
Leslie Pearson lives in the US and visited Australia for the first time as a result of a commission for Mountain to Mouth, a ritual of cleansing and renewal where a canoe is built, celebrated and then burnt. "In our slow walk of contemplation, we honored our connections with earth and with each other."

The Banjara have typically been a nomadic herding group of people in India. They wear bright clothing with lots of shisha mirrors, patchwork and applique designs. Flowing skirts, jangly jewelry! Guess who is related to them? The Roma share the same genes! Formerly known as gypsies (now considered pejorative), the two groups have hosted gatherings. Learn a bit about their history in this post.

Uta Lenk lives in Germany where issues of refugees and migration have changed lives and impacted world views. Living in close contact with refugee families and volunteering to assist them impacted her creativity, bringing these themes into her art quilts. Uta shares some of her experiences and work in this post.