artist looking for an adventure.

julez

i am artist, going on an adventure through india.
researching on the internet can be difficul;t some times if i cant find what i am looking for. i am looking for connections into artist communties, colonies. i am interested in learning some traditional methods such as hand wood block printing, papier mache (non western style), and other fabulous ancient techniques. and really to talk and communicate with artists in india, or that have been to india.
any commments?

famous

Hi Julez,

Are you from NSCAD? I'm taking a 2 year break from NSCAD and have been living in Japan. I'm leaving for Mumbai/Bombay, India in 4 weeks. I'll live there for about 6 months. Finding connections for artists and craftspeople is always easier when you're actually in India. I lived in Hyderabad, AP for 2 years and it took a long time to meet local artists. But as soon as syou start meeting people, they can introduce you to others who can help you. Connections are very important. You could show up in cities and start by going to galleries or shops as your first points of contact. Many cities have concentrated areas where people work on crafts. many stores or workshops are often clustered together. I'm sure others will post about specific locations of different crafts. You might also google for craft fairs. There was a big one I saw in Hyderabad with people from all over India. Good luck!

RTree

I like famous' approach, finding a good teacher informally through word of mouth. In my own internet search I did find a traditional arts school in Kerala (http://www.vijnanakalavedi.org/) that might be worth checking out- they offer classes in wood carving, ayurveda, cooking, tabla, etc. For what it's worth, the guest remarks posted on their site seem to reflect meaningful learning experiences, as far as more "institutional" learning environments go.

famous

hi,
one other quick thought. I know that there are a number of NGO groups and coops in India that deal with crafts. sort of a "fair trade" for indian craft makers. Meeting members or organisers of these groups might be interesting for you. You could learn about local politics as it related to the manufacture of handicrafts as well as meet the people who do the work. try google....

chagu

Hi
I am a textile designer who lived in India for 8 years to learn about various techniques at the grass roots level and have connections in various communities you mention such as block printing and papier mache etc. If you have any specific queries please feel free too PM me .

chagu