Cotsen Textile Traces Talk: Divine Netela
Photojournalism student Hanna Leka introduces “netela,” a beautiful handwoven cloth from Ethiopia, made of white cotton, that has held significance and cultural grounding within both the Ethiopian monarchy and Orthodox church for a millennium. Today, netela is still worn casually in everyday settings in Ethiopia, as well as by members of the Ethiopian diaspora around the world when celebrating holidays and attending church.
The talk is an extension of the micro exhibition “Divine Netela,” presented by Leka in collaboration with the museum’s Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center. The display features two textile fragments from the collection (T-1790 and T-1789) that reminded Leka of her cultural origins, as well as fragments of a netela fabric from her own wardrobe and original photographs that tell the story of the cloth in Ethiopia and the United States.
About Hanna Leka
Hanna Leka is a master’s student in GW’s New Media and Photojournalism program. She is a first-generation Ethiopian American and currently based in Washington, D.C. Leka’s work currently explores the subtle and profound relationships between identity, culture and migration. Her frequent visits to Ethiopia have informed her ongoing efforts to document the presence of Ethiopian culture and social life within the United States.
About Micro Exhibitions
Visit the museum’s lower-level galleries to see a rotating selection of artworks from the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection. Inspired by contemporary culture and world events, these micro exhibitions showcase ongoing research by GW students, faculty and special guests.
About the Center
The Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center is home to one of the world’s most significant textile study collections. Assembled by the late Lloyd Cotsen, it consists of nearly 4,000 fragments of textiles created around the globe and dating from antiquity to the present, as well as some 100 sample books. Scholars, faculty, students and artists are invited to schedule a research visit, and the entire collection is accessible online. The center also presents rotating gallery displays and public programs inspired by the collection. Learn more about the center
How to Participate
This program will be in a hybrid format. You can join us in person at the museum or watch the livestream online. Please register in advance and choose how you would like to participate. We will email virtual attendees a link and instructions for joining via Zoom. When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.
Additional Information
Photos and/or videos of attendees of this program may be taken and shared on social media, websites, or marketing materials. Please contact MuseumEd
gwu [dot] edu (MuseumEd[at]gwu[dot]edu) if you have questions about photography or recordings at this program.