ARTS THAT RESTORE COMMUNITIES Mary Stokrocki, Fulbright Taiwan, 2012 ©

Art in the Community: Ban-toe Village Folk Mosaics, Taiwan

THE CRAFTS THAT RESTORED A VILLAGE

• Her, Kelly (2012). The crafts that restored a village [Bantoe). Taiwan Review, 62(7), pp. 42-47. The folk artist Chen Shong-Zheng created mosaics by cutting low fire porcelain clay (koji) and & pasting [jian nian] then into a stucco frame. This clay type & style a is typical temple sculpture. See http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=192036&CtNode=1337&mp=1

Elementary school students paint ceramic tiles at Bantaoyao’s workshop. (Photo by Chang Su-ching)

One must master several techniques including drafting, shaping, carving, glazing and cutting, as well as have good concentration and endurance. “Nowadays, most young people are reluctant to take on manual jobs, while temples largely prefer to use cheaper, pre-molded ridge decorations rather than commission handmade pieces due to the cost,” Hsieh says. “So these traditional temple crafts have become sunset industries and are likely to disappear if nothing is done to save them” (Hsieh Jin-xu (謝錦旭 ), 47, is a senior craftsman

The Community is My Canvas

In another example of community arts restoration, Asst. Professor Chi-Hsiang Chang, Dept. of Fine Arts, Tainan University of Technology gave a tour of his community murals in his home Guanmiao Village Township in Tainan County.

With his supportive wife and kids, this sincere, dutiful son, moved back to help his mother at 83. He started painting this community project—Village Farm

Mural -- 9 years ago in his mother's home. Lots of beautiful memories!

Village based on Pineapple Fields and Rice Harvesting

“If the young people don't return, no one will take care of the property.”

In 2008, he invited his university students to paint with him. All outdoor murals were painted with acrylic over a base of outdoor

house paint.

His future painting will integrate plants, traditional arts, & realistic scenery – catering to community interests.

Community Center with local photo exhibit & mosaic seats. He wants to hold performances here too.

Trip with Dr. Li-Yan Wang & her students from National Changhua Normal University, 4/14/2012

People now cherish the place. He has left many marks here and

it is a cleaner place.

Thank You, Dr. Mary