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Dasavatar: A Story-Telling and Clay Modelling Workshop
The most traditional form of Avatar within Hinduism is the descents of Vishnu, the preserver or sustainer aspect of God within the Hindu Trinity or Trimurti.The scriptures speak of the 10 Avatars of Vishnu – different incarnations that take the form of divine intervention provided by Vishnu during the various stages of human evolution. The “dasavatara” (ten avatars) is meant to re-establish dharma or righteousness and destroy tyranny and injustice on earth. Gowri Rao Mehta, a performing artist, will tell the participating students the story of the first six avatars of Vishnu which corresponds to the theory of evolution from Matsya (water borne creatures) to Kurma (amphibian) to Varaha (terrestrial), Narasimha (half beast half man), Vamana (dwarf man), Parsuram (man). The artist will introduce the children to stylized story telling (with mudras and expressions etc).
Following this, the clay artist Parsuram Kumbhar will actually demonstrate the mixing of various natural minerals to create terracotta. Following this demonstration, he will get children to start working on earlier prepared terracotta and show them some basic clay modeling techniques.
Once the children get a feel of this natural terracotta and figure out how to handle it, he will divide the children into smaller groups and each group will create one avatar guided by Parsuram.
The children will each have their own creation out of terracotta at the end of the workshop and would also know the little story that goes with it!
List of participating NGOs:
1) Amchaghar - www.amchaghar.org
2) Smile - www.smilefoundationindia.org
3) Muktangan - www.muktanganedu.org
4) Bandra East Community Center - www.beccindia.org
Profiles:
Gowri Rao Mehta
For over two decades Gowri Rao Mehta has been training under Guru Kalyanasundaram of the Rajarajeshwari Bharatha Natya Kalamandir. Her arangetram at the Shanmukhananda Hall was widely appreciated. Since then, she has performed on various platforms in cities of India, like Chennai, Bangalore, Ahemedabad, Baroda, Trichi, Kancheepuram, ,Kumbhakonam, NCPA-Mumbai and various other places. These include the Asiad Festival at New Delhi, Nrityotsava - A Festival of Dance, at Triruvanthapuram sponsored by the Sangit Natak Academy-New Delhi and Department of Culture-Kerala, the Natyanjali Festival, Chidambaram and the Dance Solidarity Function-Nehru Centre, Mumbai. She has also performed at the International Festival of Arts, China. She has also toured Nepal, Singapore, the USA and Canada. She has performed in all the productions of the Raja Rajeshwari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir. She is also the recipient of the Singar Mani title awarded by the Sur Singar Academy.
With the blessings of her Gurus she has choreographed quite a few ballets (around 25 to 30 nos) for children of various organisations and schools including the Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisation. She was also invited to Singapore to present a dance ballet with the local Bal Vikas children comprising Indian, Chinese and Singaporean, for an International Convention. Most of the dance dramas are educative as well as entertaining. These inculcate human values in the children. She has been associated with the ISRH (Indian Society for the Rehabilitation of the Handicapped), and has choreographed ballets for a group of children and youth with different disabilities physical as well as mental and also toured the USA with them. She has presented a ballet with mentally challenged children of the Mona Remedial Education Centre. Her latest production was MEERA where she played the title role, and it was presented on Easwaramma day under the auspices of the Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisation. Discerning lovers of the art look forward to her performances and productions.
Parsuram Kumbhar
Parsuram Kumbhar belongs to a family of artisans who have worked with clay over generations. His art extends to clay modeling as well as wheel based pottery and he is especially good at communicating this art form to very young audiences.He works out of his studio in Mahalakshmi, Mumbai and conducts workshops as well. He has participated in several exhibitions and trade fairs.
The Pomegranate Workshop - www.tpw.in
The Pomegranate Workshop was founded two years ago and is run by professionals from media and education. The venture specializes in bringing together subject experts in the fields of performing art,visual art, craft, writing, film making, maths and science to give children an integrated exposure to creativity. We currently work with over 35 practicing professionals in all the said areas, all of whom are leading names in their respective fields. Pomegranate workshop specializes in creating workshop methodologies that bring about optimal learning in children whilst integrating varied educational experiences. They structure the workshops keeping in mind the end goals of individual sessions and the requirements of the participants base. They have been conducting workshops with schools, The British Council Library, DNA, YA! Newspaper, The Celebrate Bandra Festival, The Kala Ghoda Festival and also with corporates like Ogilvy and Mather Advertising where they conducted a workshop for their entire creative team.