Exhibition: Weaving in Light
The works of Jana Ghalayini and Weaving to Reclaim (Fatme Elkadry and Fern Facette) will be on view for the duration of the Toronto Palestine Film Festival, from September 21- 25.
Jana Ghalayini, Doves Wear White to the Funeral, Wool, cotton and acrylic yarn and threads, 2021
Weaving to Reclaim, Amulet Study, handwoven cotton & linen, 2022
About the Artists
Jana Ghalayini
(b.1993) is a textile and multimedia artist born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is now based between Toronto and Jeddah. Ghalayini graduated from OCAD University where she earned her BFA in printmaking in 2017.
Ghalayini’s work is influenced by material exploration of texture, patterns, and abstraction. She works closely with mediums such as weaving, printing, and painting. As a self-taught weaver her inspiration stems from Bedouin and Palestinian folk crafts and were a huge encouragement for her to pursue weaving as an art form. Her process starts by investigating identity and heritage while focusing on intuitive play and cathartic healing which are integral to her process.
Alongside her art practice she works with fashion designers and creates custom textiles for them to develop into garments. Ghalayini also hosts workshops in weaving and printmaking.
Weaving to Reclaim (Fatme Elkadry and Fern Facette)
Weaving to Reclaim is an experimental series of handwoven studies that reclaim diminishing Palestinian heritage, craft, and identity. Each study incrementally builds to the final piece in the series: a handwoven Kaffiyah, a scarf that distinctly symbolizes Palestinian identity. This work is fueled by a long term artistic collaboration between Fatme Elkadry and Fern Facette. Together, they design and weave textiles that explore the colours, natural dyes, fibres, and motifs of Fatme’s homeland, Palestine.
Fatme Elkadry (she/her) is a second-generation settler on Amiskwaciwâskahikan from Safad, Palestine. She is a multi-disciplinary artist and has studied visual art, fine craft, graphic design, prose, and performance art through a variety of experiential opportunities, including formal education and personal mentorship. Fatme utilizes her art practice to explore and express her identities. She passionately advocates for barrier-free and equitable involvement of all folks in the arts. Fatme’s favourite things in life are her mom, magpies, and purple figs.
Jessica Fern Facette (Fern, she/her) is an Amiskwaciy Waskahikan based fibre artist who has been weaving for nearly two decades. She is a passionately engaged artist who shares knowledge and encourages others to discover textiles. She founded Fern’s School of Textile Craft in 2017, a place where fibre artists from across Canada meet to carry on the long tradition of sharing skills and knowledge. Fern is a stalwart advocate for the accessibility of textile arts and has created many opportunities for folks to explore textiles through years of volunteering, mentoring and most recently an in-studio textile residency. Fern’s own weaving is an exploration of colour, pattern and texture.
