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Weya 2-Panel Story Quilt "Brewing Beer" AFRICAN Type of Object: Story Quilt, Wall Hanging
Ethnic Group: Weya
Country of Origin: Zimbabwe
Materials: Cotton Cloth, Thread
Approximate Age: Late 20th Century
Dimensions: 26 X 12 Inches
Overall Condition: Excellent
Additional Information: This Weya appliquéd quilt's story reads: "Mrs Moyo and Mrs Sibanida are brewing beer. They are pouring beer in the drum and Mrs Moyo is steaming. Panel two, they are now drinking beer. A bird is flying across their yard."
In the past, critics have regarded Western influence as producing less valuable African art than the traditional and ritual "indigenous" art of Africa. However, contemporary artistic output now appearing as a result of the interplay between Western and African cultures is enjoying new popularity with collectors and museums. This evidences not only the charm and intrinsic appeal of the object, and the imagination of the creator-artist, but also shows how the forms of art from Africa are continually changing, adding new flavor, and taking on new function.
It is relevant to note that African art has known several trends: the ritual art, called traditional and created by the local artist, usually the blacksmith; its practitioners included artist-carvers who did not go to school to learn their art. A second trend is led by African artists trained by European artists during the period of Western colonialism; these artists produced remarkable art work. Still another group of African artists are those who are self-taught and who produce paintings, sculpture and fabrics of great quality.
The Weya quilt is a product of a group of women living in rural Zimbabwe who were taught by the European artist Ilse Noy. Ms. Noy came to Zimbabwe in 1984 as a member of the German Volunteer Service. After working for three years at the Cold Comfort Weaving Co-operative on the outskirts of Harare, Ilse moved to Weya, a small communal area in Zimbabwe . There she taught local women sewing and painting skills, and appliqué and embroidery techniques.
Today the Weya quilt workshop has become a veritable industry and the quilts are sold across Zimbabwe, in neighboring countries, and in fact, all over the world. The diverse themes depicted on the quilts reveal many aspects of the Weya women's culture. The quilt-makers have in effect translated their daily life into their works, alluding to their marriage, their husband and children, sexuality, death, spirits, ancestors, hopes and worries. The quilts are inspiring expressions of humanness and have proved to be great sources of revenue for the brave artists who make them. For more information and other examples see Ilse Noy, THE ART OF THE WEYA WOMEN, by Baobab Book, 1992, 1994
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