Pacific Asia Museum Announces Pakistani Textile Artist-In-Residence

Pacific Asia Museum along with the museum’s Pakistan Arts Council will welcome acclaimed ralli artist Naina from July 18 through July 21 as an artist-in-residence. Visiting from Pakistan’s Sindh region, Naina will demonstrate the creation of these traditional quilted textiles.

Naina will begin her residency on Thursday, July 18 and will work in the museum’s Auditorium Foyer from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors may observe the artist at work, and enjoy completed works and vintage pieces on display. Select items will be available for purchase. Her residency continues on Friday, July 19 from 1-4 p.m. and during the evening’s Fusion Fridays event from 7:30-8:30 p.m. On Saturday, July 20 she will work from 12-4 p.m., and on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. All visitors may enjoy Naina’s work during these scheduled times as part of museum general admission, with the exception of Friday evening’s session, which is included with Fusion Fridays admission.

Ralli quilts are made in Pakistan and western India by women artisans, many of whom do not travel out of their own village without male supervision. Requiring almost 200 hours to create, patchwork ralli quilts are richly patterned textiles made of old cloth from discarded fabrics. The cloth is torn or cut into geometric shapes, then stitched together on a palm mat using a large needle and cotton thread with patchwork, applique and embroidery techniques. Traditionally, ralli quilts were used as a form of currency, and would be included in a woman’s dowry. Today, they have become increasingly popular on the commercial market.

Naina will come to Pacific Asia Museum immediately following her appearance at the prestigious Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, the largest international folk art market in the world. Born and raised in a small village in Pakistan, Naina has spent decades on her craft alongside other women from her village through Lila Handicrafts, a Pakistani cooperative of women from a small village in the Thar Desert region of Pakistan, Tehsil Diplo. The proceeds of their work goes directly back to the women and towards educational opportunities for children in the region. In 2011, Naina became the first member of Lila Handicrafts to travel internationally to appear alongside her work at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market.

Naina’s residency is made possible by Pacific Asia Museum’s Pakistan Arts Council.

About Pacific Asia Museum

Pacific Asia Museum is among the few institutions in the United States dedicated exclusively to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The museum’s mission is to further intercultural understanding through the arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Since 1971, Pacific Asia Museum has served a broad audience of students, families, adults, and scholars through its exhibitions and programs.

Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 general, $7 students/seniors, and free for museum members and children under 12. Admission is free every 4th Friday of the month. For more information visit www.pacificasiamuseum.org or call (626) 449-2742.