Book and illustrated craft documentation
Kam Women Artisans of China: Dawn of the Butterflies
A book bringing together Kam women’s craft knowledge, stories, photographs, and technical illustrations.
Explore project →Collaborative, community-centered practice
Community Design
The Kam Heritage Project brings together cultural preservation, education, and sustainable livelihoods through a long-term design collaboration with the community of Dimen in Guizhou Province, China.
Dimen · Guizhou Province · China
Kam Heritage Project
2007 to Present
Working with the Dimen Dong Cultural Eco Museum and the community of Dimen, Marie Anna Lee and her students have used collaborative design to document cultural knowledge, strengthen local identity, and support artisans’ livelihoods.
The project received honorable mentions for the 2013 and 2014 SEED Awards, recognizing work in public interest design.
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Cultural Preservation
Documentation of Kam craft processes, oral histories, motifs, and everyday practices through research, visual storytelling, film, and an extensive digital archive.
Digital archive
Kam Minority Archive
An online collection of photographs, video recordings, audio, and field notes documenting Kam cultural heritage.
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Documentary filmmaking
Short Documentary Films
Films exploring papermaking, indigo dyeing, and weaving, alongside earlier recordings from Dimen.
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Oral histories and narratives
Stories from Dimen
A collection of traditional and local stories documented as part of the Kam Heritage Project.
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Pattern collection and digital preservation
Indigenous Motif Library
Documenting traditional motifs and converting selected designs into reusable digital graphics.
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Exhibition
Kam Women Artisans of China — Náprstek Museum Exhibition
A 2019–2020 solo exhibition in Prague featuring photographs, illustrations, and outdoor display panels designed for the museum courtyard.
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Exhibition
Dawn of the Butterflies — Reynolds Gallery Exhibition
A 2018 exhibition at Reynolds Gallery presenting research, photographs, visual material, and video related to Kam Women Artisans of China: Dawn of the Butterflies.
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Exhibition · 2012
Dimen in Transition — Reynolds Gallery
A collaborative exhibition featuring research, photography, children’s perspectives, and Joanne Kwan’s illustrated journal.
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Education & Local Identity
Collaborative workshops and student-led projects designed to encourage interest in local customs, strengthen cultural identity, and support the exchange of knowledge.
Community workshops
Workshops for Adults
Hands-on training and design activities in collaboration with artisans and community members.
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Creative learning
Workshops for Children
Activities introducing children to local traditions, making, and visual expression.
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Public engagement
2014 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Kam artisans and collaborators shared craft practices with the public in Washington, DC.
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Student documentary
Through Young Kam Eyes
A documentary project by Anastasya Uskov, BFA ’12, focused on young people and Dimen.
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Graphic novel
Their Then and Now
Joanne Kwan, BFA ’13, developed a graphic novel based on interviews with young people from the village.
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Student design project
Dimen Animals Coloring Book
A coloring book developed by Graphic Design I students using local animal imagery.
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Raising Living Wages
Connecting traditional craftsmanship with contemporary product development and teaching resources to help artisans create income-generating opportunities.
Community-based design
Singing Hands Cooperative
A women’s artisan cooperative and student agency grounded in local craft skills and aesthetics.
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Product development
Student-Designed Prototypes
Graphic design students developed product ideas using locally available materials and cultural motifs.
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Training materials
Illustrated How-to Guides
Step-by-step illustrated guides in English and Chinese supporting artisan product-making.
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