Saurashtra

“ART & CRAFT CENTER”

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

INTRODUCTION What is traditional art and who is a traditional artist?

Traditional art is an art form passed on through generations reflecting their rich heritage and cultural background of a community. Traditional art encourages community living as artists work from within a community to which they belong.

Since ancient times, India is a globally famous as a land of art & craft. All variety of major handicrafts is being made here, such as Clay, Textile, Jewellery, Wooden, Or Metal handicrafts etc.

Like, from vibrant hues of Bandhani in Rajasthan to embroidery work in the Gujarat with its rich regional history has a myriad of traditional art forms to offer.

Traditional art is subjective to every community and is rooted in the past and constantly affected by technology.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

Prologue Handicrafts have a great potential to provide employment opportunities to millions of artisans spread over length and breadth of the country, as most of the artisans have inherent art to be converted in to occupation. Women of Gujarat are very prosperous in the art of ‘Needle and Thread’. Generally they are used to do such work for their domestic use. But now a days, such products are demanded everywhere. They require professional touch as per the requirement of demand of the market. Government tries to uplift the art and artisans through various programmes and policies.

Art and craft of saurashtra provides employment to a vast segment of artisans and generates substantial foreign exchange for the country, while preserving its cultural heritage.

"If an Artisan is promoted, Bead work would find another generation, kathiawary embroidery would be a Christian Dior adornment, and weaving would go for Oscar's Red Carpet, and an Artisan will find motivation for life" ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

About art & craft of Gujarat : The art and crafts of Gujarat are inimitable and popular not only in India but all across the globe. Most of the artisans are villagers who create these masterpieces of art and craft. The art and crafts industry of Gujarat has ample of jewelry, metalwork, embroidery, furniture, clay items and hand crafted carpets etc. Brass and iron utensils, cutlery, knives and scissors are mostly produced in this state.

The booming industry of embroidery textiles is evolved through centuries and is practiced by women. Rabari embroidery, Bavalia embroidery and Banni embroidery are various embroidery techniques done by the rural women of the state.

Kathiawar, knows as Saurashtra region in Gujarat, is rich in its cultural heritage of folk arts and literature. The folk dances of kathiawar like dandiya raas, garba, etc. folk music like bhajans, dohas, etc, literatures like Zaverchand Meghani, Narsinh Mehta, Bhoja Bhagat, Dulabhai Kag, etc. have occupied a prominent place in the world of folk arts and literature. The tales and poems are still enjoyed by people, when presented by folk artists in Lok Dayara (a gathering where people are entertained by folk artists). Even Bhavais (street plays) are performed telling them the stories of our great epics; today these street plays are performed to awaken citizens with their rights.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

craft of saurashtra region : Applique and Patch work, wood work BHAVAI :

Jasdan - Pataras, or pataris and boxes, bajoth etc. embellished with metal work Sihore - Crafted metal utensils Jetpur - Block printing Savarkundla – items of bead work & metal work Bagsara - jewellary Amreli - Bead work Rajkot - minakari furniture Junagadh – Rabari embroidery RABARI EMBROIDERY

BLOCK PRINTING

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

GARBA :

BEAD WORK

METAL UTENSILS

EMBROIDARY

SANKHEDA

PATCH WORK

Architectural Design Thesis

Present Scenario: Saurashtra is famous for its embroidery technique, beadwork and wood-metal craft. But over the years these arts have been decreasing as the workers or artists lack of the space, idea, new tools and machinery due to financial issues. As a result, many of the workers are changing their profession to labour and other alternatives. Many craftsmen & artists are migrated from their place to metropolitan cities, so saurashtra loose its traditional arts and craft gradually.

Recently the artists who are involving such activities faced with great difficulties. Gradually decreasing the demand of good buyer, and also capturing market by cheapest non– breakable item throwing the clay model artists into poverty and unwillingness.

Heritage of Gujarat is now moving towards extinction as today our youths are drawn towards western culture and arts, But with changing times, barriers of caste and region are also getting blurred. Intermingling of traditions with modernity, which we call hybridization of folk dances, is a result of globalization. Also because of lake of teachers that teaches folk dances and also because of today’s youth are so impressed by western culture and they do not know the importance of our heritage.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

Preservation of folk arts :

This folk heritage is now moving towards extiction as today our youths are drawn towards western culture and arts. There is an urgent need for preservation of dying Kathiawari art forms, craft and literature. Special care should be taken for the upliftment of the folk artists.

Conclusion : Institutes should be developed to promote the folk dance, music, art forms , theatre, and handicraft to help youngsters and students to know more about the folk art and also train tribal people for handmade craft for their living and upliftment. Folk artists should be given proper remuneration so that the folk art is kept intact. Parents should encourage their children to learn these renowned folk art. If given proper attention and encouragement there is a lot of scope in the development of folk literature and art in general and of kathiawar in particular.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

Project summery :

The design attempt here would be to take up artists and craftmen’s life to different level, a place where artist train other people for artistic products for their better living, and also artists themselves earn from these products. Apart from that they would be trained for selling and marketing.

There would be a space for selling , exhibition and craft fair, that held in two times in month and during festivals.

A proposal articulates an art & craft center, in rapidly developing district. Art & craft center would play the role not merely of a institute, but of a social, cultural and recreational crystallization point.

Art & craft center is more about the people using a space for learning, recreation, interaction and for cultural activities, etc. apart from a typical training school.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

Concept of Craft mela & Haat : Craft mela :

Haat :

Fairs were originated dating back to Biblical times. There have been several references to the Fairs which were associated with exclusive Religion.

A haat bazaar, most often called only haat or hat, is an open-air market that serves as a trading venue for local people in rural areas of Gujarat.

Gujarat is famous for its spirit of festivity. There are around 3500 fairs and festivals celebrated in the state every year.

These fairs constitute the cultural heritage of Gujarat. Most of them are celebrated have strong historical or mythological background behind their existence. A number of fairs are celebrated exclusively by the tribal population. Therefore, through these fairs, one can get to know the customs and traditions of the tribal people of India.

Fairs in Gujarat reflect customs and traditions, ethics and values, faith and beliefs of the people of Gujarat. As it focus on religious and cultural diversity.

Haat bazaars are conducted on a regular basis, i.e. once, twice, or three times a week and in some places every two weeks. At times, haat bazaars are organized in a different manner, to support or promote trading by and with rural people.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

In addition to providing trading opportunities, haat bazaars gradually concentrate rural settlements and convert villages into small towns.

Architectural Design Thesis

What is an art & craft center ??

Craft Center offers various programs and workshops in craft appreciation, design, art and culture, and self-exploration. The campus has design studios and facility centre for artists, designers and creative individuals who are looking for such spaces to expand their creative realm.

“Craft Center” is a unique state-of-art infrastructure, for facilitating hands on craft learning from masters and legends in their fields, linkages of craft community with national forums to promote “Rare Crafts of India”. The Center also celebrates national Craft Day and exhibitions of various crafts.

Craft Center is a beautiful place for experiential learning of crafts in an organic natural environment. It is a wonderful space that would help free flow of ideas and creativity. It has an inspiring space.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

Synopsis: Aim: • To revitalise lost folk art, craft and culture of saurashtra.

• The aim of this project is to create a platform for the Indian culture and give appreciation to Indian cultural art and craft , understanding and learning different cultural art and crafts of India, and to get a platform to promotes the India’s rich cultural heritage.

• To elevate the inherent qualities of gujarat tradition and culture onto a public platform.

Scope : • To make understand the people about the importance of art and craft tradition.

• To learn about new technique, material and application while designing the center of art and craft.

• To accentuate in a multitude of forms and spaces which celebrate the colors, textures and form inherent to the soil of gujarat.

Objectives : • To bridge the gap between the old and new tradition and culture.

The center would take one step forward into representing gujarat of yesterday, today and tomorrow for the understanding of all age groups, and giving importance the art and craft of gujarat.

• To provide a platform for production display and demonstration of visual and performing art and craft also.

• To offer a sale outlet for art and craft .

• To build facilities for revival of dying crafts, performing arts and the development and production of art and crafts.

• To expose the artisans and craftsman to new techniques of production and design.

• To provide a platform for increased productivity offering use of sophisticated tools and intensive training through the design center.

• To provide tourists a glimpses of cultural heritage of ethnic gujarat.

• To promote different activities which would enrich the cultural life of ethnic gujarat.

• To enrich the economic backbone and social set-up of the craft – person form rural gujarat.

• To provide a space for interaction between foreign artists and gujarati craftsman.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis

Hypothesis : The traditional crafts of gujarat cannot be left to die. Hence the tourism potential of the place should be utilized to further the development of this dying craft in order to make the crafts and the craftsman’ community sustainable. Tourism should act as a magnet to generate a market of wide range of customers with variety of taste in handicrafts to sustain these crafts. The tourism potential of this place is noteworthy.

Gujarat is a tourism package by itself, which include historical destinations, pristine beaches, wild life sanctuaries, cultural centers, hill stations, religious places, fairs & festivals and unique arts and crafts.

ART & CRAFT CENTRE, DHARI

Architectural Design Thesis