Art Practice 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. …

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.