Category: Events

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Appreciating the Art of Sardinian Handwoven Textiles

A variety of colorful Sardinian textiles of various patterns

February 27 at 18.00 San Francisco Time (6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern) Register here

Join me online to explore the indescribable beauty of Sardinian handwoven textiles, see the loving and painstaking artistry of their creation, meet the tessitrici artigianali — the unique women weavers who maintain the tradition of a nearly-lost art – and glimpse just a bit of Sardinia’s majesty. 

I’ll discuss the importance these women, their weavings, and their traditions have in our modern world, the value of the handmade, and what the anima (spirit) of Sardinian handwoven textiles bring us. I’ll share portions of my film as well as photos, stories of the weavers and my adventures on the island, and show some of my personal textile collection.

Before the event, you’re invited to watch I Want to Weave the Weft of Time (free, 29 minutes) as an introduction to what we’ll discuss.

Register here for the event, which will be held on Zoom. You’ll receive the event link and automated reminders after you register.

Special Notes:

  • While I don’t usually record events, this presentation will be an exception. I’ll record and post the video on Vimeo for one week after the event for those who registered.
  • This presentation is free to members of Il Museo Italo-Americano, Italian Cultural Institute – San Francisco, and AWS-TCX. Use the discount code I provided to register.

I look forward to seeing you!

Kelly Manjula Koza

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A Glimpse of Sardinia – Presentation at Museo Italo-Americano, San Francisco on February 23, 2025

Text with dates and location of the event, A Glimpse of Sardinia

The Museo Italo-Americano, in conjunction with The Italian Cultural Institute-San Francisco, offers A Glimpse of Sardinia as part of the Museo’s Regional Sunday Series on February 23.

Kelly Manjula Koza, founder of Sardinian Arts, will share photos, film clips, and stories of the island with a focus on the tessitrici artigianali — the unique women weavers who maintain Sardinia’s ancient handweaving tradition, artfully expressing the Sardinian spirit through their work and textiles.

Discussion and tastes of traditional Sardinian food will follow the presentation.

Register in advance on the Museo site.

A Glimpse of Sardinia, Sunday, February 23, 2025, 4.30 to 6.30pm
Museo Italo Americano
Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Boulevard, Building C
San Francisco, CA 94123

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The Importance of the Handmade – Online Event

A photo collage of four photos with hands of women weavers

Handmade objects contain an anima, a spirit that connects us to our humanity, our community, and ourselves. 

Wednesday, November 20 at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern.

Handmade items are a rarity, a luxury, and an often-overlooked aspect of our culture, humanity, and technology. More than this, in our high-tech, low-touch modern world, handmade items — foods, sweaters, textiles, tools, and more — are a necessity, elements that can and do connect us to our humanity, our community, and ourselves. 

Making and having handmade items had fallen into decline for some time as the glow of gizmos and automation courted old and young alike. However, an overabundance of technology, sameness, and using our hands only to press buttons has made many realize that “something’s missing”. Few realize that the “something” is the uniqueness, the feel, the anima (spirit) that handmade items convey. The spirit of each maker infuses the objects she makes, which in turn animate the lives of those who possess and use objects so lovingly, skillfully, patiently, and carefully made by hand. 

Learn more about the importance of the handmade in this online presentation with Kelly Manjula Koza, the founder of Sardinian Arts. Sharing photos, stories, and videos, Kelly will talk of the spirit of the handmade, the makers, and how hand-making and the handmade revive individuals as well as traditions. These arts — such as weaving — are again being taught, sought, and valued, as are the makers and the items they craft. 

Join us on Wednesday, November 20 at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern. There’s no charge to attend, yet you must register in advance.

To convert the time to your time zone, go to the World Time and Date time zone converter.

Thanks to Rajita Antonia and Consult Feng Shui for co-sponsoring this event!

I look forward to seeing you!

Kelly Manjula Koza

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Photos and Stories of Sardinia – A Zoom Experience 

A winding road leading to the Sardinian shore

October 19, 2024 from 10 to 11.30am San Francisco Time

Experience a fleeting bit of Sardinian anima (spirit) in this brief armchair adventure with Kelly Manjula Koza, founder of Sardinian Arts, as shares her love of Sardinia and some of her adventures off the beaten track on this beautiful island. Through photos, video shorts, and stories told in her unique  personal manner, Kelly brings alive sights, sounds, and nature of select locales, provides a taste of Sardinian heritage and culture, and warms hearts as she talks of her beloved Sardinian extended famiglia and friends. 

While not Sardinian by birth, Kelly’s spent a good bit of time in Sardina, has a deep respect for the island, her people, and her heritage, and considers Sardinia the home of her heart. She’ll of course answer questions – and especially during this time, she invites participants to activate their cameras so all can connect more personally.

Kelly will of course answer questions – and especially during this time, she invites participants to activate their cameras so all have the experience of community.  

The event is free, yet advance registration is required. You’ll receive the Zoom link after you register.

The event is October 19, 2024 from 10 to 11.30am San Francisco time on Zoom. To convert the time to your time zone, see this time zone converter: https://www.worldclock.com/time-zone-converter/

The event will not be recorded. 

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Postponed – Live from Sardinia: Textile Designer Eugenia Pinna – Date TBD early 2025

Closeup of textile in complex pattern by Eugenia Pinna

September 25, 2024 – This event is being postponed, with the new date to be set for early 2025. Watch for updates here or in the newsletter. Apologies for the delay, yet we look forward to a wonderful presentation with Eugenia!

Eugenia’s designs incorporate Nule traditions with contemporary vision. Her work was recently featured in the one-woman exhibit, La Ricerca di una Textile Designer, at Spazio Ilisso in Nule, and can be seen on her own website, Sardinian Arts, and in select showrooms. 

Noted Sardinian Textile Designer Eugenia Pinna will present her work in a live online event NEW DATE TO BE DETERMINED FOR EARLY 2025. Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern. Eugenia will discuss her textiles and present a brief history of her work from her studio in Nule, Sardegna. The event is presented as a collaboration between Eugenia, Sardinian Arts, and the Italian Cultural Institute-San Francisco. The event is free.

Textile Designer Eugenia Pinna

Having absorbed the weaving tradition of Nule as a girl, Eugenia furthered her artistic ability at the European Institute of Design in Cagliari. Her works fuse the knowledge and skill of the traditional handweavers of Nule — expert in their knowledge of wool, natural colors, and the mechanics, techniques, and patterns suited to the vertical loom — with a modern design sensibility, complex and beautiful color combinations, and innovative shapes and designs that are uniquely hers. Simply stated, Eugenia has mastered what few can: She has blended the contemporary with the traditional to create warm and astoundingly beautiful works of art that have a presence and personality of their own.

The event will be held on Zoom; details will be provided upon registration. NEW DATE TBD FOR EARLY 2025.

Textiles © Eugenia Pinna. Contact for permission to reproduce. 

Closeup of rug designed by and copyright Eugenia Pinna.
Rug designed by and copyright Eugenia Pinna.
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September 2024 Online Event – Introduction to Sardinian Handwoven Textiles

Thursday September 12 at 5pm San Francisco time.

Join me online to explore the indescribable beauty of Sardinian handwoven textiles, see the loving and painstaking artistry of their creation, meet the tessitrici artigianali — the unique women weavers who maintain the tradition of a nearly-lost art – and glimpse just a bit of Sardinia’s majesty. 

I’ll discuss the importance these women, their weavings, and their traditions have in our modern world, the value of the handmade, and the anima (spirit) of Sardinian handwoven textiles. I’ll share portions of my film as well as photos, stories of the weavers and my adventures on the island, and show some of my personal textile collection.

There’s no charge for the event, but you must register ahead of time on TicketTailor. You’ll receive confirmation and reminder emails with the Zoom link. 

Before the event, you are invited to watch my documentary I Want to Weave the Weft of Time (free, 29 minutes) as an introduction to what we’ll discuss.

This is the perfect way to gain some background understanding of Sardinian handwoven textiles before attending our Live Presentation with Sardinian Textile Designer Eugenia Pinna on October 19!

I look forward to seeing you at the events!

Kelly Manjula Koza

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Weave a Real Peace — Fireside Chat Series

Weave a Real Peace (WARP) is an inclusive global network of individuals and organizations who value the social, cultural, historic, artistic, and economic importance of textile arts. A registered nonprofit in the USA, WARP works to improve the quality of life of textile artisans worldwide.

The group offers educational programs about traditional textile artists and related topics; runs programs to support textile artists; and provides information, resources, and technical assistance within the global textile arts community.  

Among other events, each month WARP hosts several Zoom-based meetings that enable members to talk informally and get to know one another. During each of these “Fireside Chats”, one member presents their organization and/or work. For the June 4 and 7 chats, I’ll be discussing Sardinian Arts and the tessitrici artigianali. 

While a growing number of events are open to the public, the WARP Fireside Chats are members-only events. You can read about the Fireside Chats and other upcoming WARP events here. 

If you are not already a WARP member, do consider becoming a member — WARP is most certainly a worthwhile organization to join and support!

~ Kelly Manjula Koza

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Online Presentation: Sardinian Handwoven Textiles: Exploring a Nearly-Lost Art, September 2021

This presentation will be September 15, 2021 at 6pm San Francisco time. The event is free, but you must register to attend.

Join me online for this free event to explore the indescribable beauty of Sardinian handwoven textiles, see the loving and painstaking artistry of their creation, meet the tessitrici artigianali — the unique women weavers who maintain the tradition of a nearly-lost art — and glimpse just a bit of Sardinia’s majesty.

I’ll discuss the importance of the handmade, the relevance these women, their weavings, and their traditions have in our modern world, and the anima (spirit) of Sardinian handwoven textiles. I’ll share portions of my film as well as photos, stories of the weavers and my adventures on the island, and show some of my personal textile collection.

There’s no charge for the event, but you must register ahead of time. Click here to go to Eventbrite and register. You’ll receive confirmation and reminder emails with the Zoom link to the event.

I look forward to seeing you!

~ Kelly Manjula Koza

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Filmmaker’s Screening: I Want to Weave the Weft of Time, August 2021

Join me for a free online screening of my documentary I Want to Weave the Weft of Time August 18, 2021 (Wednesday) from 6 to 7.30pm (18.00 to 19.30) San Francisco time.

I’ll add filmmaker’s commentary to provide a glimpse of how the film came about, the synchronicity of its making, working with the weavers, the soundtrack’s creation, and more. I’ll also share stories and additional video clips, including outtakes and works in progress, and answer questions.

There’s no charge for the event, but you must register ahead of time. Click here to go to Eventbrite and register. You’ll receive confirmation and reminder emails with the Zoom link to the event.

I look forward to seeing you!

~ Kelly Manjula Koza

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Spring 2021 Presentation Series: Sardinian Arts Online

Join me live online for an intimate series of presentations about Sardinian handwoven textiles, the women who maintain nearly-lost weaving traditions, and more!

In this free series, I’ll be sharing my stories, videos, and photos of the women weavers and their distinctive textiles; showing weavings from my own collection; discussing the history and revival of Sardinian handweaving; providing a historical and cultural overview of Sardinia; giving you a photographic tour of the island; answering your questions; and more!

This series starts Saturday January 23, 2021. See the full schedule below.

If you have missed earlier sessions, you can still come to later sessions!

Please register to attend the free sessions.

I look forward to seeing you online!

~ Kelly Manjula Koza, Sardinian Arts’ Founder

PS — Before the events, I very much suggest that you watch I Want to Weave the Weft of Time, my free 30 minute documentary on handweaving in Sardina. You can also find the video directly by going to WeaveWeftofTime.com.

Register

Schedule

Saturdays at 11am Pacific / Noon Mountain / 1pm Central / 2pm Eastern. Each session will last 60-90 minutes.

  • January 23 — Introduction, Background, and Film Highlights with Commentary
  • January 30 — Weaving in Samugheo
  • February 6 — Weaving in Nule
  • February 13 — Weaving in Aggius
  • February 20 — Converging Threads: The Importance of the Handmade, How Weaving Came to Sardinia, the Resurrection, and More
    Please note the dates below have been corrected!
  • February 27 — Sardinian History, Culture, and Arts Beyond Weaving
  • March 6 — Sardinian Tour: Photos and Stories Around the Island
  • March 13 — Questions, Answers, Open House
Register

© Kelly Manjula Koza unless otherwise noted.