Skip to Content

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

Click the image to the left or go here for a full listing of events at CREES and the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia this semester.

CREES Exhibition. Threading the Needle: Vestiges of Colonialism and Femininity, an installation by Gluklya

Gluklya, artist
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Gallery, Room 547 Weiser Hall Map
Gluklya’s work is a powerful example of socially engaged art at the intersections of gender, class, and cultural identity. By focusing on experiences of female textile workers in Kyrgyzstan, the artist explores the often-overlooked stories of women affected by Soviet and post-Soviet colonialism. "Threading the Needle: Vestiges of Colonialism and Femininity" retells their stories using a diverse range of media — film, sculpture, watercolors, and felt tapestries. Unfolding the implications of economic and societal pressures on women, Gluklya explores issues of poverty, isolation, and exploitation among the garment workers.

Personal stories are woven into a broader social context — such as the legacy of the "Likbez" (liquidation of illiteracy) campaign among women in Central Asia during Soviet rule and entrenched patriarchal traditions, like "Ala Kachuu" (bride-kidnapping). This dynamic — where colonization and modernization intertwine the individual lives they touch — raises questions about cultural identity and the ethical borders of decolonized research.

This exhibition was curated by CREES alumna Dianne Beal (BA REES '79). See more of her work here: https://www.diannebeal.com/curatorial.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at crees@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
Building: Weiser Hall
Event Type: Exhibition
Tags: art, eastern europe
Source: Happening @ Michigan from Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, International Institute, Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia
Upcoming Dates:

Videos of programs organized by WCEE affiliates are posted on the CCPS and CREES websites.

Videos of select events are also available on the University of Michigan's YouTube Channel.