Art and Design Commons^™

"Après Dieu, C’Est L’Artisan": A Study Of Bamikéké Woodcarving In Dschang, Cameroon, Rebecca Potts

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Wood sculpture among the Bamilékés is a political, spiritual and economic endeavor. Sculptural artwork is ultimately at the service of the community and is used in the daily and ceremonial life of the chefferie. Though the sculptor must create according to the needs of his society, he is himself responsible for the very formation of his community’s values and ideology.

Over the course of one month in Dschang I worked with wood sculptors in an artisanat, learning the technical aspects of the craft as well as their philosophies behind their profession. I created two wooden chairs and conducted seven interviews. …

Batik: A Process And A Means Of Progress, Emily Swietlik

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

I chose an alternative ISP of doing batik because it incorporated all of the facets of my interests: anthropology, international development, and art. As an artist, creating my own batik satisfied my love for expressing how I see the world through art. As an anthropologist, I was able to gain insight on a new culture. As an international activist, I was able to explore how batik can be used as a mechanism to improve the quality of life for people in Senegal. While my project was all encompassing, the primary objective of my research was to gain an understanding of …

尼西黑陶: A Study Of Tibetan Black Pottery, Catherine Elliott

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper addresses the contemporary production of traditional crafts through a close study of Tibetan black pottery. By considering the traditional process, materials, and techniques of Nixi pottery alongside contemporary changes in markets, resource availability, and production methods, this paper suggests possible directions for the development of traditional crafts. Ultimately, the paper challenges traditional distinctions between “arts” and “crafts,” suggesting the inherent mobility of crafts as their makers respond to changes in the social, political, and economic contexts of production.