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Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya |
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KALA RAKSHA VIDHYALA'S SIXTH ANNUAL CONVOCATION MELA! November 26-27, 2011 The Convocation celebrated KRV's Year of Co-Creation.
Half way through the year, someone commented, "It's all very well for artisans to learn design, but who is going to do my work?"
Our mission is to change that attitude toward artisans. This year, we collaborated with NID apparel students. It required discussion, sharing knowledge, and resources. It was a process, a co-creation! Both designers had to learn from each other. For this to happen, each person must acknowledge and respect each other's strengths. Kala Raksha's premise is that an artisan's greatest strength is knowledge, not simply skills. Anyone can learn skills. It takes generations to learn a tradition. We are here to value and strengthen traditions. This year we created an opportunity for increased appreciation for artisan designers. When this is realized, designers can work collaboratively for the best product and the question of who is going to do whose work vanishes.
This year's Convocation Mela, generously co-sponsored by Adani Foundation, CGPL-Tata Power and Bestseller Fund, began with two days of jurying by experts in craft and design, including Priya Kishore- founder of Bombay Electric, Radhi Parekh- founder of Artisans Gallery, Subrata Bhowmick- internationally renowned designer, Anuradha Kumra- head buyer Fabindia, Krishna Patel-faculty National Institute of Design, and Alison Welsh-faculty Manchester Metropolitan University (UK).
The jurying culminated in a fashion show inaugurated by the dazzling actress and social activist Shabana Azmi. Drawing a record crowd, the show was in important statement about the value of art and artisan.
The following day, graduates received certificates and awards were conferred. Ms. Geetha Narayanan, Founder and Director of Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology gave the keynote address, stressing the importance of working locally and with respect for the natural environment.
A public fair drew over 6,000 visitors from UK, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Korea, and the USA. The artisans tested new collections on a range of buyers, made direct sales and took orders. Local, national and international visitors watched and even participated in craft demonstrations, examined the collections and learned the importance of good design. This was a wonderful celebration of the culture of Kutch, and creators and Co-Creators, the Artisan Designers.
Lakshmiben- "We took this course to be better prepared to serve the market. We learned to think in another way. Now we can do our own work, as per the market." Jivaben- "The difference is day and night."
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KALA RAKSHA VIDHYALAYA: Concept of the Design School for Artisans Rationale and Structure Design Instruction and Institutional
Links CAD Center Course Content and Development Examples of innovations that have evolved in our four years of operation are the addition of a critical component of meeting craft consumers as well as visiting shops in a field trip to Ahmedabad, and equipping non-literate artisans with a language of visual symbols to analyze their experiences, transcending the lack of conventional literacy. In the finishing and presentation courses, mock juries of Kala Raksha staff and artisans’ relatives were added. These prepare the students for their final professional jury, and engage family members in the students’ hard work. In the third year, the problem of product design was addressed. Textile artisans cannot learn effective product design in a year. Yet, as product is supremely important, we sought a sustainable solution. Urban design school students were engaged, not to give designs to KRV students, but to be their clients. The artisan students presented their briefs and chose from concepts presented by the urban design students. The result was a range of new product designs, and the introduction of new perceptions in roles and abilities. Male and female artisans attend courses separately, conforming to social norms. We have learned to appreciate and support the courage it takes for women to participate in the KRV course. The pressure against women’s education is great.
KRV Impact In March 2011, Kala Raksha Vidhayala conducted an assessment of its impact on women graduates. With the exception of those who have been severely impacted by industry in extreme proximity to their villages, all of the graduates have clearly benefited in terms of increased income and improved work patterns. The products they have designed have been appreciated. To view the full report click here.
In 2010 KRV conducted an assessment of its impact on 50 of our 90 graduates:
Some excerpts from interviews with KRV graduates follow:
Tejuben- “Stepping into KRV, we started using our brains.”
Halimabai- “I find a difference in my past work and present work. Earlier we got threads and fabrics and did the embroidery any way. In the class we learned many things and the Ahmedabad visit was an amazing experience of my life,”
Hariyaben- “Coming to Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya, I not only learned but also got involved in the process of teaching. I observed the teaching process and for six months afterwards ran classes to guide artisans to make new designs in Suf.”
Ramjibhai- “My weaving earned me only Rs. 2000 or 2500 per month and I was going to stop weaving and join a factory to earn at least Rs. 3000 to 4000 per month, but suddenly KRV gave me an opportunity and not only my art but also my life survived…We wove just by copying others; we didn’t know the term “market,” and “costing” was something strange to us. Now we prepare products looking to the needs of the customers, seasons and even the country to which they belong.”
Aziz- “Earlier we were afraid to take risks in our craft and when I came to Kala Raksha, in the beginning I thought KRV people will starve us if I follow them and their ideas. But suddenly in the marketing course I learned everything gradually and understood the depth of business and now I am quite happy to have studied at Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya. After I completed my graduation I started implementing new ideas and my brother, father and other people laughed at me. But when I received a good response in the market after a short period, everyone started appreciating me and we sent my brother to KRV so that he can also help me doing new things.”
Suleman- “Now we can create fifty designs out of a single object and out of fifty, five will be sold at extempore and the other forty five would be well received in the near future. And out of our twenty samples, customers would pick up fifteen on the spot and the other five soon after.”
Rajesh- “The most important thing I have learned from Kala Raksha is love for my craft.”
THE FUTURE OF KRV
The gap between our nature based institute and the impending industrial jungle could not be larger nor more painful. While we much appreciate the support of Adani Foundation and Tata Power/CGPL for our annual Mela, due to construction of their two massive coal fed thermal power plants in extremely close proximity, our location will have to change. Relocation will incur huge costs in terms of money, time and spiritual energy. Financial constraints have delayed relocation. Despite our resounding success and continual creative explorations, the future of KRV’s site remains a question. Nonetheless we look forward to an exciting and ambitious plan to scale up and serve artisan communities. And we look to our supporters to help us through the period ahead!
For further information, contact designschool@kala-raksha.org or judyf@kala-raksha.org |
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