Hey friends,
I’ve just returned from a marvelous visit to the Madison Knitters’ Guild in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin is known for its dairy farming, and Madison is known for its beer and bratwurst… and knitting! Does that sound like a great state, or what? I must admit that during my visit I sampled a little bit of everything (okay, okay, I went particularly heavy on the knitting). I had a fabulous time being hosted by the Madison Knitters’ Guild. We kicked the day off with a ‘Color with Kirk’ workshop, attended by the most attentive, engaged, and happy class of knitters I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Later that night, 150 Guild members in person (and almost the same number online) were a wonderful audience as I regaled them with tales of my installation, Stitched Glass, the play we’re currently touring, The Knitting Pilgrim, the WWII play about a knitting spy which we’re developing and hope to produce in 2024, Spycraft, and many COVID projects. Really hoping I’m able to get back to Madison sometime soon…
The Knitting Pilgrim talks
We continue to release new episodes of The Knitting Pilgrim Talks, which explore the imagery of the Stitched Glass tapestries in conversation with faith leaders.
Episode 112: women and islam
Women and Islam
In episode 112 of The Knitting Pilgrim Talks, I talk with Samira Kanji about women and Islam. At the top of the Islamic tapestry is a section featuring a feminine eye, partially obscured by mesh, evoking the Western impression that Islam is inherently patriarchal. But is that really the case? Samira takes me through the Qu’ran’s metaphysical equality of male and female, and the impact colonization has had on the patriarchy of Muslim societies. Samira Kanji is longtime President & CEO of Noor Cultural Centre, an Islamic religious, educational and cultural institution in Toronto dedicated to learning about Islam and Muslims.
“Isn’t the problem, either way, when you dictate to women how they should be dressed, you are oppressing them?” – Samira Kanji
Episode 112 is available on YouTube here: KPT 112 Women and Islam,
Or all of the podcast places, like KPT on Spotify, if you’d rather listen than watch.
If you have any questions about any of my projects, would like to book a talk, workshop, The Knitting Pilgrim or Spycraft, please reach out to me at www.kirkdunn.com.