Creative Dignity is a movement that has brought together diverse creative producers, practitioners and professionals to energise the ecosystem that Indian artisans need in this time of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 impact. Our focus is to provide relief, and rejuvenation of the artisans in a bid to ensure their sustained prosperity.
Relief
In the first three months,
we aim to provide immediate
assistance – cash, food & comfort
to artisans in distress reaching
the most vulnerable artisans
to provide ration kits and support
in identifying sale worthy stocks
Rehabilitation
From the 3- 12 months, we will seek to equip & prepare the artisan ecosystem for scale so that artisans can have stability in income
Rejuvenation
From 12 – 36 months, we aspire to
drive sustainability and scale in the
handicrafts industry to generate crafts
industry growth twice that
of the GDP growth
A donation of as little as INR 1,000 can augment nutrition and health for a family of four for an entire month.
Donate today and your donations will be matched by Campaign Gratitude of Norwest Venture Partners.
We ensure 100% of relief funds and sales proceeds reach the creative producer.
Funds Collected: Rs. 1,383,710
Target: Rs. 2,000,000
Craft Report
Join the mailing list to receive detailed periodic reports released by Creative Dignity documenting the latest status of the movement
Please feel free to flip through our quarterly newsletter
Please wait while flipbook is loading. For more related info, FAQs and issues please refer to DearFlip WordPress Flipbook Plugin Help documentation.
OUR VISION
India is made of makers – our cities and villages are a confluence of every skill and material – forging, weaving, sculpting the tradition and the future of the country. It is a pulsating living culture, all-pervasive across the time and place continuum.
India has approximately 200 million artisans* from master craftspersons, micro-entrepreneurs to piece rate, and job workers. They are the crafters of creativity within our culture but go unrecognized within the vast informal workforce. At this time of upheaval, we have an opportunity to re-imagine a more self-reliant, sustainable and ecologically sound future. Creative manufacturing can be the foundation of the next regenerative economy.
Our purpose is to enable vulnerable creative producers to enjoy secure and stable livelihoods and enable an ecosystem that ensures their health and wellbeing. We invite all who love the cultural creative manufacturing that we call ‘craft’ to contribute to the endeavour.
* 7 million is the official figure but guesstimates place it at nearly 200 million
Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Working Group Report on Handicrafts for 12th Five Year Plan, 2011; Crafts Council of India, Craft Economics and Impact Study: Stage 1 & Stage 2, 2011
Creative Dignity is run by experienced organisations and volunteers at zero administrative cost. We have initiated an active network of 28 State hubs for relief support and unsold stock liquidation.
Help us identify those in need:
Ask artisans in your networks to call / text our
Helpline number +91 6359021888
or email us at info@creativedignity.org
Follow us on
#CreativeDignity
The uniqueness of Jamdani lies in its rich motifs, which are all intricately added by hand. A Jamdani weaver can have between 100 to 300 different discontinuous weft threads laid out before her as she weaves. She picks the right thread and interweaves each weft by hand through thousands of warp threads. This process is so time intensive that on a usual day, an artisan can weave only between a quarter and one inch of fabric. That translates to a year if we're looking at a handwoven Jamdani sari. Hence, Jamdani is touted as the most advanced hand weaving technique in the world. No wonder the traditional art of weaving Jamdani was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
Sulaiman, a 9th-century Arab traveller, wrote of cotton fabrics made in the kingdom of Rahmi (erstwhile undivided Bengal) which were so fine they could pass through a signet ring. Around the 12th century, Islamic influences introduced countless motifs and colours to this beautiful fabric. The distinct technique, of a discontinuous weft, created motif-rich fabrics that bore poetic names like Shabnam (morning dew), Ab-i-rawan (flowing water) and Baftnama (woven wind). It was during the Mughal emperor Akbar's reign that the art blossomed into its most exquisite form—the flowered muslin, Jamdani (‘Jam’ meaning flower and ‘dani’ meaning vase).
Gopal Tanti, associated with Creative Dignity, is the third generation master weaver of Jamdani Weaves from Bardhaman District of West Bengal . There are sixty weavers working with him to produce vividly patterned Jamdani fabric, exceptional in their beauty and intricacy.
Jamdani is a celebration of beauty passed on to us, despite all odds, by those who came before. Our continuous patronage to the art will help the artisans to preserve the art and carry it forward.
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
“Mata-ni-Pachedi” literally means “Behind the Mother Goddess”. When people of the nomadic Vaghari community of Gujarat were barred from entering temples, they made their own shrines with depictions of the Mother Goddess on the cloth.
Traditional Mata ni Pachedi is a rectangular piece of fabric used as a canopy in a nomadic shrine. It usually has a set pattern. The mother Goddess occupies the central place and is surrounded by deities and commoners worshipping her. The painting is divided into seven to nine columns narrating different stories and scenes from mythology.
In a small locality in Ahmedabad, artisans make these paintings using the same methods followed 200 years ago. Cotton fabric is first de-starched and then treated with Harada paste, to prepare it for absorbing the colour. The main colours used are red (extracted from tamarind seeds), black (prepared from jaggery and iron) and white (cloth). Black is majorly used to draw and outline the motifs. Colour black is meant to repel malevolent spirits and intensify spiritual energy. White is considered as the color of purity. Red is associated with the goddess and believed to possess the healing powers. After application of each colour, the fabric is boiled in an alizarin solution, to bring out the colour. Then the cloth is washed in running water of Sabarmati River, so that any excess colour flows away, instead of staining the cloth. Over the course of time, artists have started using wooden blocks facilitating the use of finer motifs. They also incorporate many more colours such as indigo, green and yellow extracted from natural materials.
Nowadays, artisans use the art form to make smaller souvenir pieces, wall hangings and stoles for the tourists.
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Credits - Gaatha.com, readingcloth.blogspot.com, dsource.in, @dilip_chitara14
The ongoing Artisan Direct National Edit is enabling artisans to sell remotely. Creative Dignity has partnered with Okhai, iTokri, Zwende, Freedom Tree, GoCoop, Jaypore and A Charmed Life – well-known craft e-commerce websites -- for Indian artisans and craftspeople to sell their products digitally.
We are excited to tell you that we have ten extremely talented artisans from West Bengal showcasing exquisite Kantha work, madur craft, leather craft, Kenjakura weaving, Bengal handloom weaving, shola craft and hand embroidered artisanal products.
We request you to support these artisans. It is only through our sustained patronage that Indigenous art forms can thrive.
This ongoing campaign facilitating artisans and artisan led organizations' access to new markets is supported by FICCI FLO - the women’s wing of FICCI.
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Creative Dignity wishes you a very happy Durga Puja and Navratri. We hope this festive season brings you and your loved ones a lot of joy.
Festivals in India are associated with different art forms that add their unique colour to the festivities. Creative Dignity is excited to share with you vibrant craft forms over the next 9 days of celebrations. Stay tuned!
Image credits: @dilip_chitara14
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
The Seventh Decade
Taking stock of the craft sector and see where it has reached as per the vision of the stalwarts who revived the crafts in the country post-independence
Neelam Chibber – Governing Council, Creative Dignity
Sreya Mazumdar- Executive Director, AIACA
Brijballabh Udaiwal - CCWA,Rajasthan
Antara Dutta – Director, CCWA, West Bengal
Bhupesh Tiwari- President, Saathi Samaj Seva Sanstha, Chhattisgarh
Sunil Deshpandey- Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra, Maharashtra
Abdul Shaban – Professor, TISS
Shantmanu IAS, DC Handicraft
Moderator: Dr Toolika Gupta- Director IICD
Webinar organised by Indian Institute of Crafts and Design and Creative Dignity in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Craft Council of Weavers and Artisans along with other stakeholders of the craft sector on 15th October at 5 PM
#internationalcraftsday #craftsofindia #artisansofindia #artistsofindia #artisanseries #craftsmantools #craftspace #craftshow #upskilling #nativeart #authenticart #folkart #artandcraft #indiacraftsmanship#worldcraftday #internationalcraftsday2020
On this International Day of Rural Women, we are delighted to announce that Okhai, one of our e-commerce partners for the ongoing Artisan Direct National Edit, is launching a helpline for the rural artisan women.
The textiles and handicraft industry is the second-largest employment provider in India. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the craft sector of India. A large number of artisans have no work and many mouths to feed. To better the situation for Indian artisans, @creativedignity has collaborated with @okhai_org for this much-needed initiative.
An artisan can call to register the issue they are facing, the product they make, the number of artisans part of their collective, and their geographical location. Okhai and Creative Dignity will try to find a solution to their problem by connecting them to individuals and organizations looking for makers of that particular craft.
Our hope is that this helpline will become a source of hope for artisans in the remotest parts of India.
#internationalcraftsday #creativedignity #craftsofindia #artisansofindia #artistsofindia #artisanseries #craftsmantools #craftspace #craftshow #upskilling #nativeart #authenticart #folkart #artandcraft #handmadeindia #indiacraftsmanship #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #shopforlocal #indianartisans #handcrafted
On this International Craft Day, Creative Dignity salutes the Indian artisans and craftspeople that are the life force of the craft sector of India.
.
.
@zwendedesign @okhai_org @acharmedlifein
#internationalcraftsday #craftsofindia #artisansofindia #artistsofindia #artisanseries #craftsmantools #craftspace #craftshow #upskilling #nativeart #authenticart #folkart #artandcraft #indiacraftsmanship
#handmadeinindia #CreativeDignity #ArtisansofIndia #makeinindia
On this International Craft Day, Creative Dignity salutes the Indian artisans and craftspeople that are the life force of the craft sector of India.
@freedomtreehome @jaypore @letsgocoop
#internationalcraftsday #craftsofindia #artisansofindia #artistsofindia #artisanseries #craftsmantools #craftspace #craftshow #upskilling #nativeart #authenticart #folkart #artandcraft #indiacraftsmanship #worldcraftday #internationalcraftsday2020
Creating a Phad painting requires exceptional skill and patience. Even today, the artists use traditional techniques of painting and making vegetable paints. Depending on the complexity, it can take between a few weeks to a few months to complete an artwork.
The entire process of making a Phad painting is completely natural, with the use of coarse handwoven cotton cloth as canvas and natural paints sourced from stones, flowers, plants, and herbs. The paints are handmade by the artists and mixed with gum and water before applying to the cloth.
This devotional folk narrative art form, more than 700 years old, came into existence when members of the Rabari tribe realized that there was no one fixed temple that they could visit. So, instead, they created these traveling temples that could visit them. Historically, the Bhopas (priests) from the Rabari tribe would commission the Joshis from the Chipa caste to craft a Phad to use in their performances.
The Bhopa and Bhopi (male priest and his wife) would travel from village to village with their ravanhatta, a two-string instrument and using the Phad paintings as visual aids would perform dramatic renditions of stories about Pabuji, a local hero, and Devnarayanji, a reincarnation of Vishnu.
Due to the revival efforts of Joshi family from Bhilwara, there is a much greater appreciation for this art form today. Shri Lal Joshi, breaking away with tradition stipulating that secrets of making a Phad should remain within the Joshi clan, established Chitrashala in 1960 to train artists from outside the clan. Over the years, Chitrashala has trained around 3000 artists, some of whom have won national acclaim.
As part of our ongoing Artisan Direct National Edit, we have partnered with the acclaimed artist Kalyan Joshi. He is showcasing his vibrantly colored collection at Zwende, our e-commerce partner. We sincerely hope that you will support this amazing artist with your patronage.
Credits:
Info: scroll.in, artisera. Com
Image: Kalyan Joshi
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19
Members of the Joshi family have played a significant role in the revival and preservation of the Phad art form.
Historically, it was believed that the secrets of Phad painting should be confined to the Joshi family of Bhilwara, Rajasthan. Consequently, even the daughters were not taught this art. However, when Shree Lal Joshi, a Padma Shri, and Shilp Guru awardee, realized that this is causing this ancient folk art to fade, he broke away with tradition and established Chitrashala in 1960. Under the patronage of his sons, Gopal and Kalyan Joshi, this revival effort has expanded. Over the years, more than 3,000 artists have been trained at Chitrashala, some of whom have won the national award too.
The Joshi family has not only preserved a significant folk-art form but also the painstaking method of making natural pigments and the time-intensive traditional methods of making a Phad.
Kalyan Joshi is credited with contemporizing and expanding the themes depicted in a traditional Phad painting. Historically, only tales of local heroes like Pabuji and local deities such as Devnarayanji were narrated. He has depicted stories and characters from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Hanuman Chalisa, and even the Panchatantra. To make it commercially viable, the size of Phad paintings was also reduced considerably, and today, they are made as small as 2, 4, or 6 feet. This is unlike the traditional Phad scrolls which are nearly 30 feet long and 5 feet wide.
CD, as part of its ongoing campaign Artisan Direct National Edit, has partnered with the eminent artist Kalyan Joshiji. Joshiji is showcasing his collection of Phad paintings at Zwende @zwendedesign our e-commerce partner. Show your support for this amazing artist and guru.
Credits:
Image: Kalyan Joshi
Info: thebetterindia.com, artisera.com
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Phad art form combines performing arts & visual art. This art form, nearly 700 years old, is a significant folk narrative tradition of Bhilwara, Rajasthan. Phad is a scroll painting that depicts stories about local heroes & deities. Created as mobile shrines, these paintings were carried by the priest-singers of the Rabari tribe, called Bhopas & Bhopis, who would sing and perform stories of their local deities - Devnarayanji (a reincarnation of Vishnu) & Pabuji (a local hero). The painting would be unfolded after sunset and the performance in front of villagers would last into the night. This is perhaps why the paintings are called ‘Phad’, which means ‘fold’ in the local dialect.
While the male priest (Bhopa) would sing & narrate the story depicted in the Phad painting, his wife (Bhopi) would accompany through song & dance, while also pointing to the corresponding section in the painting, using a lamp. A two-string instrument called the ‘ravanhatta’ would be used in the performance.
The traditional paintings used to be large, with “Pabuji ki Phad”, or Phad paintings of Pabuji being 13 armlengths long, those of Devnarayanji being almost 30 feet long. With the efforts of distinguished Phad artists, the themes depicted in the paintings have expanded & contemporized & to suit modern homes, their sizes have reduced considerably.
Kalyanji Joshi, a renowned Phad artist, started narrating stories of characters other than Devnarayanji & Pabuji in Phad paintings. Stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Hanuman Chalisa, & even the Panchatantra were introduced making the paintings more appealing to a larger audience.
CD is delighted to collaborate with Kalyanji who is showcasing his collection of Phad paintings at @zwendedesign our e-commerce partner.
Credits:
Image: Kalyan Joshi
Info: Artisera
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
The Karuna campaign launches today - 11th of October with the coming together of all the 6 dolls. Karuna, the compassionate traveller, commenced her journey in September when she visited Kerala. The first phase of her journey has culminated in Maharashtra. In between, she has visited Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Each of the six versions of Karuna has a unique story about the maker and the specific region she comes from.
We are delighted to inform you that the full set of all 6 dolls is now available to purchase at a ‘special group price’. You can purchase them as a set or individually via Creative Dignity’s digital platforms -Instagram: @creativedignity and Facebook: @creativedignity2020
For more inquiries, orders and gifting opportunities email us at karuna@creativedignity.org or call us at +91-9833860282.
The logistics partner for the campaign is DHOOP - Curated Craft and Design @dhoopcrafts that has been working closely with Indian craft and design since 2003.
#karuna #karunadoll #compassion #creativedignity #creativedignitycampaigns #compassionatetraveller #karunacampaign #handmadedolls #karunastraveldiaries #journey #resilience #joy #hope #creativity #strength #unity #diversity #local #CD #vocalforlocal #donate #gift #shoplocal #supportartisans #handmadeinindia #200millionartisans #handforhandmade #artisan #handcrafted #craftsofindiansoul
The Karuna campaign launches today - 11th of October with the coming together of all the 6 dolls. Karuna, the compassionate traveller, commenced her journey in September when she visited Kerala. The first phase of her journey has culminated in Maharashtra. In between, she has visited Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Each of the six versions of Karuna has a unique story about the maker and the specific region she comes from.
We are delighted to inform you that the full set of all 6 dolls is now available to purchase at a ‘special group price’. You can purchase them as a set or individually via Creative Dignity’s digital platforms -Instagram: @creativedignity and Facebook: @creativedignity2020
For more inquiries, orders and gifting opportunities email us at karuna@creativedignity.org or call us at +91-9833860282.
The logistics partner for the campaign is DHOOP - Curated Craft and Design @dhoopcrafts that has been working closely with Indian craft and design since 2003.
#karuna #karunadoll #compassion #creativedignity #creativedignitycampaigns #compassionatetraveller #karunacampaign #handmadedolls #karunastraveldiaries #journey #resilience #joy #hope #creativity #strength #unity #diversity #local #CD #vocalforlocal #donate #gift #shoplocal #supportartisans #handmadeinindia #200millionartisans #handforhandmade #artisan #handcrafted #craftsofindiansoul
The Karuna campaign launches today - 11th of October with the coming together of all the 6 dolls. Karuna, the compassionate traveller, commenced her journey in September when she visited Kerala. The first phase of her journey has culminated in Maharashtra. In between, she has visited Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Each of the six versions of Karuna has a unique story about the maker and the specific region she comes from.
We are delighted to inform you that the full set of all 6 dolls is now available to purchase at a ‘special group price’. You can purchase them as a set or individually via Creative Dignity’s digital platforms -Instagram: @creativedignity and Facebook: @creativedignity2020
For more inquiries, orders and gifting opportunities email us at karuna@creativedignity.org or call us at +91-9833860282.
The logistics partner for the campaign is DHOOP - Curated Craft and Design @dhoopcrafts that has been working closely with Indian craft and design since 2003.
#karuna #karunadoll #compassion #creativedignity #creativedignitycampaigns #compassionatetraveller #karunacampaign #handmadedolls #karunastraveldiaries #journey #resilience #joy #hope #creativity #strength #unity #diversity #local #CD #vocalforlocal #donate #gift #shoplocal #supportartisans #handmadeinindia #200millionartisans #handforhandmade #artisan #handcrafted #craftsofindiansoul
The Artisan Direct National Edit is collaborating with Indian artisans from various states, facilitating their access to new markets digitally. Many of these artisans have had no digital access previously. We are excited to share with you that as part of the ongoing campaign, we are bringing you the exquisite crafts of chikankari, durries, miniature murtikari, and kitemaking from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Creative Dignity has partnered with six e-commerce platforms - Okhai, iTokri, FreedomTree, GoCoop, Zwende, and Jaypore to enable artisans to reach consumers globally. Our partners have very generously reduced their margins to boost stock sales of the artisans involved. This ongoing campaign facilitating artisans and artisan led organizations' access to new markets is supported by FICCI FLO - the women’s wing of FICCI.
The Indian artisan community is facing a dire situation, a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis. They are struggling with piles of unsold inventory, cancellation of orders, and a shortage of raw material. Interventions such as Artisan Direct National Edit are connecting artisans to newer markets by partnering with craft e-commerce platforms. We encourage you to go to our e-commerce partners’ websites and explore the collections put together by artisans, our volunteers, and partner organizations with a great deal of love, hope, and hard work.
Our everyday actions and choices can have the cumulative effect of getting the craft sector back on its feet. Let’s make sure that this festive season is truly festive for Indian artisans and their families.
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Creative Dignity began as a deliberate coming together of people and organizations moved by the predicament of Indian artisans and their families severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. With no shilp bazaars, fair trade events, and craft melas, artisans were left in a lurch. They had piles of unsold inventory, a shortage of raw material, and no new orders. A great deal of them has been struggling to meet their basic needs. Our first priority was to provide immediate relief, followed by rehabilitation and rejuvenation.
We are happy to inform you that funds worth INR 20,81,044 have been disbursed either as ration kits or cash to 2456 distressed artisan families across India. A big thank you to all the donors.
Credits:
Image: Dayalal Kudecha
#artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #SupportHandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #mission #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
A shout out to everyone who has and continues to support the burgeoning movement!
Creative Dignity is an unprecedented movement that continues to grow to newer heights all thanks to the volunteers who believe in the vision and contribute with immense enthusiasm.
Image Credits: Tarannum F. Khatri
#artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #SupportHandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #mission #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Enameling is the process of applying a thin coat of finely ground glass to metal. When heated to a high temperature, the glass melts and fuses to the metal and creates a brilliantly coloured decorative effect. This art form is noted for its glossy surface, which is hard & long-lasting.
History of enameling can be traced back to the sixth century B.C. or even earlier, wherein Greek sculptures show surfaces with areas of inlaid metal covered with enamel. The ancient Greek goldsmiths inlaid their jewelry with thin coatings of white and blue enamel between gold wires. By the third century B.C., the enamel process had spread to England & Ireland. Slowly, it spread from Europe to Asia Minor & the Middle East, to India & China, & then to Japan by the third century A.D.
Copper Enamel Arts and Crafts associated with Creative Dignity has a range of copper enameled products such as desktop accessories, home decor artifacts, and Puja articles. It is an interesting story about how it was set up in a Konkan village.
A gentleman, Mr. Babu Mhatre, travelled to Spain in the late fifties & learned the craft under the world-renowned enamelist Sr. Sol de Villa in Barcelona. On returning to India he started exploring indigenous methods to work on this craft. He worked with Bhulabhai Memorial Institute in Mumbai during 1959-1960. After gaining popularity, he started a workshop in Alibaug where he produced lifestyle accessory products. He trained the locals in this craft who later branched out on their own to work independently and that is how it started being practiced in a Konkan village. Mr. Sanjay Patil is the master craftsman heading Copper Enamel Arts and Crafts today. CD is proud to be associated with him.
Credits:
Info: Britannica.com; https://extension.wisc.edu/; Copper Enamel Arts and Crafts
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Chitrakathi paintings, part of the rich oral storytelling tradition of India, are practised by the Thakar Adivasi of Pinguli village in Maharashtra. Chitrakathi is composed of two words – ‘chitra’ meaning image and ‘kathi’ denoting story. Chitrakathi is the art of storytelling through paintings. Chitrakathi developed in the form of exquisitely painted images about religious events from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
Chitrakathi artists not only paint, but are also performers, composing the songs that tell stories, and performing them to music. By modulating their voice to create dialogue and drama, the performance is also backed by vocals and playing traditional musical instruments.
More than 50 paintings together form a bundle or ‘pothi’, which is used by the artist to narrate the story. The total number of pictures carefully preserved by the community is 400, out of which some are around 300 years old and some are 50 to 60 years old.
In style, the bold brushwork of Chitrakathi resembles the art of the leather shadow puppets of Telangana. The eyes are the most animated feature of the paintings. Traditionally natural dyes were used on handmade paper. The size of the paper was standardized, based on the usual size of what was suitable for the village audiences.
This ancient form of storytelling, more than 500 years old, continues to exist in Pinguli village in Sindhudurg district largely because of the efforts of Parshuram Gangawane and his family. They converted their old cowshed into a museum which also serves as a little shop to sell Chitrakathi paintings and other merchandise. They regularly hold workshops and Chitrakathi performances here. CD is proud to be associated with the Gangawane family.
Credits:
Image: Parshuram Gangawane
Info: Google Arts & Culture, pingulichitrakathiart.com
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
Warli Art is an ancient tribal art, the roots of which may be traced back to as early as the 10th Century. It was rediscovered in the early seventies. The art form is practiced by the “Warli” tribe inhabiting the northern outskirts of Mumbai in Maharashtra. “Warli” comes from the word “warla” which means a piece of land or field. The art of decorating home walls was a medium to transmit folklore to people who were not versed in the written word.
Unlike other folk arts, Warli does not depict religious deities or recreate scenes from mythology. Inspired by nature, it is the vivid expression of their social life. Elements from nature such as sun, moon, river, animals, and birds often feature in this art form. Also, human beings are shown engaged in their daily life activities such as sowing, harvesting, hunting, drawing water from well, grinding, and even dancing. The figures and traditional motifs are repetitive, rhythmic, and highly symbolic.
Simple and rustic, it is painted in white on an austere brown surface or mud walls, decorated with occasional dots in red and yellow. White colour is obtained from grounding rice into a white powder and painted with bamboo sticks.
Nowadays, Warli paintings are also created on various surfaces such as paper, fabric, wood, metal, etc which help tribals to sell them to the wider audience. Raah Foundation @raah_foundation, associated with Creative Dignity, connects the underprivileged, talented women groups and hardworking artisans to the urban art-loving audience through the design and production of Warli artifacts ranging from home essentials, fashion accessories, office desk furniture, and personal essentials.
Credits:
Info: http://warlipaintingsart.blogspot.com; http://www.indian-art.net/;
#futurecraft #mycraftstory #artisans #CreativeDignity #hope #charityforhandmade #supporthandmade #200million #200millionartisans #ruralhome #storytelling #art #artcuration #covid19 #donate #linkinbio #handmadeinindia #CD #artisanal #crafts #handcrafted #craftsofindia #India #makeinindia #vocalforlocal #shoplocal #support #supportartisans #atmanirbhar #handforhandmade
People
Creative Diginity is a movement by people united by their passion for the artisanal sector,
and in coalition with A Hand for Handmade and Handmade in India initiatives. If you would
like to partner or volunteer, join the movement by emailing at info@creativedignity.org
The #CreativeDignity movement has received endorsement from government, industry
experts and creative producers and practitioners from across India
Asian Heritage Foundation | Association of Designers of India | AIACA | Crafts Council of India | Craft Revival Trust | Dastkar | Dastkari Haat Samiti | EPCH | Fair Trade Forum India | FORHEX | IICD | INTACH | National Federation for Handloom & Handicrafts | NID | SEWA |
Strategic guidance and mentoring from Kearney
Governing Council
Akshai Sarin BlessdBuy | Ayaz Basrai Busride | Ayush Kasliwal AKFD Studio | Meera Goradia | Neelam Chhiber Industree | Pooja Ratnakar Potli | Smita Mankad Women On Wings | Vishpala Hundekari EkiBeki | Sandeep Dhopate Soolkaama
Akshai Sarin BlessdBuy | Ayaz Basrai Busride | Ayush Kasliwal AKFD Studio | Meera Goradia | Neelam Chhiber Industree | Pooja Ratnakar Potli | Smita Mankad Women On Wings | Vishpala Hundekari EkiBeki | Sandeep Dhopate Soolkaama
Executive Support
Pawroosh Mohan | Shyam Aravindakshan |
Pawroosh Mohan | Shyam Aravindakshan |
State Hubs
EAST
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura
Asomee Dutta Baruah Sreemanta Sankar Mission | Jesmina Zeliang Cane Concepts | Rajeev Gupta | Sentila T. Yanger Tribal Weave
Arunachal Pradesh
Nabam Taba
Assam
Anshu Arora | Julie Kagti | Najitra Bora
Manipur
Purnima Devi
Meghalaya
Janesseline
Mizoram
M S Ralte
Nagaland
Temsusenla Ao
Sikkim
Smita Rai
Tripura
Lovely Baruah
Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
Payal Nath Kadam Haat
Bihar
Veena Upadhyay Srijani Foundation
Chhattisgarh
Bhupesh Tiwari Saathi Samaj Seva Sansthan
Jharkhand
Khitish Pandya Eco Tussar – PRADAN | PIDT Lokshala Madhupur
Odisha
Siddhartha Das JD Center Of Art
West Bengal
Sujata Goswami Sasha
NORTH
Chandigarh, Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh
Pooja Ratnakar Potli
Delhi NCR
Tanveen Rathi Organic Connect | Bindu Manchanda INTACH | Nilanjana Das ACT | Purnima Rai | Valay Gada Cobalt Designs
Punjab & Haryana
Parvinder Pal Kheti Virasat Mission Trust | Sunaina Suneja
Uttar Pradesh
Madhavi Kukreja Sanatkada | Ashish Sati Himalayee Self Reliant Cooperative | Jyotsna Habibullah | Moon Sharma Tara Projects | Nagma Ehtesham Sanatkada | Pallavi & Mohsin Samuday | Vandana Varma
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
J P Maithani Alaknanda Ghati Shilpi Federation (Aagaas Federation)
Himachal Pradesh
Kamal Kishore Kullu Karishma | Swati Seth The Color Caravan
Jammu
SM Sahini INTACH | SS Rissam
Kashmir
Shruti Jagota C2K | Burhan Ud Din | Renuka Savsere | Yasir CDI Kashmir | Zameer
Uttarakhand
Ashish Sati Himalayee Self Reliant Cooperative
SOUTH
Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry
Durga Venkataswamy BLUE LOTUS
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Meena Appnender Craft Council Telangana | Bina Rao Creative Bee | Gowri Thergaonkar Malkha | Macherla Mohan Rao NFHH | Siva Devireddy Gocoop | Vijay Switha Grandhi Chitrika
Karnataka
Gauri Sanghi | Chandra Jain Crafts Council of Karnataka | Juhee Jain | Mayura Balasubramaniam Craftizen | Nikita Jain | Padmaja Jalihal | Padmini Govind Tharingini Studio | Pavitra Muddaya Vimor Foundation| Sanchita Dasgupta | Saranya Gogineni | Seemantini Mihir | Shilpa Trust
Kerala
KP Lakshmi Ahuja Vasudha Design Studio
Puducherry
Uma Prajapati Upasana
Tamil Nadu
Rajeswari Endapalli Crafts Council of India | Lakshmi Vijayraghavan Crafts Council of India | Nandita George Crafts Council of India | Roopa Crafts Council of TN | Shankar Crafts Council of TN | Shreemathi Mohan | Xavier Benedict AARDE
WEST
Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
Sarika Kulkarni Raah Foundation
Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gujarat
Nilesh Priyadarshi Karigar Clinic | Ghatit Laheru Khamir, KCC
Goa
Darpana Athale Sarvasva Design
Madhya Pradesh
Nivedita Rai Womens Weave
Maharashtra
Sarika Kulkarni Raah Foundation
Rajasthan
Brij Ballabh Udaiwal CIWA
EAST
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura
Asomee Dutta Baruah Sreemanta Sankar Mission | Jesmina Zeliang Cane Concepts | Rajeev Gupta | Sentila T. Yanger Tribal Weave
Arunachal Pradesh
Nabam Taba
Assam
Anshu Arora | Julie Kagti | Najitra Bora
Manipur
Purnima Devi
Meghalaya
Janesseline
Mizoram
M S Ralte
Nagaland
Temsusenla Ao
Sikkim
Smita Rai
Tripura
Lovely Baruah
Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
Payal Nath Kadam Haat
Bihar
Veena Upadhyay Srijani Foundation
Chhattisgarh
Bhupesh Tiwari Saathi Samaj Seva Sansthan
Jharkhand
Khitish Pandya Eco Tussar – PRADAN | PIDT Lokshala Madhupur
Odisha
Siddhartha Das JD Center Of Art
West Bengal
Sujata Goswami Sasha
NORTH
Chandigarh, Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh
Pooja Ratnakar Potli
Delhi NCR
Tanveen Rathi Organic Connect | Bindu Manchanda INTACH | Nilanjana Das ACT | Purnima Rai | Valay Gada Cobalt Designs
Punjab & Haryana
Parvinder Pal Kheti Virasat Mission Trust | Sunaina Suneja
Uttar Pradesh
Madhavi Kukreja Sanatkada | Ashish Sati Himalayee Self Reliant Cooperative | Jyotsna Habibullah | Moon Sharma Tara Projects | Nagma Ehtesham Sanatkada | Pallavi & Mohsin Samuday | Vandana Varma
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
J P Maithani Alaknanda Ghati Shilpi Federation (Aagaas Federation)
Himachal Pradesh
Kamal Kishore Kullu Karishma | Swati Seth The Color Caravan
Jammu
SM Sahini INTACH | SS Rissam
Kashmir
Shruti Jagota C2K | Burhan Ud Din | Renuka Savsere | Yasir CDI Kashmir | Zameer
Uttarakhand
Ashish Sati Himalayee Self Reliant Cooperative
SOUTH
Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry
Durga Venkataswamy BLUE LOTUS
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Meena Appnender Craft Council Telangana | Bina Rao Creative Bee | Gowri Thergaonkar Malkha | Macherla Mohan Rao NFHH | Siva Devireddy Gocoop | Vijay Switha Grandhi Chitrika
Karnataka
Gauri Sanghi | Chandra Jain Crafts Council of Karnataka | Juhee Jain | Mayura Balasubramaniam Craftizen | Nikita Jain | Padmaja Jalihal | Padmini Govind Tharingini Studio | Pavitra Muddaya Vimor Foundation| Sanchita Dasgupta | Saranya Gogineni | Seemantini Mihir | Shilpa Trust
Kerala
KP Lakshmi Ahuja Vasudha Design Studio
Puducherry
Uma Prajapati Upasana
Tamil Nadu
Rajeswari Endapalli Crafts Council of India | Lakshmi Vijayraghavan Crafts Council of India | Nandita George Crafts Council of India | Roopa Crafts Council of TN | Shankar Crafts Council of TN | Shreemathi Mohan | Xavier Benedict AARDE
WEST
Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
Sarika Kulkarni Raah Foundation
Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gujarat
Nilesh Priyadarshi Karigar Clinic | Ghatit Laheru Khamir, KCC
Goa
Darpana Athale Sarvasva Design
Madhya Pradesh
Nivedita Rai Womens Weave
Maharashtra
Sarika Kulkarni Raah Foundation
Rajasthan
Brij Ballabh Udaiwal CIWA
Teams
Volunteer Management
Namrata Asudani | Pooja Ratnakar Potli
Fund Relations
Dhruvi Shah | Kunal Khandelwal | Mayura Balasubramanian Craftizen | Priya Krishnamoorthy 200millionartisans | Shreya Thakur SATTVA | Switha Vijaya Chitrika
Relief Disbursement
Deeptee Kapila | Lavanya Goyal | Pawroosh Mohan | Vishpala Hundekari EkiBeki
Stock Sales
Ayush Kasliwal AKFD Studio | Mayura Balasubramaniam Craftizen | Pooja Ratnakar Potli | Shyam Aravindakshan
Design
Abhishek Choudhary | Anupama Sharda | Ayaz Basrai Busride | Barun Shankar Gupta | Basu Vansit | Chanchal Rathore | Dhanya Kolathur | Juhi Pandey | Mansee Badve | Meenakshi Singh | Meghana Ajit I Mugdha Gosavi | Nupur Batra | Rashmi Singh | Saranya | Shraddha | Sumita Choudhury | Swati Jain | Urvashi Bhati | supported by students of IICD, MIT, Srishti and NIFT
Online Retail Partners
Kirti Poonia Okhai | Nitin Pamnani itokri | Rashmi Shukla Jaypore | Sivadevi Reddy, Sriranjini, Neeta Shah GoCoop | Sujay Zwende | Maneet Lal10 | Sumiran Pandya Gaatha
Frontend
Aanchal Sodhani | ADVERB | Akshai Sarin BlessdBuy | Akshita Gangwal | Anurag Chandel | Avni Kering | Ayaz Basrai Busride | Deepali Kholkar | Geetanjali Kasliwal Anantaya | Jaspal Kalra | Latika Khosla Freedom Tree | Malvika Agarwal Schonfilt LLP | Malvika Vaswani | Sandeep Dhopate Soolkaama
Brand & Communication Design
Saurav Roy Roy.Studio
Website Development
Sandeep Dhopate, Soolkaama | Saurabh Gupta Webgyor
Supporters
Aadya Handloom | Arghya Ghosh | Geetanjali Krishna | Ikai Asai Foundation | Jacob Matthew Industree | Leenika Jacob The Kala Chaupal | Manish Saksena | Meeta Mastani Bindaas Unlimited | Nagma Praveen | Neeta | Oindrilla Mukherjee | Radhi Parikh Artisans’ Centre | Ramesh Ramanathan | Saranya Gogineni | Shilpa Sharma | Shumita Ghosh Rangsutra | Swati Soharia | Tarini Manchanda | Vanmala Jain Kuprkabi
Volunteer Management
Namrata Asudani | Pooja Ratnakar Potli
Fund Relations
Dhruvi Shah | Kunal Khandelwal | Mayura Balasubramanian Craftizen | Priya Krishnamoorthy 200millionartisans | Shreya Thakur SATTVA | Switha Vijaya Chitrika
Relief Disbursement
Deeptee Kapila | Lavanya Goyal | Pawroosh Mohan | Vishpala Hundekari EkiBeki
Stock Sales
Ayush Kasliwal AKFD Studio | Mayura Balasubramaniam Craftizen | Pooja Ratnakar Potli | Shyam Aravindakshan
Design
Abhishek Choudhary | Anupama Sharda | Ayaz Basrai Busride | Barun Shankar Gupta | Basu Vansit | Chanchal Rathore | Dhanya Kolathur | Juhi Pandey | Mansee Badve | Meenakshi Singh | Meghana Ajit I Mugdha Gosavi | Nupur Batra | Rashmi Singh | Saranya | Shraddha | Sumita Choudhury | Swati Jain | Urvashi Bhati | supported by students of IICD, MIT, Srishti and NIFT
Online Retail Partners
Kirti Poonia Okhai | Nitin Pamnani itokri | Rashmi Shukla Jaypore | Sivadevi Reddy, Sriranjini, Neeta Shah GoCoop | Sujay Zwende | Maneet Lal10 | Sumiran Pandya Gaatha
Frontend
Aanchal Sodhani | ADVERB | Akshai Sarin BlessdBuy | Akshita Gangwal | Anurag Chandel | Avni Kering | Ayaz Basrai Busride | Deepali Kholkar | Geetanjali Kasliwal Anantaya | Jaspal Kalra | Latika Khosla Freedom Tree | Malvika Agarwal Schonfilt LLP | Malvika Vaswani | Sandeep Dhopate Soolkaama
Brand & Communication Design
Saurav Roy Roy.Studio
Website Development
Sandeep Dhopate, Soolkaama | Saurabh Gupta Webgyor
Supporters
Aadya Handloom | Arghya Ghosh | Geetanjali Krishna | Ikai Asai Foundation | Jacob Matthew Industree | Leenika Jacob The Kala Chaupal | Manish Saksena | Meeta Mastani Bindaas Unlimited | Nagma Praveen | Neeta | Oindrilla Mukherjee | Radhi Parikh Artisans’ Centre | Ramesh Ramanathan | Saranya Gogineni | Shilpa Sharma | Shumita Ghosh Rangsutra | Swati Soharia | Tarini Manchanda | Vanmala Jain Kuprkabi