Batik

In class we learned about different techniques of creating textiles such as Woven (Kente and Togodo/Adanuvo), Wax resist (Batik, Adire, Adinkare, and fancy wax-print), Tye-Dye, and Mudd resist.  Nani Agbeli is an artist from Ghana and showed us some of his culture through Batik, lecture, performance, and music.  Thanks to Nani, we were able to learn how to create Batik first hand. We learned step by step how to print a design onto fabric using wooden stamps of Ewe and Asante symbols and hot wax, then we colored the fabric using dye.  I am very excited about learning this process. I was also surprised at how much labor it was to create one small piece! Nani also has a long history of performance art in music and dance through his family. His interest started when he was 5 years old.  Nani gave a performance using instruments and dance movements from Ghana. His dance movements were inspired from war and battle.  He also taught us some movements inspired from different kinds of African dance.  Overall, I feel that my ideas of African art and culture are greatly enriched due to what we have learned from Nani. I enjoyed doing the Batik project it was a lot of fun and really interesting.