*The Inauguration of BoldStrokes Gallery

The Bold Strokes Workshop & Gallery Inauguration-Dec 2009:

The second Bold Strokes Workshop  (Nov 30th –Dec 10th 2009) was a tremendous success with the participants  giving rave reviews on the inspiring Outdoor  Environment, the choice of Artists, the dedication & personalised attention from the Art Connect Team, the peaceful, surreal atmosphere which gave them the ‘close to nature’ feeling, all of which helped bring out the talents they never knew they possessed.

The established artists who conducted the workshop said that they felt  re-inspired  and were able to come out with their best, long after the workshop. Reputed Contemporary artists like Bharathi Sagar, Anuradha Nalapat & TM Azis visited the workshop/gallery and gave their suggestions. The event drew the attention of News 9 Bangalore.

For us, at Art Connect, this has been a truly remarkable journey, watching people let go of their inhibitions and enter into intense sessions with the canvas, easels, paints & charcoals as their sole companions-yet finding the right stimulation to work amidst others like themselves.

We are very grateful to the established award winning artists who have helped us conduct this Workshop-including R.Sheelvant, G. Jagadish, Dhanaraj Kheezara, Shivakumar Gadiga , Leila Allameh & Muniyappa.

Our Vision Statement remains the same- Art Connect strives to bring together professional artists, accomplished writers and well known theatre personalities to help aspiring artists exhibit their latent artistic talents, aspiring writers remove their writers block and theatre aspirants unleash their natural performing abilities. It provides them with ample opportunity to interact with and showcase their creative abilities to people proficient enough to guide them to reach their true potential.

The Inauguration of the Bold Strokes Gallery was attended well & the highlight of the evening being the impromptu charcoal on canvas done by none other that JMS Mani, much to the delight of the audience, and a AV Presentation entitled ‘KK Hebbar-an Inner Voice by Rajani Prasanna, an Art Historian, Consultant and Educationist of repute.

JMS Mani:

“The historical location of Badami, as well as the innocence of the people there, who I find very hardworking and honest in all their ways, inspire me to capture their simplicity through my paintings.” These are the words of Sri JMS Mani.This is what started him on his now Internationally acclaimed ‘Badami’ Series. JMS Mani’s subjects are the simple, rustic folk of the Deccan Plateau in South India, with their strong Dravidian features. His bold brushwork, done in 3-dimensional image,are similar in style to those of the impressionists era He is grateful to his mentor , the late RM Haripad who started the Ken School of Art.  Mr.Mani chooses to depict his characters, the balloon seller, the puppet girls, the women with a rooster, simply and uncomplicatedly. His art tells a tale of an entire race which would have otherwise remained unnoticed. His paintings with the dark skin of his characters are colourful, dramatic and striking; static, yet captivating. J.M.S. Mani has a diploma in Drawing and Painting from the Ken School of Art, Bangalore. He won the Karnataka Lait Kala Akademi Award from 1981 to 1983. He has had  shows across India and in London. He has participated in several group shows, such as the SAARC Exhibition at the Chitra Kala Parishath, Bangalore and the Bharat Bhavan International Biennale of Prints in 1989. He currently lives and works in Bangalore.

Rajani Prasanna is an Art Historian, Consultant & Educationist. She is an authority on the History of Painting,Sculpture,Ceramics, metal Craft & Interior Design-from Ancient to Contemporary Periods-with relevance to Indian, European and other Civilisations. She is the daughter of the late KK Hebbar, renowned artist, and the sister of Rekha Rao, well known who was also expected to be here for this event but had to leave for Mumbai due to an emergency. Rajani has researched on the Life and Times of KK Hebbar, towards a Phd & has several articles, catalogues, reviews & lectures delivered to her credit. She was Professor at JJ School of Arts, Univ of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Visiting Prof at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad & Shrishti School of Design. Rajani has travelled the world over visiting Contemporary Art Galleries, Museums, Historical Sights and meeting Artists.

The Bold Strokes Gallery was formally inaugurated by JMS Mani & Rajani Prasanna. The Paintings & Charcoals done by the artists, including the demo paintings which were done with true passion, were on display at the gallery as well as the open spaces of the garden, which provided a stimulating ambience for an evening well spent.

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