you about some of this, but had no access to photos when writing it up. Because of this I actually avoided talk of the incredible patterns of this exquisite city. So – feast your eyes! More will follow in the next few days...
Click on each of the photos below will take you to a set of more photos on that theme.
Isfahan...
Our guide, Mr Shansavandi, realised how interested I was in patterning. I guess this wasn't hard after the way I was twisting and turning at the Chelun Sortun Palace...
We wound through the back streets to a really old mosque, the Hakim Mosque, with the entrance and door from the from the Buyid Period - it is Isfahan's oldest mosque and dates from the tenth century. This was really fascinating, especially the entrance with its deep incised patterns...
The Imam Mosque...
Ali Qapu Palace...
Isfahan Bazaar and tearooms...
Metalsmiths in the Isfahan bazaar...
Abyaneh...
3 Comments:
Welcome back Jenny
You have been on a whirlwind tour then... thanks ever so much for the wonderful pictures it is like it takes me there to Iran and seeing the mosques. Maybe on day!!!
nice to see you back
Sandy
Dangling by a thread
Great to get the next installment. Can still recognise Isfahan and good to see that the coppersmiths are still hard at work. I wonder whether the quality of workmanship and the designs have changed much from 40 years ago!
Cheers
Kate
Those decorated stairs (in amongst plain clay) look so promising. Just what I'd expect a stairway to heaven to look like!
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