The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts welcomes Judy Frater as the spring 2022 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence. In the course “Cultural Diversity, Connection, Value, and Sustainability – the Role of Hand Craft,” students will explore the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, co-design textiles with artisans in India, and exhibit their inspirations and designs in the Lynn Mecklenburg Gallery. They will learn about small-scale artisan production, value, and sustainability.
The Spring 2022 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Teaching program is presented by the UW–Madison Division of the Arts and hosted by the Design Studies Department with Professor Jenny Angus as lead faculty. Current additional supporters include the Art Department, Department of Art History, Bolz Center for Arts Administration, Center for Culture, History, and Environment (CHE), Center for Design and Material Culture, Center for South Asia, and Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
Living in the Kutch region in the Northwest part of India for 30 years, Judy Frater co-founded Kala Raksha Trust and Museum. An award-winning Ashoka Fellow, she founded the first design schools for artisans: Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya and its current structure Somaiya Kala Vidya. Previously, she was Associate Curator of The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. She is the author of Threads of Identity: Embroidery and Adornment of the Nomadic Rabaris, The Art of the Dyer in Kutch, and numerous other publications. Frater also received the Sir Misha Black Medal.
Cultural Diversity, Connection, Value, and Sustainability – the Role of Hand Craft
Course: Design Studies 527 – Global Artisans
Day/Time: Spring 2022 | Mon. & Wed. 1:45-3:45 pm
Credits: 3 | Counts for certificates in Design Strategy, Global Health, and/or Textiles and Design
Location: Innovation Lab, 2194 Nancy Nicholas Hall | 1300 Linden Dr.
Prereq: Minimum junior standing
Utilizing design thinking, students in this project-based survey course will be exposed to important issues surrounding small-scale artisan production, value, and sustainability. Students will develop valuable hands-on skills working with artisan partners through craft techniques, design, quality control, branding, and story-telling.
Students will explore the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection and learn to use the holdings as inspiration, and then exhibit their co-designed work later in the semester in the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery. Four textile artisans, a hand weaver, hand block printer and natural dyer, a bandhani (Shibori) artist, and an embroiderer, will virtually co-teach the studio craft sessions and coordinate the artisans partnering with students in the co-design segment.
The course is open to those with at least a Junior standing. The course is open to any major, though might be of interest to students in the areas of art, anthropology, design, arts administration, museum studies, South Asian studies, and business/marketing.
Check back soon.