Resources

As part of our creative educational strategies, we innovated and designed the multifaceted KALA Guide as an informative resource outlining the diverse methods of curation used in the making of traditional handicrafts by artisans of Jaipur. Running across 8-modules, the guide provides a glimpse into the historical contexts, techniques, and production strategies employed by craftspersons to keep their art alive. To promote the sale and purchase of these items, the resource comprehensively traces the dynamic modes of production, the market value, and sustainability of Rajasthani handicrafts to educate readers on the efficacy of these products. Some of the topics explored are Blue pottery, Leheriya tie-and-dye, and Bagru block printing. Ultimately, the guide coalesces the dynamism of talented artisans and sheds light on the crucial need to keep their work alive in the twenty-first-century economy.

Additionally, we curated the Preservation E-Magazine, a virtual magazine highlighting the work of local artisans in India through discussions on sustainability and ethical goods production as well as an exploration of consumption practices in the region. It appears in the form of four quarterly issues under the themes of Earth, People, Cities, and Water. The first issue, Earth, was published in November 2022 to stitch a series of writings on sustainable production processes used by local artisans with debates around their efficacy for holistic market use. Some of the titles include essays such as “Kulharwala Chai in the Indian Railways: A Viable (Original) Alternative?,” and “Full Metal Environmentalist: Revolutionizing the Everyday with Dhokra Craft.”

The KALA Guide