> [!NOTE]+ Meta > Author:: [[Kevin Murray]] > Reference:: https://garlandmag.com/article/laurie-paine/ > Date:: 2025 > Tags:: #warp #Palestine #Australia #textiles > WeftLinks:: [[Migrant and refugee value of craft]] > Claim:: [[Claim - Craft is a means to keep traditions alive and evolving in new environments]] > [!SUMMARY] Summary > Laurie Paine threads the lives of her Palestinian ancestors to the other side of the world, where she mourns the tragedy in her homeland. ### Highlights Laurie Paine honors her Palestinian heritage through weaving traditional tatreez designs, reflecting on her family's tragic history after fleeing their homeland in 1948. Living in Australia, she uses her art to advocate for social justice, particularly in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Recently, she created woven shrouds in the colors of the Palestinian flag to express her support and solidarity. > Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I was conscious that I had a Palestinian family background, but it wasn’t spoken about outside the home. Nobody knew about Palestine. > > I don’t have patterns. I just make them up. That’s something I learnt in Guatemala. I saw that the older geometric patterns had evolved into something more flowery. It’s a living thing. Of course, there will be standard patterns, such as those on the cushions around me. But it’s an evolving thing. > > Recently, I wanted to do something in response to Gaza. I’d written letters to politicians. I’d tried to talk about it in demonstrations and with friends, but I felt like I was getting nowhere. Perhaps I could try communicating in a different format. So, I wove these as shrouds using the colours of the Palestinian flag.