La Chiffonnière - Maryse Renard

Published with the support of the Canton of Vaud, Loterie Romande and the department of culture of the City of Vevey.

How does one weave a a story into a remnant of fabric? How does one counteract the disappearance and forgetfulness that often are hanging by a thread? Gather scraps and shreds to warp personal and family stories with the weft of the long chain of History. That is how «La Chiffonère» is woven, collected, to see an empty dress but understand the form it describes, a table cloth filled with history, the stories it holds, earth-stained gloves, a pink silk chador... Only available in French.

Maryse Mahmoudian-Renard, Swiss resident since 1975, accustomed to subtle variations in dialict since her childhood in a small village in Champagne, France, turned later to linguistics which led to a reflection on language, teaching and research in both France and Switzerland. This path led her to gain confidence and freedom from language and take the daunting step to publish her personal writings. It was Le Cadratin, created by Jean-Renaud Dagon, that facilitated this step and ten titles have already been published.

Other publications have appeared in journals including: Ecriture, l'Etabli de Traumfabrik, Remue.net, N47/28, Bacchanales, Alsatian Review of Literature. Collaboration with Femmes en Suisse by des comptes-rendus d'ouvrages and at the Centre d'études du Pays sézannais (Marne France), which publishes articles of historical interest. She collaborated with painters to produce several Livres Pauvres at the request of Daniel Leuwers.

An exhibition of her books and works of the seven accompanying painters with readings and music took place at the Estrée in Ropraz in 2016.

Member of the ADS, Association of Swiss Authors.