Giving Voice to the Korean American Community
Minneapolis-based textile artist Jae Hyun Veenstra is offering a series of free classes in the traditional art of jogakbo, a Korean hand-sewing patchwork craft used since ancient times to make wrapping cloths and traditional crafts. In modern times, jogakbo has become a recognized art form and can be used to make innovative designs.
The series, entitled Colorful Korean: Re-Rooting with Jogakbo, is funded with a grant, and targeted to Korean adoptees and their family members, age 16 and older. Enrollees will be referred to a Facebook group to stay in touch during and beyond the class.
Each of the series of four classes will introduce a new craft project. Classes are free and include all the supplies. Enrollees may sign up for one or more of the four-hour classes.
The dates, locations and project types are:
June 22, noon to 4 p.m.: guebul noligae (an accessory intended to protect the wearer) and how it is depicted in the film Spirits’ Homecoming – class to be held at Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA), Minneapolis.
June 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Making a yedanbo (a textile envelope, used for a formal letter, typically an offer of marriage) – class to be held at the Textile Center, St. Paul.
July 20, noon to 4 p.m.: Making mini beoseon (traditional socks) at Minneapolis Central Library.
July 27, noon to 4 p.m.: catch-up class and instruction on hyangnang (decorative pouch) – to be held at MIA or Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, final location to be determined. Catch-up class is recommended for participants who have incomplete projects at that time.
An exhibit of the participants’ work will be held after the series has been completed.
Registration is required; there is also a waiting list if classes are full. Registration is at this link.
To volunteer to prepare, clean up and do other tasks on class day, please sign up at this link.
The artist maintains an Instagram account at this link: https://www.instagram.com/colorfulkoreaproject