Craft Cluster Design Project:
National Institute of Fashion Technology with the active support from the Ministry of Textiles, Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has developed and implemented a new Craft Cluster Initiative Program which aims to provide the students with continuous exposure to the handloom and handicraft clusters, thus providing an opportunity for creative innovation and experimentation. Through this initiative, NIFT aims to reach out to the artisans and craftsmen at the grass root level.
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THE TERRACOTTA CRAFT
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The tradition of clay and terracotta in Jharkhand dates back to the Mauryan period. Some of the traditions are still followed in this craft and each village, district, and region has its own style of pottery. The making of toys and images has close relation with seasonal festivals and other religious ceremonies. Clay elephants are very famous and are kept on the roof tops as it signifies marriage.
THE PROCESS
The word 'terracotta' means the baked earth. In practice, it implies clay-based unglazed ceramic but the range has expanded itself to include glazed ceramic as well ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color. The term is also used to refer to items made out of this material and to its natural, brownish orange color.
Clay is the basic raw material used in this craft. The raw material for this craft is ordinary clay, derived from the beds of water bodies like river, lakes and ponds. The clay is cleaned, mixed and ten shaped either by hand, wheel or molded into desired object. The items are dried, fired and glazed as per the requirements. The clay or terracotta products are graded according to their color, strength and water absorption capacity.
THEME : TRIBAL
" Tribal reflect a way of life that predates, and is more natural than that in modern states. Tribes also privilege primordial social ties and are clearly bounded, homogeneous, parochial, and stable. Tribal group are an organization among families (including clans and lineages), which generates a social and ideological basis for solidarity that is in some way more limited than that of an ethnic group or of a nation. "
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Terracotta Craft: Tribal Face
