When textile artist Khadija Sareshwala moved to Ashburn 4 years in the past, she constructed a bridge to her residence in India within the type of attractive wearable artwork.
Sareshwala, who grew up within the UK and Mumbai, is somebody who strikes simply between cultures. Now, she’s embracing her new residence and mixing the wildlife of Loudoun into her work.
“I’m very adaptable to different situations. I moved a lot when I was younger,” she stated. “For me it’s just a matter of seeing people and absorbing the culture. I like to take what every place has in it and try to get that into my work.”
Sareshwala was making inroads on the DMV juried craft present scene when COVID hit, however she’s staying productive and constructing a web-based presence for her ethereal hand-painted scarves and ornamental textile work. For Sareshwala, her work is a technique to keep linked to her residence and assist the ladies artists who impressed her throughout her profession with two Indian nonprofits.
Sareshwala’s mom is a ceramic artist and her first inspiration.
“I’d always see her work and textures. Her work is very 3D, so that was always an inspiration—I’ve grown up with that,” she stated.
When Sareshwala went to artwork faculty in Mumbai, she initially thought she’d give attention to digital artwork however discovered herself drawn to the textures and arms-on nature of textile work. Her ardour for textiles was cemented by her work with thenonprofit Craftroots group, which helps low-earnings city and rural ladies in western India. Craftroots helps ladies generate earnings via conventional handicrafts by offering a platform for jewellery and textile gross sales.
“Their whole mission was to empower women and revive the dying art forms. It was a very eye-opening thing for me,”Sareshwala stated.“I would just sit with [craftswomen] trying to absorb everything that I saw.”
textile artist Khadija Sareshwala
Sareshwala continued her work within the Indian nonprofit sector, working for the stylish world Being Human clothes line, which helps the Being Human Foundation launched byBollywood star Salman Khan.When Sareshwala married and moved to Ashburn 4 years in the past, she turned her focus to her personal artwork whereas persevering with to assist textile employees in India.
“I was like this is something interesting where I can bridge the gap of high fashion and my esthetic as an artist and also collaborate with artisans,” she stated.
Sareshwala sourcessilk and cotton silk materials from India, and lots of the cloth elaborations, like tassels and crochet work, are executed by artisans in her residence nation. Sareshwala creates designs via conventional batik, block print and tie-dye methods, experimenting withwax, salt, rubbing alcohol and different supplies to create texture, whereas hand portray whimsical components like butterflies, dragonflies, botanicals and florals.
“I just want to experiment and explore,” she stated.
Before COVID hit, Sareshwala was getting her foot within the door within the native arts and crafts scene with a give attention to juried exhibits. In her first years in Loudoun, her work was successful at exhibits in Richmond and Hyattsville, and she or he made her native debut at spring and vacation craft exhibits at Ida Lee Recreation Center. Last spring, she earned a spot on the sprawling and widespread Bizarre Bazaar in Richmond, however the present was canceled due to COVID.
Sareshwala is slowly dipping her toes again into the in-particular person craft present scene and has utilized to the celebrated Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in Reston, which has been pushed again to September 2021. For now, Sareshwala is specializing in constructing her on-line presence with an energetic Instagram web page and a brand new web site.
For textile artists, in-particular person connection is vital, she says. But artists are adapting to the occasions.
“I know that everything is changing. I have to see a way to get my work online. But I do want to be able to meet my customers, explain the story behind everything,”Sareshwala stated.“It’s a great feeling to see and show them what I’m working on.”
With her new web site up and working and in-particular person craft exhibits slowly coming again on-line as COVID restrictions are relaxed,Sareshwala is concentrated on making lovely work and forging connections within the Loudoun arts group.
“It’s been a good creative journey,” she stated. “I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do next with it.”
Check out Ashburn artist Khadija Sareshwala’s wearable and ornamental artwork on Instagram @khadijasareshwala and store on-line at khadijabrand.com.
