Ejanish Summer Series - July 1st

Join Galas LGBTQ+ Armenian Society for Ejanish Summer Series, a three-part outdoor gathering exploring Armenian literature, banned books, censorship, and embroidery as a form of collective expression.

Led by artist and professor Blanca Alonso, Moving the Needle With Embroidery invites participants to read, discuss, and stitch together as we reflect on the words, histories, and ideas that have been banned, buried, or exiled.

Together, we’ll explore the history of banned books and the ideas that get censored, then read and discuss selections from Barbed Wires in Blossom by Gurgen Mahari, an Armenian writer from Kars whose work reflects on exile in Siberia and censorship under the Soviet Union.

After the reading and discussion, Blanca will guide participants through an embroidery lesson before we begin stitching our own responses onto fabric. Participants are invited to embroider on t-shirts, tote bags, patches, embroidery hoops, or other materials they bring with them.

Introduction + Context

A brief introduction to the history of banned books, censorship, and the words and ideas that are often silenced.

Reading + Discussion

A shared reading and conversation around Barbed Wires in Blossom by Gurgen Mahari. The text is in Armenian, with discussion guided to remain accessible and welcoming to participants across different language levels.

Embroidery Lesson

Blanca Alonso will introduce basic embroidery techniques using embroidery hoops.

Open Embroidery Time

Participants will have time to practice embroidery and stitch their own reflections onto t-shirts, tote bags, patches, or other fabric items.

Participants are encouraged to bring:

• Embroidery hoops

• T-shirts, tote bags, patches, or fabric items to embroider

• Snacks to share potluck-style

• A picnic blanket or something comfortable to sit on

Additional embroidery hoops, materials, and yarn/thread will be provided for participants who do not bring their own.