Yawanawa Beadwork Workshop

In collaboration with the Red Hook Public Library, Pathways of Art organized a workshop exploring the cultural significance of beadwork among the Yawanawa, an Indigenous community from the Brazilian Amazon.

Led by Shukuvena Yawanawa and his mother, Sara Yawanawa Bergin, the workshop began with a discussion of Yawanawa history, cultural traditions, the effects of colonization, and their reality today. Participants then learned about traditional beadwork and had the opportunity to create their own pieces.

By introducing the cultural context before the hands-on activity, we hoped to encourage participants to approach beadwork not simply as a craft, but as an artistic practice connected to cultural identity, knowledge, and tradition.