Fursat

“Fursat” is a textile-centered community and pedagogical practice led by artist Nikita Shah, carried out over two sessions. Rooted in South Asian traditions of leisure, reflection, and wisdom, participants create story-cloths using Kalamkari: a 3,000-year-old craft with bamboo pens and natural dyes, alongside domestic embroidery traditions of Gujarat and Sindh. Emphasizing process over product, the sessions foster slowness, conversation, and artisan-based learning through embodied making, food, and hospitality, centering care and storytelling within minoritarian, diasporic, queer, and trans communities.

The workshop will take place over two sessions, and participants are asked to attend both:

Kalamkari: Friday, April 24, 2026, 6:30–9:00pm
Gujarati Embroidery: Friday, May 15, 2026, 6:30–9:00pm

Each session begins with time to arrive and mingle, followed by a short introduction to textile histories, and then slow, hands-on making. Light refreshments will be served.

The group is limited to 8 participants. If they receive more responses than available spots, participants will be selected with priority given to those with the greatest need for access to free arts programming.

Registrations close March 20. All applicants will receive a confirmation by April 1, 2026.

Accessibility: The studio is up one flight of stairs.

This project is a part of the What Can We Do? artist grant program, presented by Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) and is supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Special thanks to Council Members Christopher Marte and Sandra Ung. Programs serving cross-cultural solidarity and the Palestinian community are funded through a grant from the Ford Foundation for Social Justice.