GENERAL MEETING: "Exploring Arpilleras in Chile" with Estrella Shoka (IN-PERSON)

Estrella Shoka

In 2023, Estrella's alma mater, Wellesley College, awarded her a fellowship to spend 3 1/2 months in Chile studying arpilleras and their role in social justice.

Arpilleras are wall hanging-sized textiles where the maker (the arpillerista) uses piecing, appliqué and embroidery to create an image or a scene on a foundation of burlap.  Traditional arpilleras could depict a village market or a seashore excursion.  Estrella’s focus, however, was on the arpilleras that portrayed the brutal conditions under the Pinochet dictatorship and on the arpilleristas who through their “humble” craft helped draw international attention to Chile and helped end the dictatorship. 

In her presentation, she will share both her experience and the stories of some of these courageous arpilleristas and what they and their families endured. Although the overarching theme is one of resilience and empowerment, some people may find the content difficult. 

More About Estrella

Estrella is an active member of GQCCC.  She has had a lifelong interest in crafts that started with attending knitting and crochet classes with her mother during her childhood on the East Coast.  Her quilting journey began about 20 years ago, when her children were still young and she was looking for a creative outlet.  She has since made dozens of items, ranging from quilts to bags to clothing, in many different styles from traditional to modern. 

Although she considers herself to be more of a crafter than an artist, she is proud that her "Dinner Plate Dahlia” was selected to be shown in the Pacific International Quilt Festival in 2021.  More recently, her interest has expanded from traditional piecing and bed-sized quilts to smaller scale projects, such as landscapes and portraits that involve different textures and/or the use of media such as ink.