Artists from India that came from the Internatinal Folk Art Market to the Northland to demonstrate their textile techniques that have been passed down for generations. We were able to get a glimpse at one of the demonstrations at the Duluth Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, July 24th. More events planned for over that weekend.

Each artist showed the textile techniques that they were masters in. From Shamji Vankar’s multi-generational traditions of spinning and handloom weaving to Thilak Reddy’s 2,500-year-old technique of Kamkari, hand painting textiles. Alongside Sufiyan Khatri’s 4,000-year-old art of Ajrakhm, a multi-step process of carving, washing, printing, dyeing, and boiling textiles, and Abdulah Khatri’s Bandhani, a traditional dyeing method that creates intricate floral or figurative designs.

At the market each took their turn displaying their skills. Shamjibhai is a spinner, weaver, dyer. He showed us how he’s going to hand spin cotton. This hand spun wool will become yards and yards of it fine useable cotton.

Demonstrations of Textile Techniques

The coordinator shared with me some of the history of the spinning.

“And the wool in the cotton is indigenous within a hundred-mile radius of where he stays, which is in Bhuj, in Gujarat. And the silk comes from a couple of states down.”

Next was Tilak and Pranavi, they work with this ancient technique called Kalamkari, which is, Kalam which is pen and Kari which is work. Once again, they displayed how the made such intricate designs.

“So, this ancient pen is wrapped around with cotton. And what Tilak just said was he dips the entire thing into a dye and then he gently squeezes the dye out from the sponge, and it comes out through this nib and that’s how he’s able to paint on this textile.”

“Tilak and [Pranavi] work together and we have a team of 20 women, and I teach the Embroidery. We also do research on the communities that our artisans come from and translate them into the designs. And we have these little pouches that were traditionally in India. We used to tuck them in our saris.”

Sufyan Khatri was up next and he’s a 10th generation hand block master from Ajrakpur in Bhujgudrat.

“So, this technique is 4000 years old. Hand blocking and embellishing goes back that far in the region that he comes from. It takes 16 days and many, many steps to get to this finished piece. And the art form is called Ajrak and it literally translates to keep it for today. That’s what it translates to.”

Lastly was Jabbar Bhai. Jabbar Khatri comes from a family of tie dye techniques. Recognized for the small white dots that decorate the textile.

“Each individual dot is tied and then dipped in dye. And then when you take the knots off, you create this white little dot there.

“Yeah, just like we’ve been doing this last 30 years and this is our century old technique that we are still using the same way. And it has been for many communities as their tradition. Mostly like in our area in Kutch, there are more than 11 communities. They wear this Bandhini as their tradition, and they have their own design and colors. So, you can identify by them their costume.”

Northland Event Dates & Information

They will be doing these demonstrations at the Duluth Folk School on Thursday, July 25th, then during the weekend they plan to be at the North House Folk School, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 2 pm.

Our four guests will offer hands-on demonstrations and items for sale on Saturday, July 27 from 10am-2pm in the Blue Building on the North House campus, according to the North House Blog.

Shamjibai expressed his enjoyment when artist come together,

“So Shamjibai says, you know, very profoundly that there are 63 countries that come together in Santa Fe and there is a lot of exchange of ideas and a lot of really good conversations amongst the artists and they are able to see how to keep the tradition going, to keep the tradition going and at the same time to innovate and to make more and be better at their craft.”