TAPESTRIES FROM HARRANIA (EGYPT)

In 1976 the workshop El Awadly was founded by Irmgard and Fouad El Awadly in Harrania, a village southwest of the capital of Egypt, Cairo.
Meanwhile 30 weavers are working in the workshop.
For some years the project is working financially independently.
Besides the social engagement most impressive are the works of the weavers itselves with their delicate colors, directness of expression and the balance of composition.

The pedagogic conception

Proceeding from the observation that every child is expressing it´s experiences and perceptions in pictures that reveal it´s natural creativity and on the other hand from the lack of creativity of adults the question for the upkeep and the furtherance of this childlike talent arouse.
Built up on the experiences and pedagogic principles of Wissa Wassef:

1. Learning the technique of weaving by imitating

2. No lessons of aesthetics or other influence on the shaping

El Awadly began the education of the young weavers that time.

Today once in a year 5 juveniles at the age of ten are admitted from the long waiting list. Beneath the common school attendance and their domestic duties they start the weaving. It is necessary to start in that early age to attach to the elementary childlike forces of imagination that are blocked at increasing age by influences of mass media as well as the common school system.

At first the novices are watching the experienced weavers for some hours a day. Later they do own attempts on the loom until finally after one or two years of apprenticeship and a sample they produce the first works that can be sold. It is not prescribed to the weavers what they shall weave. Criticism and valuation are possibly omitted even if it is taken care of a good manufacturing. Motivation and ambition arise from the working in a group that furthers the exchange of inspiration and experience.

The social conception

Already during the apprenticeship the weavers receive regular payment twice a month. The earnings increase with growing age while of course the manual capacities and the artistic expression are regarded as well. At the age of 18 they are admitted into health insurance.

The social structure of the village shall be disturbed as little as possible. Mothers take their children, children their little brothers and sisters with them in the workshop. Meanwhile a small farming has grown in the garden of the family El Awadly to ensure the providing of weavers and guests.

Problems and needs of the weavers are always listened to and practical and financial help is given.

Today it is a wish of El Awadly to support especially girls and women to learn a handicraft and earn their own money.

This gain by own work often is a big help for the families. But it also contributes essentially to the independence and the self-confidence of the women.

The technique of weaving

Weaving is an occupation that in a special way connects craftsmanship and artistic abilities. The tapestries make this particularly clear in their detailed representation. With a peculiar technique of weaving the piece can be built up along single motifs.

In the commonly known weaving the weft goes from one list to the other. In this technique however the weft turns at the end of the motif. The motifs have to interlock completely so that there is no gap.

Very few tools are used:

The tapestries are made on haute-lisse-looms.

The warp is vertically stretched as one endless thread around an upright standing frame made of wood. The picture is woven from the bottom to the top (upright size) or from the left list to the right one (lateral size). The weft, laid in loosely, is pushed down first and then stroken upon with an iron tool or the back of a knife.

Material and colors

For the weaving in Harrania cotton, more rarely flax or linen is used for the warp and pure wool for the weft. The yarn is exclusively produced in egypt.

Mrs. El Awadly has done some research on dying with plants and the fixing of colors so that today the plant-dyed wool -that is exclusively used for the tapestries - gives satisfaction to highest quality standards.

Especially natural colors from plants out of native cultivation are used.