Sujata Shah – May 4-6, 2027
https://www.therootconnection.blogspot.com
While growing up in India, rich colors, hand woven textiles and hand-crafts were part of Sujata Shah’s daily life. She learned to appreciate the irregularities and imperfections of handmade crafts. Her instinctive ability to work with colors and textures combined with education in graphic design has helped her develop a unique style as a quilt designer.
Sujata is an award-winning quilter and designer. She finds inspiration in the rich handmade tradition of her home country, India, the quilts of Gees Bend, Indian and American utilitarian quilts, and African textiles.
As a calligraphy major, she believes that each handmade craft has a stamp of the maker. Through her book, Cultural Fusion Quilts, she introduced free-form blocks, an abstract interpretation of traditional quilt blocks to reflect her theory.
Talking about the process of finishing quilts, she says, ‘’I find hand stitching therapeutic and nourishing to the soul. Through my quilts I remain connected to my past, my culture and heritage. The more I hand stitch, stories of my daily life get stitched into my quilts.” I rarely have a plan before the start of a quilt. Designing a quilt is an evolving process. I believe as the quilt evolves, I simply become the instrument in the making of that quilt.’’
Hybrid Lecture: Tuesday, May 4, 2027, 9:30am: The Root Connection – My Journey as a Quilter
Join Sujata as she shares her quilts and talks about her daily life as a quilter. How somewhere during the making of each quilt, whether it is the fabric selection, constructing the quilt top, or finishing the quilt by hand, she ends up writing stories in stitches.
Her presentation includes a slide show of her travels in India as well as her journey as a quilter. The slide show is followed by the trunk show of original quilts. She will share how she connects the dots between the memories of the past and today’s creative process.
IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: “Improv Patchwork – Free Form Blocks and Kawandi “
Tue, May 4: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wed, May 5: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Thurs, May 6: 9:30am – 4:00 pm
Improv Patchwork: This workshop invites students to explore and construct a series of free-form blocks in a variety of sizes. You’ll learn Sujata’s layered cutting and organic piecing method—a process that’s unique, fast, and fun. By the end, each student will take home at least six well-constructed blocks, which can become a small sampler quilt or evolve into an art quilt featuring one of the blocks from class. Along the way, we’ll dive into the origins of these designs, the stories behind the quilts, and Sujata’s approach to color and texture.
Students will also be encouraged to develop their own techniques further, carrying these ideas into future improv works. This class is as much about inspiration and discovery as it is about hands-on construction.
Kawandi: Sujata will also teach how to create a Kawandi, a utility quilt made by the African diaspora/Siddi community of India. A spool of thread and a needle, a few scraps and mindful stitching combined with a simple technique are the only elements needed for this age-old art of quilting.
Learn the step-by-step process and unique way to make a quilt. Through the experience of true improvisational process, we will discover how to harmonize our minds and bodies with the rhythm of stitching. Explore different ways of personalizing a quilt, to breathe easy, and write your own stories in stitches.