In this talk, George Washington University professor Nabila Hijazi will share how her students explored Syrian textiles — analyzing examples from the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection and engaging with Syrian refugee women resettled in Washington, D.C. Through this exchange, students learned about traditional materials, techniques and motifs, while also gaining insight into the ways that textile traditions sustain cultural identity in diaspora. The project supported both the Cotsen collection’s digital archive and the UNHCR “MADE51” initiative, emphasizing the role of textiles in preserving memory and craft heritage. Student Elizabeth Ellingson will also present on her contributions to the research and creation of the micro exhibition.
This program will be in a hybrid format. Join us in person at the museum, at 701, 21st street NW, Washington, DC 20052 or register to watch the livestream online via Zoom.
Photo caption and credit:Band (detail, overall 8.89 H x 66.04 W cm); Syria, Aleppo; Armenian people; c. 1890-1910. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-2568. Photo by Bruce M. White Photography.
To learn more, visit: https://museum.gwu.edu/cotsen-textile-traces-talk-syrian-refugees-stewarding-textile-heritage
