Wa Woori Exhibition

Culture is dynamic, and it is only when it responds to society that it lives and is relevant.
This exhibition will pay homage to the weavers, in particular the works on the Nadowli Women’s Weaving Association, spotlight the handiwork of the Schools of the Deaf and Methodist School of the Blind- both in Wa, showcase research carried out with University of Applied Arts in Vienna and Baari Ladi an indigenous natural dyer from Mali.

On view are the works of contemporary artists – Bleboo Michael Jackson, Na Chainkua Reindorf, Esther Ofosu, Edward Lamptey, Winifred Amoah and Peter Amoako, whose works touch of weaving, fibre, textiles or some derivation of it and one of the outcomes we wish to explore even more at the Nubuke Foundation Centre of Textiles and Clay in Loho near Wa.

It was with much anticipation that Nubuke Foundation, the weaving community and all its supporting stakeholders were working towards the Woori Festival from 26-28 February 2021 in Wa-Upper West Region of Ghana. The maiden edition was undoubtedly a missing component in the cultural landscape of Wa.

With weaving stations in almost every street corner it is surprising that a festival solely focused on weaving has not been held before. A festival is an energised gathering of a community- celebrating prowess, creativity, and a hive of interactions, exchanges and activity.

For almost 10 years, the foundation has run a design intervention initiative with diverse groups of weavers in and around Wa. Through a process of questioning, testing, experimentation and workshops it has culminated in a body of knowledge about the weaving tradition.

For the maiden edition, a few end users- fashion designers, smock makers and basket designers have been invited to show the extent to which creativity can innovative can promote the tradition.

Nubuke Foundation Centre for Textile and Clay was conceived as an experimental platform to promote connection between the strip woven materials and clay products in contemporary art practice. Its residency programme for artists opens in 2021.

nubukefoundation.viewingrooms.com