A Xhosa Triptych

By Jan Chalmers

During this 3-week visit in January 2005 we held classes teaching advanced needle stitches for the new work based on the triptych Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald. The classes were small and we worked with the best stitchers in the project. We had lots of space to work in the old German house and we had picnic lunches each day. Zelide, who is a dancer, worked with the group [Jac and I included] encouraging dance recreation with fun and laughter. This visit to me seemed like a women’s group anywhere in the world, gossiping, story telling and of course singing, much like the sessions I had many years ago in Palestine with the women in the Jabalia refugee camp. For the very first time I really feel I belong, as a villager, and a local.

Although inspired by a work created in 16 century Germany, the new Keiskamma art piece is a modern interpretation and shows life as it is today in the villages. People and situations of the last five years are being portrayed, and life good, bad and amusing will be shown. The design of the new altarpiece requires images to be raised in some places, with stitch and fabric relief, creating a kind of stump work and appliquéd appearance. This was extremely difficult for me to teach, as I am very much a novice in this type of embroidery. I attend classes in the UK in order to keep a little ahead of the gifted women I work with in the Keiskamma villages. The two Stitch Bibles given by Jacky and me to the project on the last visit came out in pristine condition!!! They proved to be invaluable, as did the Beginners Guide to Stumpwork by Kay Dennis. I left three copies for the project library.

After two weeks of concentrated teaching and learning the second great Keiskamma embroidery masterpiece was well on its way. The new approach to embroidery was mastered and applied as if it has been in use for centuries.