This summer, the Southwest Folklife Alliance was honored to connect 15 traveling artists from Kazakhstan with heritage-based artists in Southern Arizona. The Kazakhstan Artisan Initiative is the first project of the Kazakhstan Cultural Heritage Fund and supports community-based work and cross-cultural exchange to strengthen cultural sustainability in Kazakhstan.
The artists are members of the Union of Artisans of Kazakhstan (UoA). Their travels were made possible with support from Chevron and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, which provides research, documentation, participatory workshops and mentorship, and market access activities.
Bottom: Artists sharing their craft at Cafe Santa Rosa. Top: Group photo at Cafe Santa Rosa.
In July, twelve artisans from Kazakhstan traveled to Santa Fe and Tucson building relationships with local artisans, participating in studio and museum visits, and meeting with local cultural heritage practitioners. Both master artisans with established enterprises and emerging artists shared stories, artwork, and process with US-based artists working in similar disciplines–ceramics, textiles, wood, and silversmith jewelry. They also attended the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe and participated in community gatherings with local organizations to strengthen ties between sister cities Tucson and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
To introduce the visiting artists to SFA Master-Apprentice Artist Award recipients and Loom Market artists, Denise Uyehara organized three studio visits in Tucson:
- O’odham Haha’adam with Harrison Preston, Kathleen Vance, and Melvina Lopez.
- Diné weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas and her son/apprentice, Michael Ornelas.
- Navajo Silversmiths Alex and Shane Beeshligaii.
During a meal at Tucson’s Cafe Santa Rosa, local Mata Ortiz potter Pilo Mora & his wife, Delia, shared the legacy of pottery from Chihuahua, Mexico, while Kazakh artists shared work samples. To facilitate the sharing, English-Russian-Spanish translation facilitated the exchange.
The Kazakhstani at Shane Beeshligaii’s studio in Tucson, AZ.
Enjoy this video about each of the 15 Kazakh artists and learn more about them via their Instagram accounts:
| Name | Artform | |
| Stulangali Abdireim | Jewelry/silversmith | @sulteke13 |
| Dulat Ashimov | Jewelry/silversmith | @ashimovkz @dulat_ashimov |
| Ainash Kapanova | Ceramics | @kapa.kerama |
| Togzhan Babiyeva | Wood, leather, textiles | @togzan.babieva |
| Kairat Shapabayev | Jewelry/silversmith | @by.kairat |
| Ardak Abishev | Jewelry/silversmith | @amanatjw |
| Madina Akhmetova | Textiles | @madiart.kz @artaltynorda |
| Aizhan Bekkulova | Textiles, Union of Artisans | @aizhan.bekkulova |
| Assel (Alisha) Shalakhmetova | Union of Artisans & Translator | @alishashal |
| Berik Beisbekov | Leather | @berik_sheber_kz @artaltynorda |
| Serik Rysbekov | Jewelry/silversmith | @serik_rysbek_jewelry @ serik.rysbekov |
| Rauan Kazbalinov | Jewelry/silversmith | @serik_rysbek_jewelry @ serik.rysbekov |