Crafts of India : Kutch, Gujarat : Melissa Enderle

Prismma | 22 February 2012 | 0 Comments

I was born on a small family dairy farm in Wisconsin, USA. I graduated with Honours from Alverno College (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) in Art Education and Art Therapy. Upon completion of my degree, I took my first major trip (and first time flying) on an art related tour to Spain.

After teaching art/adaptive art for six years and completing my Masters Degree in Assistive Technology, I moved overseas, teaching for the last twelve years at international schools, first in Mali, then Tunisia, up to Serbia, and for the last four years in India.

In between my various positions as Tech Director and Technology Integration Mentor, I took advantage of opportunities to travel extensively within the countries in which I taught, as well as some neighbouring ones.

kutch handicrafts

In most of the places, I’ve been drawn to the area’s arts, architecture, and culture. Such variety exists —from the temples of Tamil Nadu, the splendid Sun Temples in Konark and Modhera, the colourful Tibetan temples of Dharamsala, the Taj and Hanuman’s Tomb, to the forts, palaces, and havelis of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Getting a glimpse of the daily life of people is a big part of my travels.

Some of my best photos and fondest memories have taken place away from the major attractions and right in the narrow streets or markets of the locals. Celebrations such as Kali Puja and Gangaur Festival make particularly vivid photographic memories.

I visited Gujarat with my parents and aunt in April of 2011. North of Bhuj, we visited Nirona, Dhordo, Hodaka, Bhirandiyara, and a Banni village. Travelling to Gujarat met my parents’ desire to meet local people in action (particularly rural), as well as my interest in seeing artisans engaged in their crafts – particularly textiles.

gujarat handicrafts

I love visiting the homes and workspaces of the village crafts people, as it gives you better insight into the environment (often very simplistic) in which they create, and you see the process. For example, the lengthy process of block printing, the speed with which those Bandhani workers could tie knots, and the resiliency of the Bhujodi weavers to pick up the pieces and continue after the earthquake just amazed me.

Being able to talk to the artists about the process/technique, symbolism, and tradition in which they created, as well as a bit of their lives was something you simply can’t get by buying pieces at a crafts emporium. I try to directly support the crafts people whenever possible—especially women. Seeing the rather drab environment in the Dasada and Kutch regions emphasised why the artists were so keen to include vivid colours in their pieces.

handicrafts india

We saw Mashru weaving, the double ikat weaving of Patola (simply mind-blowing), Ajrakh block printing, Embroidery—Ahir, Meghwal and Mutwa, Bandhani tie-dye, the bell crafts of Nirona, the very unusual Rogan art, Nirona lacquer work, and pit loom weaving in Bhujodi. Most of these crafts’ techniques are incredibly time-intensive.

Being an artist myself who delights in details, I can appreciate the labour of love it takes to produce such intricate pieces. My favourites were the Ahir embroidery, block printing, and the double-ikat weaving.

We also had the opportunity to visit a women’s cooperative —Kala Raksha. Empowering women AND preserving traditional crafts is a win-win situation.

Read the full feature in the Discover India segment of Prismma Magazine CLICK HERE

Melissa Enderle has spent the past four years working in India.