Upcoming Events
A Talk by Judy Frater, Educator & Anthropologist
“Connecting to the Art and the Artisan of Hand Craft”
as part of the exhibition
Rehnuma, the Guiding Star:
Creating Innovations in the Art of Ajrakh
November 6th, 2023
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Exhibition Opening Hours
November 6th 10AM - 8PM
November 7th 10AM - 1PM
UniX Gallery
520 W 24th Street, New York
NY 10011
Art brings meaning and value to us in a challenging world. It brings us the warmth and joy of human connection.
Bridging distances in time, space, language and perspectives, this exhibition presents a collection of one-of-a-kind textiles hand printed and natural dyed by Artisan Designers of the desert of Kutch, India. Illuminating embedded thoughts as well as technical innovations of the Artisan Designers, the exhibition seeks to create value for the whole of the work: concept and creation, and to create connections between the Artisan Designers and you.
Judy Frater, who developed and directed the first program of design education for traditional artisans of Kutch, discusses craft traditions in a changing world, restoring creative agency through education, and the personal expressions and innovations of the Ajrakh textiles on display. She demonstrates how shared understanding can reveal the ethos of sustainability and reinvent the essential human connection of hand craft.
About Judy
Judy Frater is a distinguished educator and anthropologist known for her remarkable contributions to the field of craft traditions. Her journey to Kutch, Gujarat in 1970 sparked her recognition of the deep knowledge and understanding embedded in craft traditions, leading her to immerse herself in handmade Kutch textiles. Her research on Rabari textiles resulted in the influential publication of "Threads of Identity: Embroidery and Adornment of the Nomadic Rabaris" in 1995.
Through establishing Kala Raksha Trust and India's first design school for artisans, Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya (now operating as Somaiya Kala Vidya), Judy has worked closely with artisans over 30 years to challenge misconceptions and encourage creativity within the craft community.
She was recipient of Fulbright, Ford Foundation and Ashoka Fellowships, and the Sir Misha Black Medal for Design Education. Previously Associate Curator at The Textile Museum, she is also author of ‘The Art of the Dyer in Kutch’.
Having recently returned to the United States, Judy is developing new ways to champion craft traditions and artisan designers.