Art and Design Commons^™

Bent Out Of Shape Embodied Knowledge In The Art Of Copper Repoussé, Tierney Brown

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Over the course of a 1,300 year history the Newar art of moulding copper into fine architectural ornaments and full bodied sacred figures has been passed through family lineages and working apprenticeships. Presently the copper repoussé technique has continued to elude a regulated school format instead favoring individual apprenticeships in the workshops and homes of more experienced artists. In a two week short-apprenticeship and study in Sajan Raj Shakya's workshop in Mangchal Tole, Patan I was instructed in the basics of creating copper forms through repoussé and chasing. This experience is documented both in terms of the delineated process for …

Progression Of Aesthetic: A Study Of Beads And Adornment In Contemporary Krobo Society, Jordan Ashe

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

1. Methodology: To gain insight into the role of bead heritage and adornment in Krobo, I spent 18 days in Krobo-Nyaso, learning how to make recycled glass beads called giga, and observing the use of beads in daily life and ceremonious occasions. I observed one wedding ceremony and parts of a Dipo ceremony, though I was unable to attend a naming ceremony or funeral. To gain insight into contemporary bead culture, I interviewed Krobos of all ages, occupations, and social ranks, including one bead vendor, two bead makers, two chiefs, one priest, and four Krobo women. I also sought …

Capitalizing Art: The Marketing Of Senegalese Bronze Sculpture, Julia Mears Embry

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Bronze sculpture is an art form that, while it did not originate in Senegal, has been a part of the culture for centuries. Unfortunately, since the number of people producing it is so much smaller than for other media, a great deal of the market for bronze, and its support, has come from Westerners. Although there is broad difference between foreign buyers commissioning pieces and tourists buying from small shops in Dakar, both groups have historically impacted the bronze trade. For my project, I sought to learn more about the production of bronze sculpture through creating my own pieces in …

Beads, Sculptures, And Baskets: South African Traditional Craft As A Means Of Economic Empowerment, Sasha Kaori Hippard

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The significance of the South African traditional craft industry is often associated with the preservation of historical culture. However, besides being a crucial element in the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, craftwork also can be a significant source of income generation for disadvantaged communities across South Africa. The African Art Centre, a non-profit organization located in Durban, reaches out to various communities of disadvantage in and around the KwaZulu Natal province, holding training and design workshops, providing access to craft skills and materials, and providing a market for the sale of craft as a source of sustainable economic empowerment. …