Born and raised in the Indian state of Maharashtra, Gujar as a young bride left her home for Fredericton, Canada, 58 years ago. When she arrived, she took courses at the University of New Brunswick, where she received a diploma in business administration
Drawing upon the rich embroidery heritage of her childhood in Mumbai, Sarita Gujar combines traditional Indian craftsmanship with western embroidery techniques — and is sharing her skills with other embroiderers in Fredericton
Gujar’s expertise is in shisha embroidery, also known as mirror work. This ancient technique was originally the domain of poor artisans who mimicked the bejewelled fashions of the wealthy. In time, mirror work has become admired in its own right. “It’s a different type of culture which we don’t see here much. I want to pass [it] on to Canadians,” Gujar says.
Born and raised in the Indian state of Maharashtra, Gujar as a young bride left her home for Fredericton, Canada, 58 years ago. When she arrived, she took courses at the University of New Brunswick, where she received a diploma in business administration.
After she raised her children, she became interested in shisha embroidery. In 1993, she joined a group of women in Fredericton who came together weekly to make embroidery. She learned Western embroidery techniques — and shared her skills in mirror work.
“Traditional Indian embroidery is passed on from one generation to another,” she said. Gujar plays a significant role in Fredericton’s multicultural and Indo-Canadian community. She is one of the founders of the temple in Fredericton, and also worked as a social worker for various organizations.
Her embroidery has been displayed at Government House, and she has travelled around New Brunswick to showcase her custom-embroidered cloths and artwork. She said she combines intricate Canadian thread work with shisha mirrors to create stunning pieces bridging the gap between both cultures, reported cbc.ca.
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