ARTIST'S RECEPTION

Join us for a discussion with textile artist & torchbearer of traditional Ukrainian folk arts

Lesia Pona

Come hear her talk about, in depth and in-person, the pieces you will see exhibited in

Threads of Life:
Traditional Embroidery of Ukraine

This event is free to attend, and no RSVP is necessary. It will be held in the ground floor gallery at the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles.

In coordination with the San Francisco School of Needle Arts & Design, the LMLT will be hosting a special exhibition of the work of a great champion for the Ukrainian folk arts, Lesia Pona, from July 29 until August 12, 2023. This exhibit, Threads of Life: Traditional Embroidery of Ukraine, explores the robust variety of needlework practiced in Ukrainian folk embroidery. Using samplers and embroidered blouses whose stitches highlight selected regional styles, Pona tells the rich story of the craftsmanship, perseverance, and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

We're proud to be hosting the honorary artist's reception the afternoon of Saturday, July 29th from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Lesia Pona herself will be with us in person to give an in-depth talk about her ouvre and the specific pieces that you will see in Threads of Life: Traditional Embroidery of Ukraine.
    For those of you interested in the folk arts of eastern Europe, traditional embroidery, and textile traditions: we hope you will be able to make it! Not only does it promise to be a most revealing and rewarding presentation, but is the perfect opportunity for us to welcome Lesia, honor her important work, celebrate her craft, and also show her our immense gratitude that she could come and share it with us here in the Bay Area.
     This event will be free to attend, and no RSVP is necessary. It will be held in the ground floor gallery at the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles.

Beginning in February of last year, world events transpired that provoked an overwhelming surge of concern for Ukraine and its people. We are with them in spirit, then and now, so to be able to form a more tangible, material connection at this time, especially in the realm of the textile arts, is a tremendous privilege.
    Lacis friends, we cordially invite you to join us in celebrating Lesia's visit. She brings to us the Ukrainian people's unqiue, extraordinary textile traditions, and we hope she can bring our love, enthusiasm and admiration home with her when she returns.

Lesia Pona's body of work includes stunning traditional garments for both men and women, embroidered in fabulous detail; you can find them, and more, on her online portfolio, which we urge you to explore.

About Lesia Pona

Lesia Pona was born in the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine. She received her first lessons in traditional embroidery from her mother at young age. She attended youth art school and later continued her education at the Institute of Applied Arts in Lviv, where she learned weaving techniques and silk painting. She later worked as a carpet and Gobelin tapestry maker.
In the early 1990s, she met with a famous folk embroiderer who was a member of the League of Ukrainian Folk Art Masters. She introduced Pona to the world of "Whitework" embroidery — made with white yarn on white fabric. Her mentor taught her many traditional techniques — some of which are all but forgotten today, and embroidery became Pona's preferred medium.
Lesia lives in Kolomyia, Ukraine — the gateway to the Carpathian Mountains and the Hutsul ethnic region.