In the publisher’s words: “The Mapula (Mother of Rain) Embroidery Project in the Winterveldt, north-west of Pretoria, is one of the most important community art projects in South Africa.” In addition to generating an income for economically disadvantaged women, Mapula embroideries couple visual artistry with topics that speak eloquently of public histories and women’s experiences. Dazzling in colour and inventive in design, the embroideries engage with social and political issues that have shaped the lives of their makers and provide insights about the anxieties and aspirations of women in a transforming society.

The author, Brenda Schmahmann, is Professor and Head of Fine Art at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. She is an Art Historian interested in gender studies, and this book is the result of six years of study.

The book was launched on Saturday 11th November, 2006 at the Pretoria Art Museum. 70 women from the Mapula Project, representatives of the Sisters of Mercy, the donors, the Soroptomists and the publishers attended this exciting event.

South African Province