A methodology for sustaining artisans and their networks

History Boyacá is the state that is known as the altar of Colombia’s homeland. It is here that Simón Bolívar achieved independence and gave birth to the Republic by wining the battles of Pantano de Vargas and Boyacá Bridge. It is a land of rich green colors. It is the birthplace of the Muisca civilization whose artisans did such extraordinary’ work with gold and emeralds that they gave rise to the legend of "El Dorado." In an environment of corn, potatoes and the Ruana (wool poncho), the pre-Hispanic traditions continue and evolve as they re-define numerous Spanish words to have new meanings. One such word is "sumercé," a term of endearment uniquely used among the natives of this region.

 The indigenous craftsmanship of Boyacá is recognized as one of the most representative of Colombia’s traditions. These caring artisans have succeeded in having their creations transcend their traditional use and become items that are now seen as valued objects in their own right.

• Mapa con las regiones

Managing design from a local Identity perspective: a Design and Craft facilitators training program.

This project was conceived and developed for SENA in Paipa, Boyacá. Its goal is to develop artisans’ products and increase revenue potential in self-sustainable ways.

The project was a cooperative venture between participants, practitioners and governmental institutions. It was developed with the participation of artisans from 20 municipalities in 11 disciplines, representing most crafts in the state. It was designed to take place in a period of one week, during which participants could develop ideas and explore their vision for future work.

The Project

Fotos de coordinadores locales Consuelo, Amparo, Sandra,

Guillermo, Jorge, Gloria

Development Group

JORGE MONTANA - Colombia -He is an industrial designer and Coordinator of the Latin American Design Network (Red Latinoamericana de Diseño). Jorge has done postgraduate work in design project management. He is currently President of the National Bureau of Design.

HELOISA CROCCO - Brazil -She is a plastics artist and designer, who applies wood patterns in her design work. Heloisa is the Coordinator of the Laboratory Piracema of Design (Laboratorio Piracema de Diseño).

GUILLERMO CUELLAR - United States - He is an educator, artist and group facilitator with a doctorate in organizational development and creative change. Guillermo provides innovative work with a multicultural and multidisciplinary emphasis, based on principles of participatory involvement. He is president of the Center for Creative Consciousness.

ALEXANDRA PINTO - Colombia -Industrial designer, Specialist in Market Management. She works for SENA at the Regional Office for Artisan Equity.

Coordination

Boyacá Project: An experiential pilot program with the aim of bringing together master artisans from the state of Boyacá. It utilizes a mixture of theory and practice through courses, lectures, creative practices and fieldwork experiences supporting mutual learning and healthy dialogues. It took place in the city of Paipa in Boyacá, Colombia. It brought together master artisans and a selected group of SENA instructors, students and faculty from Universidad UPTC, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and a group of consultants.

The workshop preceded with an investigation of the region’s artistic culture and traditions. It involved (1) an interaction with the local community, and (2) a presentation to the artisans on the methodology and philosophy. A pedagogy that values local cultural influences. This occurred though a process of mutual learning and healthy conversations. The experience took place among artisans, practitioners and facilitators. The main objective was the creation of handcraft products with a regionally authentic identity and a fresh perspective.

The philosophy of BOYACA PROJECT is characterized by three focal points:

• a methodology that brings a multicultural and multidisciplinary lens to the work in contrast to what has imposed on the artisans in the past

• an approach in which the artisans are sovereign. The process maintains their identity from beginning to end.

• a transformative experience that occurs though the mutual learning that takes place in conversations between facilitators and artists, as well as in conversations among the artisans themselves.

Philosophy

The product of the artisan is seen as the manifestation of his/her complex multicultural heritage. This means that any change in the artisan’s product also implies a transformation of the artisan and as a consequence, a transformation of the context to which they belongs.

- Since the culture is alive and present, the cultural activity should be examined within a deep social justice sociological context. In order to maintain the artisans’ multicultural identity it is crucial to avoid engaging in superficial preconceptions about them.

- Finally, this project’s goal is to preserve and support the essence of the artisans’ products. Doing this requires going beyond what is immediately apparent and entering without fear into an investigation of the product itself.

- The multicultural dynamic is the doorway to transformative ideas.

The activities of the week's "Managing Design from the Local Identity Perspective," lead to the creation of a collection of products for the dining table. In this case the dining table was chosen as a prototype for the creation of new product lines.

From the beginning, traditional crafts technologies were taken as the point of departure for create new ways to apply and expand those technologies. By doing this, new work habits are created and the technology evolves.

The “fique” (natural fiver), wood, clay, ivory palm, wool, Gallon silk, straw, esparto, coal and metal, were some of the materials used to create the collections.

By the end of the workshop, groups of artisans created several collections of products. The products emerged from the artisans’ culture identity, and environment. The products emerged from an interactive dialogue with technical experts in the fields of design, marketing, and professional associations. The product samples were showcased in a new context that validated the integrity of the products’ cultural and environmental legacy. This approach that takes into consideration various aspects such as the product design, brand identity and the artisan’s portfolio.This process opens the way for follow-up and subsequent consolidation of the artisan’s experience in a context that generates new business partnerships.

The Living Experience

MARIA VERONICA ARAQUE – Argentina - Graduate and lecturer in Visual Arts

Thomaz SELLINS – France - A graphic designer and audiovisual producer. He has a video and graphic design production business in France and Spain.

GLORIA RODRIGUEZ – Colombia - A graphic designer with experience in teaching artisan communities.

Graphic Design Team

Image Development

The brand image, was developed from the artisans community itself. In the first phase participants developed the symbols most representative of their region. They also selected the name for the collection chosen by a majority.

The symbols represent peasants with typical attire of the PAÑOLON, RUANA and hat. They represent the relationship commitment of man and woman. The collection titled Boyacá pa'sumerceá reflects popular sentiment and slang phrase that addresses the values of the boyacense’s relationships. It is a symbol of warm and affectionate welcome to visitors.

The Complete Image

Applications

BOYACÁGutiérrez

Tundama

Sugamuxi

CentroRicaurte

contacto:

Boyacá, Colombia

Artesana/ o:

Producto/ Referencia:

Material:

Técnica:

Intrucciones de uso

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$

contacto:

Boyacá, Colombia

BOYACÁGut ié rre z

Tundam a

Sugam ux i

Ce n t roR ica urt e

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Material:

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$

frente

espalda

espalda

frente

frente

Espalda

roll

loom

frame

• Falta mazorca

Product Catalogue

Product

Description

Number

Price

Candle Holder

Tagua Salt Shaker

Bread Basquet

Fruit Basket

Coal tagua fiqueRaw

Materialclay

BO.CA01 BO.TG02 BO.FQ03 BO.AR04

Agradecimientos

Historian: Pablo Solano

Consultants: Jorge Camargo: Docente Universitario, Doctor en mercados y logística de abastecimiento.

Special thanks to:

Samuel Gómez Cristancho Director SENA Regional BoyacáDagoberto Berdugo Hernández Subdirector Centro de Gestión Administrativa y Fortalecimiento Empresarial del SENA.Cristina Castiblanco Programa Diseñando a Boyacá. Gobernación de Boyacá.

Technical Asssitance:Verónica Araque, Thomaz Sellins, Dale Schwarz, María Victoria Gómez, Valeria Montaña, Natalie Salas, Martha Fernández Samacá,

María Teresa Uribe.

Equipo de SENA: Belkis Molano, Carol Valencia, Amparo Tejedor, Pedro Leguizamón, Libia Coy, Alberto Rincón, Martha Álvarez, Ligia Fonseca, Doris Gómez, Clemencia Perez Zárate, Diana Becerra. Myriam Cordoba, Victoria Rodriguez

Master Artisans: Juan César Bonilla, Cecilia Tapias, Luis Alberto Alvarez

Hotel Sochagota and its work team.

Audio Visual production and documentation: Javier Corba, Jhon Jairo Gaitán.

History teller and poet: Oscar Olivo Fonseca

Brass Quartet: Grupo Trompetistas de Paipa

Center for Creative Consciousness

S E N A

RICAURTE Y OCCIDENTEMaría Bertilda PáezFlor Marina Rivera Emilse Aidee Guevara DíazJorge DíazYanira MonroyMartha García PuertaClara Inés EncisoAlberto RincónSandra GómezJuan Cesar Bonilla

RICAURTE:Emperatriz SuárezGloria Isabel CoyBlanca Nubia CoyMaría Emma SilvaVictoria CastellanosRosa Castro RodríguezEdelmira VillanuevaJacqueline RoncancioSaúl Varela Fredy LondoñoAmparo Albarracín

CENTROMartha CáceresJuan Carlos PiragautaHéctor Julio LópezMaría Clemencia BernalAura Luz PizaAlejandra TicoraRosa Inés SuárezJosé Ángel VillabonaPedro Camilo BuitragoAmparo tejedorLibia Coy

SUGAMUXIHarold AlvaradoJacqueline OjedaLubaida PérezCecilia TapiasCarlos PulidoLuis ÁlvarezDerly MolinaMartha ÁlvarezConsuelo ToquicaPedro Leguizamon

TUNDAMABernarda BecerraJulián BecerraNazareth WilchesRosa CorredorElba SánchezBerta CanoDavid RuizWilson RincónEsperanza GómezBeatriz HerreraMarcela AvendañoLiliana BecerraDiana AlarcónAlonso CamargoCarol ValenciaDiego AñezLigia Fonseca

MARQUEZ Y GUTIERREZFabio MuñozAlexandra BohorquezDelfina PedrazaElvia LopezYessica Tatiana HernandezDora Gomez RomeroMarina BustacaraAngelina SanchezOmaira ManriqueDoris Yasmin GomezClara Ines Cristancho

Artesans

© 2008 Laboratorio Piracema en Boyacá, Colombia - All rights reserved.