Our Art workshop in the News!

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Catch the latest on the Art workshop at Gulmohar days in this special feature about us in the Mid-Day. you can follow this linkto read online: http://epaper-beta.mid-day.com/epaperhome.aspx?issue=11052011&edd=pune

TIMELESS TALES OF ART Shree Lahiri AT THE TIMELESS TALES WORKSHOP, ORGANISED BY GULMOHAR DAYS, KIDS CAN LEARN, PLAY AND BRING TO LIFE THEIR FAVOURITE CHARACTERS ON CANVAS Kids will be trailing fairy tales, reading interesting stories and exploring their creativity at the workshop organised by Gulmohar Days. The four- day workshop called Timeless Tales hopes to give kids a fun encounter with art and literature. “ We try to organise workshops that are different from the normal drawing classes or summer camps that we see around. In our workshops, we try to combine literature with art,” says Nandini Nair, founder of Gulmohar Days. The workshop is for kids, who are above 8 years. At the workshop, kids will read a story by Hans Christian Anderson and a by Oscar Wilde. “ After the reading, there will be a discussion, so they will learn to understand the emotions behind the story,” says Nair. The kids will then be given a paragraph from the story, which they have to bring to life on canvas. “ They read it and try to find the primary emotion in that paragraph. Then, each child attempts to bring it to life in his or her own way,” explains Nair. “ In fact, at the end of the workshop, we manage to make a complete illustrated book with the children’s creations,” she adds. Besides painting on canvas with acrylics, the kids will also learn to make collages at the workshop. Nair says she started Gulmohar Days as a centre for children with a children’s library, day care centre, activity centre and a Montessori school. “ I have been an educator for the past 13 years. Having done my Masters in American and Commonwealth Literature, I have been teaching at the school and college level. A few years ago, I felt the need to break away from its monotony and create a place where kids of all ages can meet, learn from each other, meet mentors of the highest quality and be given enough creative freedom to explore their inner thoughts and talents. I wanted it to be a place without syllabi, curriculum and classrooms. Something like a commuity centre. That’s really how Gulmohar Days was conceived,” Nair reveals. Apart from art workshops, they have many other creative activities which children can be a part of. They can choose from the children’s library, art or drama class, the Montessori programme, a yoga session or they can just simple come and play carrom and chess. “ I always wanted a place where a child could spend an hour or two without having to smell French Fries, be coerced into buying something or be bombarded with Bollywood music. Gulmohar Days is a place that treats every child with the dignity he/ she deserves,” Nair signs off. ON May 16 to May 19 TIME 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm AT Gulmohar Days, Lane 13, Kalyani Nagar. CALL 9890530248