This is a photograph of Spasija Aleksoska’s hands and two of her traditional aprons that have been lent for the exhibition Ties with tradition: Macedonian apron designs. It shows Spasija describing how she made small woollen pom-poms to decorate her wedding apron.
In discussion with Spasija, curators Lindie Ward and Rebecca Evans discovered the significance apron making had to many Macedonian women. The apron was central, both to special occasions with music and dancing, and to their working lives. These vibrant creations, made from the local environment, by brisk skilled hands, represent the strength, energy and resilience of Macedonian women in what might at first glance appear to be a man’s world.
Ties with tradition: Macedonian apron designs will be open at the Powerhouse Museum from the 31st July until the 22nd November. This exhibition is a collaboration of the Powerhouse Museum’s NSW Migration Heritage Centre and the Macedonian Welfare Association Inc. The original concept for this exhibition was by Meredith Walker and Mendo Trajcevski and was supported by the Illawarra Migration Heritage Project Inc. and the Powerhouse Museum’s Regional Services.
Photography by Marinco Kojdanovski
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Post by Rebecca Evans, Assistant Curator
Many thanks to the women featured in this exhibition for allowing our photographer Marinco into their homes to document their story and for sharing these images on Photo of the Day. We will be posting some of these on a weekly basis over the coming weeks. Paula
