Showcase of art and craft

Showcase of art and craft
Malaysia Star, Malaysia
By HELEN ONG

SINCE it started in the middle of last year, the Little Penang Street Market in Upper Penang Road has grown.

Mooted by heritage specialist Khoo Salma Nasution, the market was intended to showcase Penang’s art and craft and to encourage new or existing creative entrepreneurs.

Non-profit organisations are also using the market as an opportunity to help challenged or talented individuals. One such organisation is Community_Works, started by local activist Joe Sidek and friends. Their objective is to “empower the marginalised and challenged to create a positive change to their lives”.

Currently, they work with the Penang Prison, St Nicholas Home and Positive Women. Every month, they sponsor a number of stalls at the market, some of which are used to display any handicraft created by these groups.

Proceeds from the sales of these works are re-invested in Community _Works Projects (CWP).

The charitable body has been exploring ways to develop a local weaving industry. When purely by chance, a member, archaeological anthropologist Dr Gwynn Jenkins, met 60-year old Iban Luwie Anak Kudie from Sarawak, she was delighted to see Luwie weaving an object out of some plastic bind- ing tape.

“I was married to an Iban,” explained Dr Jenkins, “and we lived in a longhouse in Sibu. I learnt basic weaving from my ex-mother- in-law, so I could recognise that what Luwie was doing was really very good.”

Community_Works took Luwie under its wings and she made her debut at the market last month, impressing visitors with her weaving skills. Under her deft fingers, strands of rattan or bamboo were transformed into chic wallets, bags and holders of all shapes and sizes.

According to Luwie, most Iban people are taught to weave from a young age. She herself learnt from her mother.

“I used to go with her to collect rattan from vines in the jungle,” she reminisced.

Rattan is the preferred medium to work with, being more pliable and softer on the hands. The end-pro-duct is also more durable. Such is her skill that she can create practically anything so long as she is shown a sample.

So far, Luwie has created mainly household products, from little gift pouches with locally-made soaps in them to bags and place mats. The range is set to expand.

The products are not especially cheap, but good weaving takes time and patience, so she can only make a few items a day. The raw material is also expensive, so the organisation is trying to source for cheaper rattan.

The charitable organisation hopes to hold classes so others can learn from her in a skills transfer and enhancement programme.

The stall was popular with both locals and tourists who stopped by to admire and purchase Luwie’s handicraft. Look out for her on your next visit.

The Little Penang Street Market takes place in the pedestrian area of Upper Penang Road on the last Sunday of every month.