CRIW Initiative
Expressive Arts Initiatives
CRIW’s Expressive Arts Initiatives allow women who are often unheard, to tell and share their own stories via photographs and hand-sewn textile pieces or “story cloths”. Using multiple artistic platforms that do not rely solely on verbal or written communication, we reduced barriers to self-expression which allowed mostly preliterate, Afghan women to be in charge of creating their own narratives.
When coupled with public exhibits, empowering spaces are created to convey the strength, resiliency and creativity of the women and foster emotional resonance and promote cultural understanding in the community.
Overview
Photovoice
Using a participatory process, women captured photographs and stories around a shared theme to express and share key aspects of their community’s lived experience with Greater New Haven.
Following a photography workshop with Odette Chavez-Mayo, the women selected the theme “Being an Afghan woman,” highlighting faith, family, values, hospitality, homemaking, and cuisine. Their photos express resilience and continuity of identity despite displacement from Afghanistan.
Fabric Arts Workshop
Hangama Amiri, an Afghan-Canadian artist (MFA, Yale School of Art ‘20) led the group through a process of developing ideas around the theme of “home” into a finished textile piece with an accompanying narrative - a “story cloth”.
This three-hour workshop was a powerful emotional experience for the women participants. The common threads woven throughout these “story cloths” represented memories of joy and loss associated with their homeland - Afghanistan.
“Art changes people’s minds and people change the world.”
– Shamsia Hassani, Afghan Artist
2024-2025 Exhibits
Yale Middle Eastern & North African Cultural Community: October 24 - 31, 2025
Yale Saint Thomas More: April - May 2025
New Haven Free Public Library, Wilson Branch: October - December 2024
Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven: June - July 2024
International Festival of Arts and Ideas: June 21, 2024
Public Art Exhibits:
“Afghan Women Explore Themes of Identity & Home”
This unique exhibit showcases the artistic creations from two CRIW Expressive Arts Initiatives which allowed mostly preliterate women from rural Afghanistan who are often unheard due to barriers of language, gender, poverty, and education, to tell their own stories through their photographs and hand-sewn “story cloths”. Exhibits are made by possible through the generous support of the International Association of New Haven, Penny & Rod Cook and Hangama Amiri.
Yale MENA (Middle Eastern & North African) Cultural Community - Opening reception October 24, 2025, 6:30-8pm - Presentation by CRIW & refreshments by Havenly. Exhibit October 24 - October 31, 2025.
Registration free: https://cglink.me/2dA/r2309474
