1. what is the importance of arts and crafts to the people of the country of origin?
Each art form or craft has a very distinct and rich history, meaning, and
purpose that can be traced back to the ancient era. Our ancestors developed crafts
made from materials in their environment for daily use and these crafts turned into
the admirable distinction of one culture. One example is the Bul-ul. This kind of art
is distinct only from Ifugao. You can pinpoint the place and you can even describe
their culture just by seeing their arts and crafts. When you look at their Bul-ul, you
can say that they believe in some supernatural beings. They are traditional and
close to nature. Furthermore, not only they portray the place and the meaning, but
also the purpose. Bul-ul are placed in the nipa huts or what we call native house
and even in the rice granaries. They guard the place away from any devil acts. These
are some great importance of arts and crafts not just to the people and their
country, but to the knowledge or intellect of everyone who dearly appreciates arts
and crafts.
2. what are the contributions of indigenous creative crafts to the economy and
culture?
Indigenous creative crafts provide foreign exchange earnings and local
earning. According to a study conducted by Hutterer Karl, in most Third world
countries, 70-90% of jobs in manufacturing go to individual craftspeople. Crafts also
constitute a secondary activity for many rural populations. Most craftspeople are
women, for whom sales from crafts provide basic household necessities. In this
modern-day, entrepreneurs are giving importance to indigenous crafts by hiring
tribal weavers and crafts makers. They are helping them make crafts and sell them
to tourists and dealers. We see crafts being appreciated by foreigners when they
visit indigenous places. One example is Banaue. They are earning money from
tourist attractions and indigenous crafts like the native attires that are weaved by
the locals and other crafts like accessories and souvenirs.
Since indigenous crafts are being passed down from one generation to
another, the culture of one place is not being lost. In the present era, the
government and the entrepreneurs are giving importance to local products like the
indigenous crafts made by tribal people. This is a great way of instilling the culture
in the future generation. Furthermore, indigenous crafts bind different people from
different places through the appreciation of one’s crafts. The Philippines is a
country that gives great importance to its culture and these are transmitted to
foreign countries who came to appreciate and learn our own culture through arts
and crafts.
3. in what significant ways are engaging in artwork and craft-making beneficial to
our daily life?
Art and craft making is no easy work. However, these arts and crafts give
benefits to those who appreciate and love these works. A study in the American
Journal of Public Health titled ‘the connection between art, healing and public
health’ found that those who engaged in art experienced “reductions in stress and
anxiety” and an “increase in positive emotions”. Furthermore, craft-making and
artwork boost confidence levels. As you finish your desired or target work, you get
a burst of self-esteem that brightens your mood by increasing the neurotransmitter
molecule known as the feel-good molecule. Dopamine reduces feelings of
depression and generates confidence. With the increase of dopamine, new
neurons are created which promotes focus, and concentration and readies the
brain for learning. Moreover, engaging in artwork and craft-making changes the
way one thinks and feels. A neurobiologist at the University College of London
found that even just looking at art can provide enjoyment ad increase critical
thinking skills. Professor Semir Zeki discovers that people who view or create art
are more tolerant of other people and show more empathy. Those with illnesses
also such as dementia and Alzheimer’s showed “improved medical outcomes” after
creating art. Physician Dr. Arrnold Bresky, who uses art therapy to treat Alzheimer’s
patients, says his patients’ memories have improved by 70% since engaging with
art. Truly, artwork and craft making is not only economically and culturally
beneficial but also health beneficial.