Making Mud Cloths of West Africa's Mali Empire
Through a recent art project, students in Intermediate's Renaissance Club have been learning about the history and culture of West Africa.
As were the artists of the Renaissance, students in Renaissance Club have been inspired by Mud Cloths of The Mali Empire in West Africa. These cloths are made from the land. The fabric is created from cotton, dyed with leaves, and painted with river mud that stains the fabric through a chemical reaction with the dye. The artists of Mali create intricate designs using geometric shapes, repetition, and symbols.
Inspired by these beautiful works of art and the many accomplishments of The Mali Empire, the guilds created their own prints. The artists drew their designs based on those of the Mali, then carved them into foam board, and then printed them on different colored paper.
