Art Development Workshop

Last month Izara Arts was invited to lead an art workshop at The Build Project, a non-profit organization based in Mae Sot, Thailand. The Build Project works with young people from Burma to provide training and teach technology and vocation skills, along with Thai and English languages. The workshop, which consisted of 11 students, was held to encourage the students to think outside the box. In a largely conformist society, this is traditionally frowned upon. Izara Arts was invited to break the tradition and get the students creating. The students had also just finished two days of academic tests, so it was a welcome break from all the hard work. Andrea Fitzgerald, Executive Director, wanted them to relax a bit before they moved into their new premises the next day.

Patricia Solar, Director of Izara Arts, began the workshop with a conversation about the difference between art and crafts. Explaining what a Fair Trade Organization, like Izara Arts, does versus what an art museum might do. She and the students discussed self-expression, symbolism and color. 

Then, Patricia and Ashley, an IA volunteer, poured out bags full of "art items" and asked the students to create something! The art items consisted of anything from Q-tips to string and fabric scraps, screws to wire, Popsicle sticks to wine corks - things one may not normally see as art. It was pretty amazing seeing the young minds go to work.

The students worked at their projects for about an hour. Ashley talked to the students about all the different kinds of art that emerged from the creations: architecture, fashion, painting, sculpting, drawing....forms of art the students probably never thought they were capable of, but executed (and some, quite well!). 

After discussing all of the creations, almost all of the students agreed that creating their art made them happy and relaxed them...exactly the outcome IA had hoped for. The students felt comfortable with the idea of art, creating it and enjoying it. I think you could say our job here is done. For now.

Coming Up!

In just one week, Izara Arts will be participating in yet another ThaiCraft Fair in Bangkok. The ThaiCraft Association, which started in 1975, has more than 70 Fair Trade groups involved in the bi-monthly exhibition.

Izara Arts will be heading down to Bangkok for the fair, in full force with a load of products and marketing materials. If you're in the area, be sure you make your way there. If not, check out ThaiCraft's web site, as well as Izara Arts'.

Jasmine City Building, Bangkok, Thailand

3rd Floor Entrance of Sukhumvit 23

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mae Sot Landfill Visit

Izara Arts works with several Thai, Burmese and Laotian minority groups promoting Fair Trade work. The organization is always looking for ways to increase its producer group and quality product range by providing fair wages for handicraft work. You can read more about our other producer groups here.

Last month, we took a trip to Mae Sot, Thailand, a town on the Burma/Thai border where tens of thousands of Burmese refugees live in the community, trying to make a life for themselves and their children. While there, we met with three different Burmese groups and commissioned them to start a few new projects for us. Izara Arts recently went on a little road trip to Mae Sot to catch up with some of our prospective producers.

A newfound producer and her daughter standing next to their 
wonderful display of rugs made from scraps at the dump.

Our biggest surprise came from a woman who is currently living at the Mae Sot landfill. She is a mother of four who fled to Thailand for a better life for her children - even if that means living on a landfill. She and her daughter collect plastic bags and bottles out of the landfill, making only 70 baht per day. Two weeks ago Izara Arts showed a Burmese women in the local community an instructional video about making rugs from rags. IA supplied the materials and tools needed to make the first trial rugs. Then our 'new trainer' showed the women in the landfill how to weave rugs from fabric scraps easily found at the dump. We left her to see what she could do with no interference.  When we visited her, she had not only completed 10 rag rugs, but we could see a great product emerging.

Taking a look at the bag of fabric scraps.

Our next task was to talk business! We know she can find the scraps from the dump, but were made aware that local textile companies throw huge bags of scraps away weekly she could use, rather than having to dig through the landfill for them. She showed us her bag and she had tons of great colors to work with so we explained to her some different color options and styles of rugs. We bought 10 rugs from her upfront, to encourage a trusting relationship and asked her to make a couple more for the next day - using the information we told her about the colors and styles.

Explaining a color wheel and how some 
colors work together better than others.

Now that we've confirmed a producer, we have to find the market. We've been in contact with a few of the Fair Trade Shops in Mae Sot, the local market is going to be the best bet for selling them. We're also asking the local restaurants and guesthouses if they'd buy them for decor, as well as stock them in their establishment. Setting up a market for our new producer and making sure she'll have a viable income source from the rugs, she'll be able to get her and her family off the landfill and into a much safer and healthier lifestyle.