Judy Frater

Living in the Kutch region in the Northwest part of India for 30 years, Judy Frater co-founded Kala Raksha Trust and Museum. An award-winning Ashoka Fellow, she founded the first design schools for artisans: Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya and its current structure Somaiya Kala Vidya. Previously, she was Associate Curator of The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. She is the author of Threads of Identity: Embroidery and Adornment of the Nomadic Rabaris, The Art of the Dyer in Kutch, and numerous other publications. Frater also received the Sir Misha Black Medal.

The Spring 2022 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Teaching program is presented by the UW–Madison Division of the Arts and hosted by the Design Studies Department with Professor Jenny Angus as lead faculty. Current additional supporters include the Art Department, Department of Art History, Bolz Center for Arts Administration, Center for Culture, History, and Environment (CHE), Center for Design and Material Culture, Center for South Asia, and Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

The UW–Madison Division of the Arts has hosted world-class artists-in-residence since 1995 and formally launched the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP) in 1999. The program recently changed its name to the Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Teaching (IART) Program. IART is made possible by funding from the university’s Office of the Provost.

Zakiya Adil Khatri’s father, a batik artist, treated boys and girls equally. Zakiya practiced batik in the workshop when the artisans weren’t around. In 2013, she took design courses atKala Raksha Vidhyalaya (KRV). “Women do the work and men get the credit,” she said. In 2017, Zakiya traveled to Cusco, Peru to present to an international gathering of women artisans. “Education is everything,” she said, and the audience applauded. “The first thing is that women in India face great obstacles,” she said. “An Indian woman can succeed only if her father-and husband-support her.”

Irfan Anwar Khatri learned block printing when he was fifteen. When his father passed away suddenly, Irfan assumed responsibility for the home and business at the age of 22.In 2007, he traveled to UK. “I saw craft as a means of cross-cultural communication,” he said. He has since traveled to Indonesia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Dubai, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and China to attend conferences and conduct workshops.

Adil Mustak Khatri revived his family tradition.After twelfth grade, he learned bandhani, then took design courses at Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya (KRV) to learn more. Through his work and design he pushes boundaries in bandhani and shibori. He received the World Crafts Council seal of excellence. In 2020, Adil was juried into the highly competitive International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe.

Prakash Naran Siju’s family is one of a very few who have made flat weave carpets for several generations. Prakash learned carpet weaving from his father, and now has nearly a decade and a half of experience. He stands out as a leader in craft community, now mentoring young weavers in his village of Bhujodi.

• In response to the Coming Together exhibition, Center for Design and Material Culture Executive Director Sarah Anne Carter reflects on the interdisciplinary nature of the exhibition and its close relationship to two of the CDMC pillars.
• ClothRoads named Coming Together: Culturally Inspired Creation a top pick for May textile events!
• Read “Judy Frater weaves together UW-Madison students and Indian artisans,” courtesy of The Cap Times
• Judy Frater’s interdisciplinary arts residency events and exhibition “Coming Together: Culturally Inspired Creation” (April 20-May 27) at UW–Madison
• Division of the Arts to host Judy Frater as the Spring 2022 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence, courtesy of the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement
• The Department of Art History issued a save the date for Our Kind of Happy Hour with Judy Frater
• ONLINE: Our Kind of Happy Hour courtesy of Isthmus
• Our Kind of Happy Hour with Judy Frater was a featured event in Madison Magazine‘s “26 events to help you get the most out of February“
• UW–Madison to host Judy Frater as the spring 2022 Division of the Arts’ interdisciplinary artist-in-residence
• Judy Frater website: textileslive.com
• UW–Madison Division of the Arts Announces a major change to the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program
• Video: Co Design: An International Collaboration
• Judy Frater on Instagram: @judyfrater
• Blog: Threads of Identity