Mauka to Makai: Hawaiian Quilts and the Ecology of the Islands
Marenka Thompson-Odlum traverses Hawai‘i through the Poakalani quilting group and fifteen extraordinary quilts, newly commissioned by Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.
Mauka to Makai: Hawaiian Quilts and the Ecology of the Islands
Marenka Thompson-Odlum traverses Hawai‘i through the Poakalani quilting group and fifteen extraordinary quilts, newly commissioned by Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.
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NEW: Stitching the Intifada: Embroidery and Resistance in Palestine by Rachel Dedman
Tatreez — elaborate hand-embroidery — is an ancient Palestinian craft characterised by remarkable beauty and complexity. Beginning with an introduction to the regional diversity of historic Palestinian dress, Rachel Dedman traces the politicisation of embroidery after the Nakba of 1948. From its evolution into a symbol of the nation, to its powerful presence during the First Intifada, and reimagination by contemporary artists, tatreez in Palestine embodies many forms of personal and public resistance.
NEW: Many Hands Make a Quilt: Short Histories of Radical Quilting (Second Edition)
A vital and tender record of the quilts that have shaped history — and the hands that stitched them.
Throughout history, marginalised communities have turned to the collective intimacies of quilting in moments of need. From the works of Faith Ringgold to social initiatives such as the Navajo Quilting Project, Many Hands Make a Quilt sews together stories of resistance, craft and community in intricate detail, preserving and honouring Black, Indigenous and working-class artistic traditions in naming quilters as artists and activists in their own right.
This second edition contains a new foreword by Elaine Yau, a new chapter, a new design and an expanded bibliography and resource list.
Each new book from Common Threads Press is cause for celebration.
We are talking about something more than simply informational books, we are talking about a mission-based publisher establishing space for people to make and create, and essentially a furtherance of culture, collaboration and creative work. It is thrilling to see this all emerging from the UK and long may it continue.
Simon Armstrong, Head of Book Sales & Buying at Tate Shops
Common Threads Press craft sharply focused, deeply researched and intimately felt publications that offer rich insights into the often overlooked yet urgent narratives that textiles can reveal. Their beautiful books speak to the histories of power, poetic possibilities and political potential held in fibre and thread; they have offered me inspiration and joy in equal measure.
Lotte Johnson, curator of 'Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art'
Common Threads Press publications are brilliant: accessible, informative, powerful.
They bring to the fore the universal human stories told by textiles and their making, underscoring the intimate and political power of fabric.
Rachel Dedman, Jameel Curator of Contemporary Art from the Middle East at the V&A, curator of 'Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery'.
I am such a huge fan of Common Threads Press, who offer a vibrant and vital platform to craft stories that have often been neglected from wider histories. Beautifully produced and exacting in research, these publications show that as with everything, the history of craft is deeply political.
Amber Butchart, curator, writer and history consultant for BBC One's Great British Sewing Bee.
Diasporic Threads platforms a stunning selection of works by contemporary Black women textile artists and is rich in critical insight and historical context.
Ferren Gipson, author of Women's Work: From Feminine Arts to Feminist Arts and The Ultimate Art Museum.
Common Threads Press T-Shirt
Support the work of Common Threads Press by purchasing one of our exclusive, limited-edition t-shirts through Everpress. This t-shirt features an illustration by Shiori Osakata, created specially for Common Threads Press with our ethos and publications in mind.
I really appreciate how diverse Common Threads is and I respect that you are always looking to make things even more diverse and wide ranging.
Survey respondent, January 2024
I like how you always cover a wide array of topics from across history and talk about people from all walks of life. You do a lot of great work diversifying craft history!
Survey respondent, January 2024
It brings together so many talented and interesting artists, researchers, makers, and readers — it feels like a wonderful community!
Survey respondent, January 2024
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