Showing posts tagged Judy Frater
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)
