Crafty Dreams

All earnest craft developers must be facing this challenge - of how to nurture a dying craft in the right way; popularising and marketing it without trading its charm and socio-economic value. There is no doubt that the priceless traditional crafts must be kept alive - not as museum pieces, but as articles of utility or decor suiting contemporary taste and needs. But how does one go about it, making sure that the craft is conserved and the artists benefit from its rejuvenation? Well, thats a million dollar question that craft enthusiasts are trying to answer. And while experimenting in this area, they at least have few lessons from past - of policies and initiatives that failed to serve the purpose.
Sudden market interest in a craft and commercialization efforts most often throw the artist in a confused state. The chowk paintings by Warli artists are done for pooja before weddings and hold a symbolic meaning. If drawn for the urban audience, these become mere decor pieces; most onlookers are left wondering what these figures signify. Patterns painted often may not come naturally if it has to be drawn using alien methods and style. They need to be guided by empathetic and expert minds, inspired to draw from imagination, and never to compromise on the quality and purity of their art.
Sometimes the nurturing hands disappoint and disillusion the naive craftsmen. Some societies for craft revival have sold tribal paintings at high prices while paying meagre daily wages for the poor artists. Warli paintings have become famous world over, but majority of these tribals still live in abject poverty. Is it enough to showcase it as a wonderful craft and teach the art in craft workshops, or should we take steps to ensure that the benefits reach the people who gave life to this craft?