Prism Community Arts

About me:

Prism Community Arts supports Community-Based Art and Media Projects Worldwide.

Our flagship program is with Madagascar's Firaisankina Silk Weavers Cooperative, an association of over 100 women from 3 generations dedicated to preserving and promoting the Malagasy weaving tradition. Firaisankin's shawls, called lambas, are hand-woven and colored by all natural dyes. These shawls are unique because the wild Borocera silk, from which the lambas are made, is found nowhere else in the world.

Our exhibition 'Solidarity As Strong As Silk' (2006-07) featured Firaisankina's textiles alongside photography by Prism's director, Jack Gordon. This tour traveled across Madagascar and reached new audiences in the United States and South Africa.

In February 2008, Prism presented 'Madagasikara', an expanded exhibition celebrating the art & culture of the Red Island. In addition to new textiles by Firaisankina and new images by Jack Gordon, we were proud to host an exclusive screening of 'Voyage of the Vezo', produced by Nomadic Films and Digital Development Communications. This documentary focuses on the tensions between cultural traditions and marine conservation in fishing communities on Madagascar's southern coast. Future screenings are being planned.

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