Crafting the Nation: The Politics and Practice of the Handmade in AH 4182 Spring 2017

PROPOSED ITINERARY

Our study abroad component of the course will begin in where we will examine craft objects held in the Museum of and the Shreyas Folk Art Museum, and meet with scholars and craft-advocates involved in Ahmedabad’s extensive Cultural Heritage initiative. We will also visit the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati to meet with members of the Gramodyog Mandal to gain insight into their role in managing village-based production and national distribution of khadi fabric, handmade paper, spinning wheels, looms, and other craft objects. We will then travel to rural communities outside of in the Kutch region of Gujarat where we will learn first-hand about a variety of traditional crafts during studio visits and a five-day workshop led by a master ajrak blockprinter hosted by Somaiya Kala Vidya, an institution of education for traditional artisans of Kutch. Crafts to be studied during the trip include extra-weft on pit looms, hand block printing, (tie/dye), embroidery, terracotta ceramics, metalwork, wood carving, and mud painting.

Depart DC on Dec. 26 (evening flight out of IAD via Abu Dhabi, arrive in Ahmedabad very early on Dec. 28; suggested carrier Jet Airways)

DAY ONE: arrive in Ahmedabad (Dec 28) ● Early -in to guest house in Ahmedabad (French Haveli Guest House) ● Arrival + Orientation ● Lunch + lecture ● Group visit to Shreyas Folk Art Museum + discussion ● Group dinner (Welcome) ● Overnight in Ahmedabad

DAY TWO: Ahmedabad (Dec 29) ● Breakfast at guest house ● Craft Heritage Walking Tour through old city ● Lunch + lecture ● Group visit to Calico Museum + discussion ● Dinner on own ● Overnight in Ahmedabad

DAY THREE: Ahmedabad (Dec 30) ● Breakfast at guest house + lecture ● Group meeting with representatives from SEWA Gujarat ● Lunch + discussion ● Group visit with chitrakar community / Mata-ni-pachhedi ● Dinner on own ● Overnight in Ahmedabad

DAY FOUR: Ahmedabad (Dec 31) ● Breakfast at guest house + lecture ● Group visit to Gandhi Ashram at Sabramati + meeting with Khadigram Udyog representatives ● Lunch + discussion ● Afternoon visit to Sarkoj Raza + Adalaj step well ● Group NYE Dinner (House of Mangaldas) ● Overnight in Ahmedabad

DAY SIX: Ahmedabad to Patan - Modhera - Dasada (5 hours by van) (Jan1) ● Breakfast at guest house, depart for Patan ● Visit to Patola Museum, Patan ● Lunch in Modhera + visit to Surya temple ● Check-in / Dinner hotel in Dasada (Rann Riders Inn) ● Overnight in Dasada

DAY SEVEN: Dasada to Hodko (6 hours) (Jan 2) ● Optional early morning safari on Rann of Kutch ● Breakfast in Dasada + discussion ● Lunch en route ● Check-in / Dinner in Hodko (Shaam-E-Sarhad)

DAY EIGHT: Hodko - Samrasar Sheik - Nirona - Hodko (Jan 3) ● Breakfast + lecture at Shaam-E-Sarhad, Hodko ● Visit to Kala Raksha (Samrasar Sheik), interviews with local embroiderers ● Lunch ● Nirona village, studio visits (rogan painting) ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Hodko (Shaam-E-Sarhad)

DAY NINE: Bhuj - Badli - Bhuj (Jan 4) ● Breakfast + lecture ● Depart for Badli ● Morning visit to Suleman + Aziz Khattri studio visit, bhandani ● Lunch in Badli ● Check-in hotel in Bhuj (Hotel Prince) ● Afternoon visit to woodworker’s studio ● Dinner on own ● Overnight in Bhuj (Hotel Prince)

DAY TEN: Bhuj (Jan 5) ● Breakfast + lecture ● Morning visit to Hasam + Amina’s studio: terracotta vessels + sculpture ● Lunch + discussion ● Afternoon visit to metalworker’s studio ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Bhuj (Hotel Prince)

DAY ELEVEN: Bhuj - Bhujodi (Jan 6) ● Breakfast + lecture ● Morning visit to Dayabhai’s studio (Bhujodi weaving) ● Lunch + discussion ● Afternoon visit to Shrujan Museum ● Dinner on own ● Overnight in Bhuj (Hotel Prince)

DAY TWELVE: Bhuj - Adipur / Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV) (Jan 7) ● Early breakfast, morning check-out Bhuj hotel / depart for Adipur ● Check-in guest house, Adipur ● SKV convocation / exhibition ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Adipur

DAY THIRTEEN: Adipur / Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV) (Jan 8) ● Breakfast ● All day workshop at SKV (lunch + tea included) ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Adipur

DAY FOURTEEN: Adipur / Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV) (Jan 9) ● Breakfast ● All day workshop at SKV (lunch + tea included) ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Adipur

DAY FIFTEEN: Adipur / Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV) (Jan 10) ● Breakfast ● All day workshop at SKV (lunch + tea included) ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Adipur

DAY SIXTEEN: Adipur / Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV) (Jan 11) ● Breakfast ● All day workshop at SKV (lunch + tea included) ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Adipur

DAY SEVENTEEN: Adipur / Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV) (Jan 12) ● Breakfast ● All day workshop at SKV (lunch + tea included) ● Dinner + discussion ● Overnight in Adipur DAY EIGHTEEN: Adipur to Mandvi (Jan 13) ● Breakfast in Adipur, early morning departure for Mandvi ● Lunch in Mandvi, check-in The Beach at Mandvi Palace ● Afternoon on own ● Dinner + discussion (concluding thoughts + wrap-up) ● Overnight in Mandvi (The Beach at Mandvi Palace)

DAY NINETEEN: Mandvi – Bhuj - Ahmedabad (Jan 14) ● Breakfast + lunch in Mandvi ● Depart for Bhuj airport ● Flight to Ahmedabad

DAY TWENTY: Ahmedabad – Washington, D.C. (Jan. 15) ● Early morning flight from Ahmedabad to Washington D.C.: Jet Airways (5am Ahmedabad departure, via Abu Dhabi, arrive in DC at 5:30pm)