Usually when you travel you stay in a hotel and go see the sights. Participating in
RIA/CE was the opposite of that. RIACE enriched my life with a personal connection to the artists and craftsmen of Raghurajpur, my fellow artists from around the world, and the people of the village.
-- Tony Walsh, USA
The Raghurajpur International Art/Craft Exchange (RIA/CE) is an opportunity for contemporary/conceptual artists to exchange ideas and skills with the traditional craftspeople of Orissa, India.
During the 5-week exchange, artists from around the world will have the opportunity to study with master craftsmen and learn traditional skills such as palm leaf carving, stone and wood carving, pata chitra and tassar painting, Coir(coconut straw) toy making, paper maché mask making, ganjapa playing card making, and cow dung toy making as well as Gotipua, Odishi, Naga, Durga, Horse (chaiti ghoda), Fire (paika akhada) dancing Drama & Music and Cultural.
This knowledge and these traditional skills can then be incorporated into contemporary artwork. In exchange, the international artists will share their ideas about contemporary art with the villagers, who can incorporate these ideas into their traditional art.
Art celebrations will be held to display and present the creative results of this artistic exchange. Interaction and collaboration is encouraged. Raghurajpur includes numerous display and performance spaces including an outdoor amphitheater, a river, ponds, jungle, and groves of ancient trees.
Thirty international artists will be selected to participate in RIA/CE 2012.