Lub Neej Zoo Siab Tshiab nyob WI (Happy New Life in Wisconsin) by See Vang, 2013

Hmong story cloths are an art form that use traditional embroidery to visually preserve and share stories. They grew from a rich history of Hmong textile art. Traditional Paj ntaub (flower cloth) feature bright, colorful, geometric patterns inspired by nature. Paj ntaub tshiab (story cloths) developed out of this tradition in refugee camps in the 1970s. Hmong artisans created story cloths to earn income, share their stories, and celebrate their culture. Artist See Vang created this embroidery to tell the story of her new life in Wisconsin. The work features animals and plants from her life growing up in Laos and her time in Wisconsin.

Funded by the Madison Arts Commission