Big dreams

Peta Hall initiates new Ghana art project

The indefatigable Peta Hall is embarking on another project in Ghana. After seeing the Atorkor Training and Vocational Institute (ATVI) now thriving and standing on its own, with an enrolment of around 500 students, Peta’s new initiative aims to expand the opportunities for the women graduates of the dressmaking program. “Those graduates are brilliant at clothing, and are all self-employed and supporting their families, but they have never actually used their inherent colour senses and design senses, and now I want to dig into that and make art pieces, so we will be focusing on wall art,” she said. “It’s going to be a really exciting project for me, and it’s going to be a real challenge because the students have never done anything like this before, but I know they have it in them to create these pieces.” To prepare for this project, Peta has been taking a crash quilting course from local quilters Bill Stearman and Greta Kristiansen, who have also supplied her with an array of measuring and cutting tools donated by various quilting guilds to take over to Ghana. Peta has been sewing since the age of seven, but has never done any quilting, though both her mother and her daughter were or are quilters, and now she can fill in that generation gap. “We’ll start with very simple designs so the women can get going, and then maybe I’ll go back to teach them more techniques and more complex designs,” she said.

Peta Hall displays a quilt made by Greta Kristiansen that uses Ghanaian cotton fabric.

This will be a project that is starting from literally the ground level. Peta will need to build a space at the Dream Big Ghana eco-lodge about 10 kilometres from the ATVI, where the workshop will be held. She will also need to purchase hand-operated sewing machines, tables, stools and storage cupboards. She is looking for funding to buy at least four sewing machines, and possibly up to 10, at a cost of about $150 each. Peta was inspired to embark on this project after learning about the work of a Ghanaian artist, Bisa Bennett, who creates large fabric pieces depicting images of people. “There isn’t really a tradition of fibre art in Ghana, and I want to show the students what is possible down the road. We’ll start with small steps,” said Peta. “We’ll be using Ghanaian cotton to create the work, and they print this absolutely incredible pure cotton in wonderful and intricate patterns. The pieces will be African-influenced and designed, and not copying Western style.” Initially, the students will sell their pieces to the eco-lodge as art for hanging on the walls, and also to be available in the gift shop. Peta then expects that the students will be producing enough so that she can approach the top hotels in Accra to have them for sale there, as well as online.

She will also bring back some pieces for an exhibition and sale in Canada.

Peta sees this project as an evolution for graduates from ATVI. “They have the skills from the school, but they will now be able to put them into operation at the fibre arts project,” she said. “This will be an added bonus to their already existing businesses. Every student who is part of this will learn about bookkeeping and marketing and packaging and shipping and being able to run a business.” The aim is for this project to eventually become self-sustaining and to be operated by the local people. Already there has been very good interest from the sewing graduates. Peta had initially expected about four or five of the women would want to take part, but she now expects as many as 10 in the first group. The students will be coming in only three days per week, in order not to disrupt their existing businesses, and Peta expects they will have the artwork ready for sale by the end of the first month. She would be grateful for any donations for this project. In addition to the donations from the region’s quilting guilds, Peta has received support from her circle of friends, but more help would be very much appreciated. “The need in Africa is so great. We are so blessed to have so much here, and I want to do anything I can to enhance things over there.” Peta will be leaving for Ghana at the beginning of January, and will stay there for about three months for the first stage of this project. For more information, or to make a donation, contact Peta at petahall2@gmail.com.