Brief
As a young girl, Ju Nie learned to weave from the women in her village in Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. She has lived in Greensboro since 1993 and continues to weave in the tradition of her Montagnard people. Although the Montagnards are comprised of many different tribes, the type of loom used in the Central Highlands is the backstrap loom.
Originally Montagnard weavers grew their own cotton, spun their thread by hand, and used dyes from the indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria) and other natural sources. Decorative elements such as beads were once made from plant materials that grew in their rice fields.
Although Ju has not grown cotton or spun all her thread since she has come to Greensboro she remembers how this was once done in Vietnam. She continues to weave using many of the colors and patterns that are traditional to her Rhade people and hopes to keep this tradition alive by teaching others to spin and weave in the traditional way of the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
In addition to weaving Ju enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden in Greensboro.
Public events and exhibitions
Demonstration of Backstrap Weaving, Children’s Museum, Spring 2010
2009 Winter Show, Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, Greensboro, 2009
First Friday Spinning and Weaving Week, Gate City Yarns, Greensboro, October 2009
August Art Oasis, Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, Greensboro, August 2009
Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, weaving classes and demonstration, 1996
Weaving traditional clothing for the Montagnard community for over 30 years
References
“Winter’s Work” Greensboro News-Record Sunday edition (Dec. 6, 2009) about her exhibition of work at the Green Hill Center for NC Art’s Winter Show.
Photo essay on Ju by News-Record photographer Jerry Wolford.
Contact Information
Ju Nie can be contacted through Betsy Renfrew.
