Sanda Bunsidth's 104th Birthday

Google Dooles 13.04.2023 23:00  Date: April 14, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 104th birthday of Thai artist Sanda Bunsidth. A skilled and creative weaver, her innovative methods are forever intertwined with her culture. Bunsidth was born in Ban Tha Muang, Thailand on this day in 1919. Although she never received a formal education, family members taught her how to read and write. She started weaving at a young age under the guidance of her grandma, a skilled craftsperson who often worked with dyes and ancient herbs. After marrying, Bunsidth developed a method of weaving called “bark cloth,” to create khaki-colored uniforms for her husband’s job as a civil servant. Wives in her town took notice of her impressive work, and Bunsidth offered to teach them. Eventually, she organized and taught a weaving group called "Ban Rai Phai Ngam Housewives Group,” which grew to over 40 members. The group’s designs earned praise from the public and Bunisdth reached folk-hero status across Thailand. She was lauded for her ability to use her surroundings as inspiration and keep the environment top-of-mind throughout the creation process. She instructed the group to use pure herbal dyes in fabric without any chemical additives while still managing to develop entirely new designs. Bunsidth earned the Outstanding Folk Artist Award in 1985 and in 1986, she won the Science Society of Thailand’s award for Outstanding Lanna science and technology worker in the field of textiles. Her work continues to inspire generations of Thai weavers. Location: Tags: