The Weavers Guild of Minnesota is thrilled to partner with RedGreen Rivers and Hmong Museum to welcome Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Li Yang), a m ember of the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat and master practitioner of the traditional Hmong art of processing and weaving hemp by hand—a centuries-old craft now endangered by industrialization and displacement. Throughout June, RedGreen Rivers, Hmong Museum, and the Weavers Guild of Minnesota will host a series of programs celebrating Hmong women as cultural bearers and tradition keepers, inviting Hmong Americans and the broader community to engage directly with an ancestral art form that has largely remained unseen outside Southeast Asia.
On Friday, June 13, drop into the Open Book Performance Hall for a free hour-long talk with Ms. Lig Yang. She will introduce the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat, discussing its founding and work over the past 30 years. She will also lead participants through the process of growing, harvesting, preparing, and weaving Hmong hemp.
The talk will be accompanied by images and video of the traditional hemp cultivation, processing, and weaving techniques practiced by Ms. Yang the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat.
Join us on Saturday, June 14 for a half-day workshop (10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm) with Ms. Yang. The workshop will begin with a brief introduction to the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat and the centuries-old Hmong hemp cultivation and processing traditions. Participants will then learn to create cordage from processed hemp fiber and weave on a traditional Hmong loom, like the type used by Ms. Yang will be set up along with samples of hemp items produced by the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat. Participants will leave with a sample of hemp cloth and knowledge of traditional Hmong textile practices from the Mekong Region in Southeast Asia.
About the Presenter
Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Li Yang) is a master practitioner of the traditional Hmong art of processing and weaving hemp by hand—a centuries-old craft now endangered by industrialization and displacement. As a member of the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat in Tak, Thailand, she has dedicated her life to preserving and revitalizing this intricate practice, which includes cultivating, harvesting, retting, spinning, and weaving hemp fiber entirely by hand. Her expertise and lived experience uniquely position her to educate others about this vital cultural heritage. In 2024, her work was featured by RedGreen Rivers in Cloth Origins: Textiles from the Hmong Journey at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
Accessibility
WGM is passionate about student success. Staff and students work together to ensure that classes are comfortable and inviting for all. All students can expect to be welcomed and oriented to the space when they arrive for class. Class begins with an opportunity to get to know your instructor and fellow students.
These programs will be translated. Participants in the workshops will use both hands. The cordage and weaving processes involve gentle, repetitive motions.
We welcome accommodations requests. As part of the registration process, we provide space for you to share needs or considerations with the instructor. For information about location, parking, facilities, and accommodations, please see our website: https://www.weaversguildmn.org/about/access
About Our Partners
RedGreen Rivers works with artisan makers, most of whom are women and girls, from the Mekong Region in Southeast Asia. Their products are not mass produced, because they focus on quality and authenticity. They believe that artistic talent born from traditional indigenous designs can create sustainable communities. When you buy from RedGreen Rivers you get a treasure, and you support a maker.
Hmong Museum is the first museum dedicated to the preservation and education of Hmong culture, history, experiences, and arts. We do this through the creation and collaboration of programs that document Hmong history & knowledge, exhibit Hmong culture & art, and share Hmong experiences & stories.