Lucia Lienhard-Giesinger
Bosna Quilt Werkstatt
The first Bosna Quilts were made in the Galina refugee hostel in Vorarlberg, Austria in 1993. At the time, local artists tried various ways of giving employment to the women who had fled from Bosnia. The Bosna Quilt Werkstatt was initiated by Lucia Lienhard-Giesinger, with about 30 women contributing at the start. Exhibitions soon followed, and working on the quilts became an important purpose in life for many of the participating women. The refugees, among them Safira Hošo and Vesna Malokas, were able to return after the end of the war. They went back to their home town of Goražde, which had been under siege for three years. It was unthinkable for Safira that the workshop should be closed on her return. She put together a new group of women who had lived through the war at home and taught them how to make quilts. From then on, the colour schemes for Bosna Quilts have been composed in Vorarlberg, and the quilting has been done on the banks of the Drina river. The finished quilts find a home in many private households but also in public spaces all over the world. The eleven women in the project can thus rely on a regular income and a certain degree of economic security for their families: the women get paid immediately upon completing a quilt, regardless of when it is sold.
The Bosnian Quilters are Safira Hoso, Vesna Malokas, Mirza Kozo, Emina Hošo, Sada Srna, Munira Karo, Sabina Dolo, Ševala Hadžimesić, Hedija Kazagić, Mirza Mašić and Camila Sudić in Goražde and Sarajevo, Bosnien and Herzegowina.
The Bosna Quilt Werkstatt had numerous exhibitions and presentations in Austria, Bosnia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, France, England, Luxemburg, Sweden, Turkey, and the Netherlands.
1976 to 1979 - Studied Fine Arts and Religious Education, Mozarteum University, Salzburg, Austria
1971 to 1973 - Teachers College, Feldkirch, Austria
Born 1953, married, three sons, currently lives in Bregenz, Austria
See more of Lucia's work here: