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Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collection, 2015.196.638.1, Connecticut Historical S ...
Aid to Artisans Traditional Artists Gathering
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collection, 2015.196.638.1, Connecticut Historical Society, Copyright Undetermined.

Aid to Artisans Traditional Artists Gathering

Subject
Date1999 November 6
Mediumborn digital photography
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.638.1-.16
DescriptionPhotographs from the Aid to Artisans Traditional Artists Gathering on November 6, 1999.

(.1-.3) Photos of Irina Kupcs, Latvian embroiderer, with her work

(.4) Photo of Ukrainian embroiderer and pysanky artist Denis Kowaleski

(.5) Photo of Tibetan weaver Tsultim Lama

(.6-.7) Photos of Cape Verdean dollmaker and dancer Raquel Figueiredo

(.8) Photo of Norwegian rosemaler Eldrid Arntzen

(.9) Photo of artists seated around a table; German scherenschnitt artist Katrina Benneck speaking, Tibetan weaver Tsering Yangzom is next to Katrina.

(.10) Photo of Tibetan paintings made by Kalsang Jorden and Jampa Tsondue

(.11) Photo of Cape Verdean dolls made by Raquel Figueiredo

(.12) Photo of Norwegian rosemaling made by Eldrid Arntzen

(.13) Photo showing Ukrainian embroidery made by Dennis Kowaleski, Latvian embroidery made by Irina Kupcs, and a Lithuanian straw picture made by Aldona Saimininkas

(.14) Photo of Cambodian court dance clothing and crown made by Sophanna Keth Yos and Sotha Keth for dancer Somaly Hay

(.15) Photo of Lao ceremonial ornaments "pah khuane" made by Manola Sidara

(.16) Photo of art works displayed in the gallery during the event.
NotesSubject Note: On November 6, 1999, CCHAP hosted Aid to Artisans (ATA), a Farmington-based arts marketing organization, at a gathering of Connecticut artists working in folk and traditional art forms. The goal of the event was to introduce ATA to 20+ folk and traditional artists working in Connecticut and with CCHAP in various communities across the state. Other goals were to increase awareness and appreciation of hand crafted ethnic and heritage art forms and to provide an opportunity for artisans to develop strategies for marketing, promotion, and cultural tourism. The event was hoped to be a way to support the planning and implementation of a heritage artisans enterprise development project for and with Connecticut traditional artists/craftspeople. Activities held during the day included informal, roundtable discussions among all the artists; an exhibition of artists’ work in ICR’s gallery; professional photography of the artists’ work by Phillip Fortune; and a pot luck supper. The collaboration with ATA did not develop into a larger marketing project, largely because the artists could not commit to full-time work creating and producing enough items for the scale of sales that ATA required – most folk and traditional artists work other jobs and typically do not have enough resources for uncertain arts production. Also, the design concepts required by ATA’s markets were non-traditional, whereas CCHAP’s focus is on sustaining traditional art forms. However, introducing concepts of marketing and presentation of work were very valuable to the artists, and the inspiration for the event led to CCHAP’s Sewing Circle Project and its strong marketing component, some years later.


Biographical Note for 2015.196.662.6-.11: Aid to Artisans (ATA) began its work in 1976 to strengthen and develop craft based enterprises as a vital means to creating jobs, increasing incomes, and preserving the traditions of artisans worldwide. These efforts proved economically viable not only for the artisans but also for national economies. In 1986, ATA moved to Farmington, Connecticut led by Clare Brett Smith. In the 1990s, ATA began to take advantage of lessons learned from their work overseas to assist artisans in the U.S. to participate more successfully in the U.S. marketplace. The organization moved to Washington, DC and later joined CreativeLearning.org as a program division.


Additional materials exist in the CCHAP collection for these artists and this event.


Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
Status
Not on view
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