Uzbek & six American artisans to exchange handcraft traditions
27 Feb '06
4 min read
The Khiva Silk Carpet Workshop became self-sustaining in three years and spun off an embroidery workshop using traditional techniques of suzanni embroidery. In the neighboring region of Karakalpakstan, The Savitsky Museum of Art, considered the finest art museum in Central Asia, joined with other cultural organizations to sponsor similar workshops located in the city of Nukus and in two rural villages.
The Khiva workshops will be the primary site for this project though members of the Karakalpakstan workshops also will be included.
The reciprocal exchange has two phases, beginning with the American delegation's two-week trip to Uzbekistan. The major components of Phase I in Uzbekistan will be:
(1) study and exchange of professional skills in the targeted areas: - raising, processing and using dye plants - weaving using cotton and wool - embroidery - fashion/accessory design for the Western Market - exhibit design and visitor services for architectural and textile museums
(2) travel to the major cities on the Silk Road including Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand to become familiar with traditional fiber crafts and their presentation in key tourist destinations, and
(3) selection of craft techniques and development of plans with Uzbek artisans for exhibiting, teaching and demonstrating their skills to Americans during Phase 2 of the project.
The major components of the Phase 2 stateside program, when the Uzbek master artisans visit the US, are: visits to museums, artists' studios, craft stores, aristans' collectives, and a university textile arts program; lectures on the history of silk and fiber crafts in the United States; meetings with guild members, museum curators, university faculty, and private collectors; and presenting exhibits, demonstrations and a weekend intensive class for American audiences. The Phase 2 program will be based in Amherst, Massachusetts, and all activities will take place in the New England region.
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