Tag: #Sardinia

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Stating the Obvious: Gen AI Creates Misinformation About Sardinia 

Intentionally upside down photo of sailboats in a harbor.

An important reminder for everyone, including those interested in Sardinia and Sardinian handwoven textiles: Don’t believe everything you see online. 

Today on social media I saw yet more AI-generated content with incorrect, misleading information about Sardinia and supposed (not actual) women handweaving artists. I’ll try to not rant too much, and just implore: Don’t believe everything you see online. 

Know and trust your online sources. Ensure they’re real. Ensure your sources have the knowledge and experience they say they do. Ensure their content is valid, truthful, and not scraped from others. If you’re interested in handwoven textiles, make certain you and the seller/maker share the same definition of “handwoven”.

I see an increasing number of sites and social profiles that use gen AI to fabricate content about Sardinia. Their text and photos are too often inaccurate and misleading. In addition, AI-generated content about Sardinian textiles often scrapes from carefully-curated sites built by artists and their supporters without concern for artists, their work, or their rights.* Online reviews and images of Sardinian places and properties can be falsified easily — and too often are. Sadly, I’ve had to console and gently re-educate a number of folks who have made reservations or purchases in Sardinia based on misinformation they found online and didn’t verify.

Brief examples:
•  You scroll online and see photo of women at a loom, supposedly in Samugheo, with a window opening to the sea and text describing the scent of the sea influencing the textiles? Fake. 
•   A real estate site shows you a supposed listing for a house in Samugheo (or elsewhere in the island’s center) with a sunset vista of the ocean. Fake.

Samugheo is not anywhere near the sea. You can’t see or smell the ocean from Samugheo or other places in the center of the island.

As always, the best sources of information are experienced, trustworthy humans you know. 

Sardinian Arts and all that I write, share, and post are human-created and human-focused, based upon my extensive in-person experience and travels in Sardinia, my good fortune in having met many friends on the island, and my continuing exploration of the many gifts Sardinia offers. 

Don’t believe everything you see social media. Check sources. Get to know the people you meet online. Work with human beings you know and trust. People with experience, heart, and soul. 

~ Kelly Manjula Koza

*I don’t scrape from other sites. Several sites posting all AI-generated content scrape from SardinianArts.com, however 🙁

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You Said You Want to Tour Sardinia . . .

Photo collage of Sardinian locations with text stating 2026 Sardinia Tour Schedule Just Released

Life continues its fast pace, and I haven’t posted or written much in the past months because so much has been in motion – including me! 

May and June found me zig-zagging across Sardinia. I posted a few tidbits about my adventures while on the road, yet I prefer to stay present with the people, places, and experience in front of me, sharing photos and stories later. Over time, you’ll see these trickle out on social media, here on the blog, and in presentations.

July and the first part of August (the months tourists traditionally vacation in Sardinia!) found me heads-down at the computer planning new adventures — including the tours of Sardinia that so many of you have requested!

I just released details and registration for two 2026 tours. Both include visits to handweavers featured on this website, plus much more. Check them out: 

The two tours will be a bit different.

In May, we’ll spend more time with handweavers, in textile-related museums, and on textile-related adventures. We’ll also visit natural, historic, and sacred spaces of the island.

In October, we’ll visit the handweavers, yet spend less time on textile-related adventures and more time exploring other arts and cultural, historic, sacred, and natural areas. Weather permitting, the October tour may include a short boat excursion and a guided tour of breathtaking natural caverns.

If you’re a traveler — weaver or not — who wants to experience Sardinia and the island’s beauty, arts, culture, history, nature and textiles, come join me on a tour!  

~Kelly Manjula Koza

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Textile Measurements Across Countries and Tape Measures

Photo comparing four different tape measures.

A recent conversation prompted me to share this reminder, applicable to textile enthusiasts, weavers, and other artists – as well as in general!

  • The USA is one of only few countries* in the world that uses the Imperial system of measurement – that is, inches, feet, yards, and miles instead of centimeters, meters, and kilometers.
  • When you’re talking with or writing artists outside the US, consider giving your measurements in centimeters (cm).
  • Buy a metric tape measure, or use an online converter or your gizmo’s calculator to convert inches to centimeters.
  • Remember not all tape measures are created equal! I’ve bought some that have incorrect measurement markings. Others can stretch over time. Tape measures with Metric measurements on one side and Imperial measurements on the other side can be incorrect on one or both sides.
  • The tape measure you use may differ slightly from the one the artist uses. Especially for large textiles or artworks, the measurements you make and the artist makes may differ if you are using different or inaccurate tape measures.
  • Leave some leeway! This is especially true for textiles, which can stretch and shrink with weather and other conditions.

*The other countries are Liberia and Myanmar. The UK uses a mix of Imperial and Metric.

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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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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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Sardinian Travel Special from RAI TV Available in USA

RAI, the Italian state radio and TV network, aired a two-hour special about Sardinia on April 16. The show is available online even within the USA.

As part of the Ulisse (Ulysses) series, the program features footage and a bit of history of select locations around Sardinia — primarily those visited by Ulysses during his epic voyage. Alberto Angelo, RAI’s gracious and beloved host of Italian travel and history shows, narrates Ulisse in Italian — yet if you don’t speak the language, you can watch the show and enjoy the magnificent scenery.

The episode includes a short segment about Sardinia’s protected sea silk (byssus) and weaver Chiara Vigo, the only person who retains the right to collect this rare treasure in Sardegna. 

In the United States, you can watch Ulisse for free on your computer or mobile device after you register for a free RAI account. On your computer, click this link. On your mobile device, download the RAIplay app for your smartphone or tablet. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your free account, then search for “Ulisse” to find the episode about Sardegna. 

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Forest Fires Burning Large Areas of Sardinia in 2021

The numerous forest fires starting, spreading, and engulfing large areas of California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and other western states are known to people in the United States not only because of the news, but because the smoke from these fires has at times grown so thick that people complain of headaches and watery eyes in distant states. Huge forest fires have also charred tens of thousands of acres across southern Europe: Greece, Turkey, and Southern Italy have been burning — as has been Sardinia. 

Massive forest fires started on the island on July 23, 2021 and by July 26, the initial fires had burned more than 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) across central Sardinia, wiping out homes, farms, crops, and forests, killing or injuring livestock and wildlife, and displacing people and animals.

While the initial fires were quelled, blazes continue to start and burn across the island. The exact number of acres burned is not known, for the fires start and grow so rapidly that accurate fire boundaries can’t always be mapped. The overall damage to forests, wildlife, crops, farm animals, and people won’t be known for some time, and recovery will take years. 

While there’s not much news in English about the Sardinian wildfires, I’ve put a few links below, along with links to Italian sites that include photos and videos of key fires. Many of the damaged areas are well known to me, as I have driven the roads and explored the areas. 

To help those most affected by the fires, individuals across the island and groups across Italy have started GoFundMe campaigns. Some campaigns have a general focus; others have a specific focus on agriculture, animals, or a particular region. I’ve put several GoFundMe links below, should you care to donate. Of course, prayers and best wishes are helpful and welcome.

List of Fires, Updated Daily

The Sardegna Protezione Civile (Sardinian Civil Protection Agency) website maintains a list of wildfires. The list is updated daily.

Articles in English

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/26/firefighters-battle-wildfires-raging-across-south-west-sardinia

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/world/europe/wildfires-italy-sardinia.html 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Sardinia_wildfires

Articles in Italian (with photos/video)

https://video.repubblica.it/cronaca/incendi-in-sardegna-le-campagne-sono-divorate-dal-fuoco-le-immagini-dal-drone/393718/394429?ref=search

https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2021/07/26/gli-incendi-in-sardegna-nelle-ultime-48-ore18.html?ref=search

https://video.repubblica.it/politica/sardegna-lo-sgomento-di-mattarella-in-volo-con-l-elicottero-sulle-zone-devastate-dagli-incendi/393885/394596?ref=search

https://tg24.sky.it/cronaca/2021/07/27/incendi-sardegna-oggi#10

https://www.galluranews.org/incendi-2021-la-sardegna-perde-ogni-anno-oltre-2700-ettari-di-bosco/

https://www.galluranews.org/il-costo-e-di-oltre-10-000e-per-ettaro-questo-il-bilancio-dei-recenti-incendi/

https://www.galluranews.org/incendi-montiferru-le-prime-stime-dei-danni/

https://www.galluranews.org/incendi-bestiame-fienili-pascolo-urgono-i-sostegni/

GoFundMe Campaigns

To see all campaigns related to the 2021 Sardinian fires, click here.

Click here to see the campaign Aiutiamo La Sardegna a Rialzarsi —  Let’s help Sardinia to rise up again, sponsored by Unione Coltivatori Italiani (The Union of Italian Farmers), which is one of the oldest and largest associations working to protect agriculture, farmers, and related businesses across Italy and within the European Union. 

A Note about the Photos

The main photo is from the GoFundMe campaign started by the Unione Coltivatori Italiani The inset photo, taken in 2014, shows a road near one of the burned areas, from KM Koza.

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The Enchanting Elegance of Pibiones

Fine Pibiones Up Close

This is not meant to be an exhaustive discussion of this topic. I talk more about this during events, both in-person and online. See the News and Events section or sign up for the mailing list to keep updated!

Pibiones are small raised bumps of thread found on the most distinctive of Sardinian textiles. The name comes from an ancient word for grapes, as pibiones feel like grapes, and grapes and the harvest play a significant part in Sardinian history. 

Touching pibiones is an enchanting experience: Rub your hand over a handwoven textile bearing a pattern created by the pibiones, and your hand feels as if it’s getting a massage. You may even feel you’re playing an instrument that creates a nearly-silent tune, as the pattern and organization of the pibiones are musical in arrangement! Pibiones are practical, as well: They add strength, texture, and design to a textile. 

Weaving a textile with pibiones requires skill, dexterity, and patience. Pibiones are created by winding fibers around a long needle that sits on top of the weft (the foundation threads of a textile). Each pibione is counted and wound by hand, one pibione at a time, one row at a time, matched against a pattern drawn on graph paper. (See pibiones being woven in I Want to Weave the Weft of Time.)

The best pibiones are firm to the touch and remain durable and distinct when the textile is used. To achieve the desired firmness, threads used in the pibiones are often spun a second time before being woven. 

While considered uniquely Sardinian, the pibiones tradition of weaving is today found primarily in the Samugheo, in the center of the island. Aggius and Nule, other Sardinian towns renowned for their handwoven textiles, have different weaving traditions.

To learn more, see other pages on this site, including The Art of Handweaving, watch the documentary I Want to Weave the Weft of Time, and/or attend one of my presentations about Sardinian handweaving. The News and Events area lists upcoming presentations and film screenings. 

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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

© Kelly Manjula Koza unless otherwise noted.