The BIG We Foundation (BWF), a cultural intermediary, has granted funds to an Indian American artist based in Texas for a project deeply rooted in South Asian culture.
Rakhee Jain received the grant for her project, ‘Beyond the Sari,’ as part of BWF’s SheStories program, which supports women storytellers from diverse backgrounds with a vision for societal change.
Jain’s project aims to collect and share intergenerational stories of South Asian women who migrated to Texas between the 1960s and 1980s, capturing their lived experiences.
Chosen among a group of five diverse creators spanning music, law, filmmaking, and activism, Jain is recognized as a multidisciplinary artist specializing in textiles/fiber. Her artistic practice, which encompasses painting, public art, moving images, sculptures, and installations, centers on narrating personal narratives within her community.
With a focus on immigrant identity, belonging, and place, Jain integrates ethnic craft techniques such as Batik into her work, considering them as vehicles for storytelling. She blends traditional craft methods with modern materials to intertwine memories of the past with aspirations for the future.
Jain’s artistic endeavors have been showcased in exhibitions across the US, Singapore, and Portugal. Notably, her mural ‘A Place to Call Home’ adorns the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, while her commissioned project ‘Folding Stories’ celebrates the multicultural heritage of the Southwest Houston neighborhood of Alief.
