A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration(a city/town/few adjacent villages and their adjoining areas)of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats.An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated(mostly in villages/townships)household units producing handicraft/handloom products.In a typical cluster,such producers often belong to a traditional community,producing the long-established products for generations.Indeed,many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Dhokra Cluster:-

Dhokra Cluster falls under Orissa State in Dhenkal district.

The Dhokra Cluster is able to form above 400 Artisans and 10 SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day. Dhokra Cluster is famous for Patchwork, Dhokra, Cane and Bamboo Crafts.

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Patchwork:-

Patchwork or "pieced work" is a form of needlework that involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design. The larger design is usually based on repeat patterns built up with different fabric shapes (which can be different colors). These shapes are carefully measured and cut, basic geometric shapes making them easy to piece together. Precise joining by the most part with a quarter inch foot makes for a patchwork that lies flat without puckers.

Making:-

In the past, hand quilting was often done in a group around a frame. Instead of quilting, the layers are sometimes tied together at regular intervals with pieces of yarn, a practice known as tying or knotting, and which produces a "comforter".

Structure:-

There are three traditional structures used to construct a patchwork or pieced composition: 1) the block, 2) overall, and 3) strip piecing. Traditional patchwork has identifying names based on the arrangement of colors and shapes

Blocks:-

Patchwork blocks are pieced squares made up of colored shapes that repeat specific shapes to create patterns within the square or block, of, say, light and dark, or contrasting colors (motif (textile arts)). The blocks can all repeat the same pattern, or blocks can have several different patterns. The patchwork blocks are typically around 8–10" square (20cm to 25cm). They are sewn together in stacked rows to make a larger composition. Often strips of contrasting fabric forming a lattice separate the patchwork blocks from each other. Some common patchwork block names are Log Cabin, Drunkard's Path, Bear's Paw, Tulip, and Nine Patch.
A unique form of patchwork quilt is the crazy quilt. Crazy quilting was popular during the Victorian era (mid–late 19th century). The crazy quilt is made up of random shapes of luxurious fabric such as velvets, silks, and brocades and buttons, lace, and other embellishments left over from the gowns they had made for themselves. The patchwork pieces are stitched together forming "crazy" or non-repeat, asymmetric compositions. Fancy embroidery embellishes the seam lines between the individual, pieced shapes. The crazy quilt was a status symbol, as only well-to-do women had a staff to do all the household work, and had the time to sew their crazy quilt. Traditionally, the top was left without lining or batting. Many surviving crazy quilts still have the newspaper and other foundation papers used for piecing.

Strip piecing:-

Strip piecing involves stitching together pieces of fabric in repeat patterns into long strips and then stitching the strips together lengthwise. The patchwork strips can be alternated with strips of contrasting colors. A typical strip patchwork quilt is the Flying Geese pattern.

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Cane and Bamboo:-

From time immemorial Orissa has carved out a name for itself in the field of Handicrafts.The Gifted artisans produce wonderful objects of crafts from simple material like cane, bamboo & wood. There rare artistic skill has not been streamlined in the manufacture of exquisite household pieces. Orissa unique topography and the gracious nature bestowed their choicest blessings on the hereditary artisans of Orissa. With the passage of time, there have been changes in the demographic character of the state.But in each phase of her history, Orissa has shown remarkable inner strength of assimilation of synthesis, while retaining her own traditional heritage.With the original distinct tribal motifs were added the skills of Manipuri and Bengali artisans who came subsequently to settle in this land.

Cane & Bamboo occupy a distinctive place in the life of Orissa. From cradle to grave, there is hardly any occasion, complete without the use of cane & bamboo. Today the magnificent skill of artisans has been directed to produce of a wide range of more than 200 exquisite products. Presently, about 10,000 skilled artisans are engaged in production of various handicrafts in the state.The state government has already initiated steps in this direction, in view of the vast potential of the industry to grow, both in domestic as well as international markets.The state also welcomes private enterprise in this field.

Cane/ Bamboo handicrafts of Orissa are acknowledged to be among the best inthe country, due to their beauty, elegance and exquisite designs.A vast range of items are produced, including Furniture, Panels and Partitions, Table & other Mat products, Lamp Shades etc.Bamboo and cane Ornaments are also very intricate and exquisite in nature.Bamboo and cane ornaments are not available in any other part of the country as well as abroad. Orissa  handicrafts are also being exported to various countries.The natural, durable and attractive bamboo not only makes mats, baskets and other handicraft but is also used for high-grade packaging, decorative panels, curtains and window blinds.The bamboo window blinds, in fact, not only give a classic touch to the interior decor of a room but keep it cool as well.Bamboo craft is based on its specific weaving techniques.



Raw Materials used :-

Cane and Bamboo are very important things for any products.Cane and Bamboo are basic materials.Cane and Bamboo are neccessity things.We can create any products from Cane and Bamboo.



Techniques and Tools:-

The hollow stems, or culms, of the bamboo plant divide at the internode to form cylindrical, boxlike structures.The canes can be split longitudinally into pliable, even lengths, seasoned bamboo being used except in basketwork.Unseasoned bamboo is easier to work than dried or soaked material, and it has the added advantage for basketwork of shrinking slightly as it dries.The tools required for basketwork include a sharp knife or shears for trimming, a bodkin for opening holes in tight weaves to insert new canes, and a beater or commander to settle horizontal lines.For most other uses, bamboo must be seasoned, and woodworking tools—saws, drills, rasps and hammers—are required to work with the dried and hardened material.Conventional woodworking joints are used, e.g. butt, tenon, mortice and mitre joints; these must be modified to compensate for the hollowness of bamboo.For joining sections of bamboo lengthwise, wooden dowels are glued inside joints and are then drilled and pinned with pegs.When a butt joint is employed, the end of the stud is filed to match the profile of the cross-piece.Joints are often reinforced by binding with split bamboo.Bamboo may be shaped by heating and bending over a form.



Processing of Bamboo for Weaving:-

Green skin of the bamboo Culm is removed by scraping off its green surface with the help of a blade. Force is applied evenly along the culms surface to ensure uniformly colored bamboo.

The upper edge of the culm section is flattened to facilitate stripping.A sharp knife is used to cut evenly around the edge.The culm section is divided into slivers of an equal width.The number of slivers depends upon the diameter of the culm. Cutting is done carefully from the edge downwards along the length of the culm.The slivers are then completely separated to form individual pieces.

Slivers are striped into fine layers.The knife is held with the blade horizontally against the upper 1/3 of the cross section sliver.First cut is made by nipping the blade into the sliver.Then the blade is placed 0.5 to 1 mm away from the first layer.After repeating the process for a required number of times, the layers are peeled off.The thickness of the layers depends upon the need of the intended woven product.
Layers are separated into fine strips by using both the hands.The strips may be lighter or darker in color from one another.They are arranged accordingly.

The bamboo strips are then dyed and bleached with the help of various materials such as dyes, sulfur, hydrogen peroxide or other chemicals.Soaking, boiling, washing, air drying etc. methods are used for the purpose.

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Dhokra:-

Dhokra art is one of the earliest known methods of non-ferrous metal casting known to human civilization.The oldest form of metal casting `Dhokra` is popular because of its primitive simplicity.It is a very important handicrafts because of its more or less exclusive folk characters. Dhokra is notable for its strength and shapeliness of design.Its motifs are mostly drawn from folk culture.While among the animals,the elephant is most popular,other motifs,include human heads,kings, manas or miniature replica of measures,containers with lids,with or without locking devices,images of deities like Ganesh and Durga,lamps and lamp stands.The last being made in several intricate designs in shape of trees and branches with as many as hundred lamps in one stand.Of late some utilitarian articles like candle stands,ash trays and pen stands are also being made keeping the essential folk design intact.

The Dhokras use lost-wax process to cast hollow brass objects and images.The essence of the process is to model the object in wax,each one individually,around a hardened clay core which has approximately the shape of object to be cast.Layers of soft,refractory material are laid over wax model and hardened into a mould.The wax between core and mould is lost or burnt out as mould is heated.Then molten metal takes its place and hardens between the core and inner surface of mould which holds a negative impression of the wax model in all its detail.The outer surface of hardened metal,therefore,reproduce the shape and details of original wax model,with the core producing hollow interior.The hard core and mould become spongy and soft on firing and are easily removed.

Images of Ganesh, Durga, lamps, lamp stands, candle stands, ash trays, pen stands.

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How to reach:-

The head quarter town of the district Dhenkanal is ideally located of National high way No: 42 Connecting Cuttack with Sambalpur. The approach to Dhenkanal district is as follows.he nearest airport for approaching the places of interest in the district of Dhenkanal is at Bhubaneswar(99 Km) which is connected with New Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Nagpur by boeing flights.Dhenkanal Railway station on S.E. Railway.99 km. From Bhubaneswar on N.H. No. 42 Regular bus services connect Dhenkanal with Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Raipur, etc.