Rogojina

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Corn Husk Weaving

Shhhhhuck! Snip! Rip! This is how it all begins, the bond between you and the sacred plant we all know as corn. Have you ever thought of what you could make from the loads of corn husks leftover from a family bbq on a summer afternoon? It turns out many cultures have pondered this same question. From tortillas to grits and polenta, not only has corn been a staple ingredient in many diets across the globe, it has also been utilized to create beautiful and useful items for millennia.

Poliana Danila, teacher with Circle Creative Collective, and expert weaver, grew up in Sascut, Romania. Under Communist rule as a child, she learned many valuable crafts and skills. Working with one’s hands was seen as an important aspect of life, which instilled the understanding that all are capable of creating and providing for ourselves, our families, and our communities. One of these crafts was rogojina weaving, a mat created by hand from corn husks. Made with minimal tools, this craft remains highly accessible, yet creates stunning results.



Now envision yourself walking into the idea garden, an art gallery and event space in Midtown Kingston, in the Hudson Valley of New York. Adorning the walls are silk prints of breast cancer survivors, naked and immensely vulnerable, yet empowered in their authentic beauty. Sitting against the wall you can find Poliana, her hands quickly weaving and knotting. She may be busy, but there is a palpable  quality of relaxation in her movements and expressions. A meditative air surrounds her and fills the room. So immersed, she does not seem to hear the door open or feel my presence. I walk over to watch her adept fingers as they create something I have never seen before. After a minute or two, she becomes aware that I’m there and pulls me into her heartfelt embrace. 

Surrounding her are women of all ages. The younger generations are sitting upon the canvas cloth and beaded cushions; elders sit upon seats built into the walls, exchanging stories and giggles. They are also weaving, at different stages of their creations. The space is filled with gentle peace as each person weaves and knots their corn husks in presence and contentment. That’s the hidden beauty that lives within craft. The immense calm that soon rushes over your being as a new skill becomes muscle memory. As you tap into a collective much larger than yourself, your hands remember an important part of yourself that you forgot, or didn’t know existed.

I join the others. In this quiet, the group weaves away as our fingers tie, split, and knot the husk. Shhhhhuck! Snip! More husk is made ready, sprayed with water to make it pliable. Meanwhile, the children are creating corn husk dolls, decorating them with colorful hair and tiny blouses. While I work, I notice the rogojinas are as squishy as juicy moss, and I soon learn that they  traditionally served as beds and floor mats in Romania. Poliana’s grandmother passed down this craft to her as a young girl, and she has continued to share it with her children and community. In school while growing up, Poliana learned many crafts like hand stitching, ceramics, and woodworking in addition to the art of rogojina weaving. 

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Again, though corn has been an essential part of many cultures throughout the world for thousands of years, only recently have we forgotten how to utilize the entire plant. Too many of us seem to have lost respect for our materials, and the plants and earth that have gifted them to us. Gone too has often been a sense of reciprocity and honoring of source. When we learn ancient skills, we begin to re-value the whole- our interconnectedness, all our sacredness, and the intrinsic value of a plant or being. Living in a culture where many things are seen as disposable, reconnecting with the traditions of our ancestors reminds us of the beauty of not being wasteful, as well as how much can be made with so little. In doing so we are also honoring our earth, what we can create with our own two extraordinary hands, and the elders we carry quietly within. What will you create when you join us? 

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Written my Mirabai Trent






Mirabai TrentComment