Zoom Lecture and Discussion--Alexis Zoto on Unraveling the Lost History of Kilims in Albania

Albania is ancient culture, only an independent country since 1912, then secretive Communist country from 1943-1990, and now has a parliamentary government. Albania is the size of Maryland and not very well known in the United States. Weaving kilims (flat woven rugs) is a traditional art form originally made by a bride for her trousseau and future home. This tradition then became mechanized by a Communist factory system. Symbols, motifs and their meanings change to fit the narrative of the dictator. Now, with this legacy, attempts are being made by academics to recover, reevaluate and rediscover what has been lost. The hope is new generations of women taking up this traditional craft. Please join Alexis Zoto, a practicing artist and currently Chair of Design, 3D at the University of Southern California Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design. She has shown widely in Los Angeles, as well as nationally and internationally. Her site specific installations have been exhibited at a wide range of venues from the Venice Biennale in Italy to the Los Angeles International Airport. Her work is inspired by her Albanian Orthodox heritage and her experiences as a woman, artist, educator, wife, and mother. Her art deals with themes of acculturation and feminism. Often she pairs stories from antiquity with family lore to create works that manifest themselves as contemporary baroque assemblages or works on paper. She is a 2017-2018 recipient of the Zumberge Innovation Grant to continue her research on kilims (flat woven rugs) in Albania. She has continued her research on Albanian kilims and textiles in the Albanian diaspora communities in the United States. Born in Philadelphia, PA and Zoto currently lives and works in Los Angeles. She also was named a ‘Cultural Trailblazer’ by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

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About Our Speaker

Alexis Zoto is a practicing artist and currently Chair of Design, 3D at the University of Southern California Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design. She has shown widely in Los Angeles, as well as nationally and internationally. Her site specific installations have been exhibited at a wide range of venues from the Venice Biennale in Italy to the Los Angeles International Airport. Her work is inspired by her Albanian Orthodox heritage and her experiences as a woman, artist, educator, wife, and mother. Her art deals with themes of acculturation and feminism. Often she pairs stories from antiquity with family lore to create works that manifest themselves as contemporary baroque assemblages or works on paper. She is a 2017-2018 recipient of the Zumberge Innovation Grant to continue her research on kilims (flat woven rugs) in Albania. She has continued her research on Albanian kilims and textiles in the Albanian diaspora communities in the United States. Born in Philadelphia, PA and Zoto currently lives and works in Los Angeles. She also was named a ‘Cultural Trailblazer’ by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.