Showing posts tagged Craft
The making of a Rubina bag. A work in progress.
Check out our Facebook album that has pics from our latest product development in India. We’re working on a product with Rangsutra, that will be featured the same as the other awesome companies we’re recruiting for the Pilot. Let us know what you think and if you have any questions!
A meeting with the Indian Institute of Craft & Design
What: Indian Institute of Craft and Design
IICD was initiated by the Rajasthani government with the mission to “evolve a sustained program of growth and development of both crafts sector and craftsmen in an integrated manner. They focus on generating requisite knowledge, upgrading relevant skills and to fostering right attitudes in order to develop high quality, motivated human resource and change agents, in a vibrant climate of experimentation and innovation.”
Where: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Who: Dr. Bhardwaj (director) and Swarup Dutta (dean of UG programs)
Left to right: me, Swarup, 2 embroidery artisan teachers, embroidery class teacher
IICD students
Each student graduates when completing their Diploma Project, for which they produce a product that blends design principles and traditional craft. Some of the work I viewed was really interesting; particularly traditional Dhokra work formed into modern cutlery.
An overview of student work, experimental and finished.
Student design work, working with an artisan in woodwork and traditional weaving.
Embroidery Class
Two artisans who specialize in embroidery gave me a quick demo and put together a palette of several different types of embroidery to show the class.
From what I’ve gathered here so far, most of the issues for rural craftspeople are due to disconnection and lack of access: Artisans don’t have direct access to the market. Potential markets don’t know where to find out about traditional craft and artisans. Designers and artisans come from urban and rural perspectives, which makes working together in a creatively equal way difficult. Etc etc…
It’s encouraging to see IICD attempting to bridge some of those gaps. (And it’s not easy as these issues are all gray.) A couple of interesting things they’re doing are bringing artisans to teach their craft to students and creating a space for them to be experts and teachers, which creates respect and understanding on both sides. And in general, their programs explore the industry as a whole and all stakeholders in the value chain, and are trying to find ways all parties can add value and get value.
I was quite inspired by my visit and the people that are designing and graduating from the programs there, and am excited to see where they go with it all.
IICD needs
They are looking for international partnerships in case anyone is looking for exchange opportunities! Email me, if so.
Judy Frater, artisan advocate and rockstar
Last February, I had the great privilege of spending a couple weeks with the pioneering craft advocate and co-founder of Kala Raksha, Judy Frater. Judy is a rare find of a person in the world. She not only thinks with her brilliant mind, but her huge heart, and is more open about those things she thinks about than anyone I know. She’s lived in Kutch for more than 20 years working with traditional embroiderists and other artisans in the area. And I’d even argue that she’s been a huge force behind establishing the region as a destination for textile enthusiasts from around the world, all of whom want to schedule some time to meet with the famous Judy Frater. Between helping artisans fill out complicated visa applications to make it to Santa Fe’s International Folk Art Market in the summer, she also made time to meet Australian scholars working on books, volunteers, craft tour groups, and then of course me, who was looking to be mentored and observe different models of working with craftspeople. Judy’s a rockstar. And she deserves a big statue or plaque or benefit or something monumental and long-lasting to honor not only her work in Kutch, but her character.
This article briefly touches on her impact among artisans in India.
(via Ishan Khosla)
Such a fun day yesterday running around beautiful Jaipur with the lovely Namrata Milak, best city and craft tour guide EVER.
