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Terra Joys
One of the oldest human inventions, pottery has been around since before the Neolithic period, with objects dating as far back as 29,000 BC. It is the process of using clay to create vessels and other objects, which are then fired at high temperatures to harden them and make them durable for use. Major types of pottery include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain.
Terra Joys is an indigenous workshop series that will introduce the basics of pottery. The ancient clay craft of Ramgarh, Rajasthan will also be discussed. You will learn about the process from scratch, along with some essential technical details.
A Unique Pottery Workshop Series
12 January – 2 February
The workshop aims to give the participants a sense of the historic and current magnitude and impact of the craft. It will offer the unique experience of recreating the time and effort a craftsman puts into making a unique piece of art.
The workshop is led by Om Prakash Galav who is an expert potter with more than twenty-two years of experience. His expertise and passion for pottery has been passed down through many generations of his family. He has received many National and International Awards including two Limca Book Records and four Unique World Records. Promoting India’s handicrafts sector and showcasing this often overlooked skill while highlighting India’s contribution to this cottage industry has been an important part of his journey. Join this series of workshops to expand your knowledge and hone a new skill.
Session 1 | Introduction and Process of Craft
In the very first workshop of our Terra Joys series, start your journey by understanding the art of Ramgarh Clay Pottery craftsman Mr. Om Prakash Galav, takes us through the history, tradition, and significance of the craft! Learn how to source clay and prepare it by wedging, which is when the clay is kneaded with a slight rotation that helps push out any air bubbles within the clay. Also gain an understanding of centering clay on the wheel.
Session 2 | Making Pottery on Wheel
In the second workshop of the Terra Joys series, we will understand the importance and the history of the wheel. Learn the techniques of using clay and how the clay is centred on the wheel as it turns. Observe the potter as he uses his fingers and thumb in opening the clay and give a beautiful texture and shape of the pottery.
Session 3 | Turning and Burnishing of the Pot
In this workshop of Terra Joys series, we will see how newly shaped articles are turned and burnished by rubbing the clay with a polished stone or other smooth object. This process is followed by the potters to make their pottery more watertight and smooth with glossy shine.
Session 4 | Hand Building Artwork and Firing
In the very last workshop of Terra Joys series , we will learn the simple techniques of clay works, using hands ,fingers and simple tools. As well as firing the clay artworks to make them more durable, as Mr. Om Prakash Galav explains the process in detail.
Craft Connects
Learn about India's colourful cultures by exploring the fascinating world of local Indian arts and crafts with Craft Connects, in collaboration with Dastkar. Here skilled people will create many types of decorative pieces out of paper, clay, colours and other cheap tools. It preserves the rich traditional art forms and heritage along with the talents which are associated with the people’s history and lifestyle. In India artifacts are being made from centuries and people around the world love these.
Sanjhi Art, Uttar Pradesh
Sanjhi is the ancient art of paper stencilling practised across Mathura and Vrindavan. It was traditionally used to make ritualistic and ceremonial rangolis in temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The term Sanjhi is derived from Sanjh or dusk. It is related to the ritualistic practice of unveiling the rangoli in the temples with chanting at dusk.
In olden times, the stencils were made using rough paper or banana leaves but contemporary artisans have started creating artworks using handmade and recycled paper. Traditionally, the stencil was used to create the only rangolis, but gradually the stencils caught the interest of the patrons. Now, the stencil is considered at par with the final decoration. The cut-outs are available as framed artworks as well.
Cutting of the paper is a very delicate and precise procedure. A little slip will cut off the portion to be left intact and the entire procedure will be meaningless.
Blue Pottery, Rajasthan
This traditional craft of Jaipur is given the name ‘Blue Pottery’ due to the predominance of the colour blue.
However, by the 1950s Blue Pottery had almost vanished. Muralist and painter Kripal Singh Shekhawat with the support of Kamladevi Chattopadhyaya and RajmataGayatri Devi revived the craft. A combination of wheel turning and moulding techniques is used to produce various shapes for the pottery. After the object is sanded and dried a clean white coat is applied to the surface to give it a smooth, improved texture. Floral, animal and bird motifs are painted on it and the object is given a glass glaze at a low temperature. It is during the firing that the objects attain transparency and shades of turquoise blue, pale green, yellow and brown.
Grameen Blue Art Pottery, a regular in the DASTKAR bazaars, has always had great sales with us. Pots, vases, tea sets, cups and saucers, plates and glasses, jugs, ashtrays made by them are a huge hit with shoppers
Papier Mache, Kashmir
Lateef Hussain Khan from Chinar Valley Arts running this group.
In Kashmir, Papier Mache originated in the form of making qalamdans (pen cases) from paper pulp (Base). These are covered with floral or geometric patterns and finished with a coat of Rogan (Varnish); it was for this reason that the craft was initially referred as Kariqalamdan (the art of making pen cases).
Papier Mache products involves two processes: Sakhtasaazi (basic object is made of a light weight material by a different community called saktasazi., who fashions the base product) and Naqashi (Painting) giving decorative touch, painting by fine hands for intricate designs, done over it.
This art form is primarily based on paper pulp, and is richly decorated, colorful artifact; generally, in the form of vases, bowls or cups, bases of lamps and many other small objects. These are generally made in homes or workshops, in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir.
Handblock Printing, Rajasthan
Meena Kumari Chhippa, Hand Block Artisan. The art of chapa (block printing) gave them the name Chhipa
Bagru is a village located 32 km west of Jaipur, the capital City of Rajasthan. It has long been home to the Chippa Community, a caste dedicated to the art of hand block printing Bagru printers use a technique called dabu in which a mixture of black clay, acacia gum, spoiled wheat flour, limestone, and cow pies is printed onto the fabric. The fabric can then be dyed and left in the sun to dry. When the dabu is washed out the printed portions of the fabric are left undyed. the village has kept up its tradition of using natural dyes. These dyes include indigo blue, madder root red, pomegranate yellow, harda yellow, syahi black, and a green obtained by mixing harda and indigo.
No authentic literature is available to indicate the beginning of this kind of printing, but this art is said to have started around 450 years back. The village had a community of CHHIPAS, or traditional crafts people who printed fabrics by hand. Bagru chhipas came from Sawai Madhopur, Alwar, Jhunjhuna, and Sikkar districts of Rajasthan to settle in Bagru and make it their home outset around 450 years ago. They are known for their unique designs of luxuriant trellises in sophisticated natural colors.
Lippan Art
Mud and mirror work are known as Lippan Kaam. It is a traditional mural craft of Kutch also known as ChittarKaam. Various communities in Kutch do mud-relief work and have their own distinct style of lippan kaam.
The motifs are inspired from the embroidery patterns and once the walls are done, they look stunning with mirrors embedded in the mud work, much like the embroideries itself.
Ramju Kumbhar belongs to Mankuva in Bhuj, Kutch in Gujarat. He has been practicing this craft since the past 25 years and started learning it from his father when he was in grade 7, in school.
The modern-day version of lippan work is seen on MDF ply cut into neat square, rectangle or circular surfaces and used as home decor and as artworks at hotels and offices
Photography Workshops – The Art of Mobile Photography
Turn your mobile into a high end camera! Learn how to make the most of your mobile to create works of art. This 4 part series will take you through the creative process involved in capturing stunning photographs from your phone. It will offer you tutorials on a broad range of fundamental principles in photography from camera control to creativity. You will learn the basics of mobile photography, creating compositions for visually photos, macro photography and editing. Don’t forget to tune in!
Workshops :
Session 1 : Introduction to Mobile Photography
On the first episode of our Mobile Photography Workshop, get introduced to basic tricks and tips that will help you make the most of your mobile phone camera to capture beautiful images with ease
Session 2 : Composition in Photography
On this episode of our Mobile Photography Workshop, learn more about the different principles of composition that allow you to tell the story you want through the elements you capture.
Session 3: Macro Photography
In this episode of our Mobile Photography Workshop, learn how to capture the intricate details of any object with finesse through the mode of Macro Photography on your mobile phone.
Session 4 : Photo Editing
Tune into the final episode of our Mobile Photography Workshop and master essential editing skills that can help you make your photographs stand out from the rest!
Tribal Art Series
Phad paintings of Rajasthan are a traditional medium of storytelling. Various folk-art forms in India are significant for their story telling style, vibrant colours and natural dyes. Let’s learn the art of storytelling through the art of chad painting with award winning artist, Kalyan Joshi who joins us all the way from Rajasthan!
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Phad painting(Kalyan Joshi)
Phad paintings of Rajasthan are a traditional medium of storytelling. Various folk-art forms in India are significant for their story telling style, vibrant colours and natural dyes. Let’s learn the art of storytelling through the art of chad painting with award winning artist, Kalyan Joshi who joins us all the way from Rajasthan!
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Madhubani Painting (Ambika Devi)
Madhubani art is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. This painting is done with a variety of tools, including fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks and using natural dyes and pigments.
Join Ambika Devi as she not only shows us how to make a traditional Mithila painting, but also rise against the odds and do something for yourself, without proper education or means to a career. -
Miniature Painting (Hari Narayan Marotia)
The Miniature painting tradition can be traced from the 9th-10th century. Influenced by Indian literature, they were executed as illustrations to texts or as individual paintings. Join us and learn the art of these small-scale and highly detailed compositions with Hari Narayan Marotia from Rajasthan.
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Pichwai Painting (Dinesh Soni)
Established over 400 years ago, the tradition of Pichwai Painting comes from the town of Nathdwara near Udaipur, Rajasthan. These paintings, which are made on cloth, beautifully visualise tales from Lord Krishna's life in vivid detail.
Join us and experience the precision and skill of Pichwai Painting with Dinesh Soni from Rajasthan. -
Pattachitra Painting (Asish Ku Das, Orissa)
Pattachitra is a spectacular folk-art form from Odisha. The word 'Patta' means cloth, and 'Chitra' means picture. An art form that utilises natural colours, Pattachitra painting is a disciplined art form preserved by rules that uphold its aesthetic effervescence.
Learn the intricacies of Pattachitra with Asish Ku Das, who is joining us all the way from Odisha!
