*Press Release-Art Connect Final Event'09

After a month’s long journey into the field of Art, Writing & Theatre- the Art Connect Event was the natural culmination to showcase the artworks, written scripts & theatrical talents of the participants. It has been a truly remarkable journey-watching people let go of their inhibition, & enter into a journey of self discovery and finally, being able to showcase their latent talents.

The Event was kick started by Jija Hari Singh, the Director General of Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence & Fire & Emergency Services . She has set up a foundation to promote Arts, Artists & Art Awareness for the Govt. of Karnataka. She was the Founder-President of Art Mantram & has organised the Roerich Centenary Celebrations in 2004. Jija is herself an artist who has exhibited her works in Sydney, Berlin, Vienna, Russia & USA.

Jija Hari Singh spoke about how she had started a similar initiative, behind her house in Delhi, in similar surroundings. She mentioned that she was impressed by the enthusiasm and sincerity shown by Nimo N. Menon, and said that she would do her best to support this endeavor.

C.F. John was a special guest at the event. A luminary in the field of art, his paintings have that degree of intensity, depth and deep meaning, which resonates through one’s entire being! He has had solo shows in Mainz & Saarbrucken, Germany.

Mr. John spoke on “Preparing soil for Creativity-Live’-which was about the use of art along with dance, movement(creating an illusion of water using plastic sheets) & photography, in bringing to life a dilapidated well, and also seeing it through the eyes of people who have used it, and lived around it. He said there was no need to typecast art and that art was visible in anything around us. He also spoke about when one should give definition to a work of art and when it should be left undefined. He wished Art Connect the Best-he expressed his approval of connecting different art forms in this manner. He also mentioned that the play enacted had relevance to today’s world, and was presented in an interesting manner using music, which is another form of art.

Preetam Koilapillai (Founder Director, Black Coffee Productions), Chippy Gangjee and Ashwin Mathew all from the field of Theatre were also present to witness the Play-‘Give Peace a Chance’, a 20 minute drama which used sounds(gunshots, news on terror, traffic,callously driven motorcars etc), music and adapted versions of songs (Give Peace a Chance(Beatles), Heal the World, They don’t really care about us (Micheal Jackson) ,The Cats in the Cradle(Ugly Kid Joe), and centred around a nuclear family who have learnt to survive in today’s achievement driven, callous society-which cares nothing for the lives of the downtrodden, nor even finds the time to care for each other.

This was presented as an appeal for peace in a desperate, achievement oriented, chaotic world!

The cast mentioned how grateful they were to Ashwin Mathew for helping with ideas to bring the play to life, and Preetam for making them realise the energy they possessed.

Rekha Rao who had come to see the paintings, who was among the audience who were viewing the play.She mentioned that she greatly enjoyed the short skit enacted by the new theatre with its performing arts loving enthusiasts.

Ashwin Mathew did a 15 minute stand up comedy which had the audience in splits. Preetam Koilapillai also addressed the audience on the nuances of Theatre and expressed his appreciation of the idea of establishing a connect between different art forms. Chippy Gangjee mentioned the fact that the play had meaning and was presented well-considering it was put together in a matter of just 6 half days!

The Paintings and Sketches done by the aspiring artist as well as the demonstration paintings done by the established artists who conducted the workshop, were on display. These were viewed by all the invitees. From the Word Surge Workshop,s select writings pertaining to the visual depicted in some of the paintings were read out., including “Dark Secrets”, “Bringing ideas to life’ and Magic of the Magician’-all very different in styles and content, yet pertaining to the very same visual of an old man who blows into a book, as a parakeet flying nearby. Likewise other writings on a painting of Spanish Dancers-included ‘Dancing Passion’, ‘The Enchantress of the Night’ and one on a painting of a little African Boy was entitled ‘Chima’s Secret.’ Anuradha Nalapat was present during the workshop and conducted a session which relaxed the participants and got them thinking.

The Bold Strokes Workshop was the most popular part of the month long camp -with so many prospective registrations already on for the next event we plan later on this year. The sessions which were from 9am to 1 pm got extended to late evening-as people did not want to leave their work of art-they just had to complete it! The ambience was merely an add-on factor, to providing the appropriate mood for this happening! The participants of the Word Surge Workshop also expressed a similar sentiment. They were able to bare their soul with words, simply and surely!

This highlight of the event was the launch the Bold Strokes Gallery, which will feature affordable art created by upcoming artists as well as paintings done by the established artists who had conducted the workshops. The Word Surge and Stage Art Clubs were also launched, as there were repeated requests that they be functional during weekends.