The Beacon - April 2024
Editorial Team : Harini Thiagarajan, Anishka Gogoi, Anvika Bheemarasetty, Guhan Thiagarajan
"Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.” - Malcolm Bradbury
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"Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.” - Malcolm Bradbury ~~
Welcome to the New Joinees
A note from our founder, Deepti Agrawal
We extend a warm welcome to all the new families joining Deepti Designs School of Art. Our school offers much more than just weekly art training. We are dedicated to our mission of nurturing creatively dynamic, culturally rooted, and socially sensitive artists.
Curriculum and Growth
Our curriculum is meticulously crafted in collaboration with multi-generational national and state award-winning artists from India. Completion of a set of 15 paintings across different mediums is required for certification. For further details on this, currently enrolled students can contact our Educator and Director of Events and Outreach, Ms. Nikita Thakalath (text only: 425-894-5984).
General Proficiency
In addition to art, students are mentored in vital skills like creative writing, public speaking, research, ideation, creative stimulation, and more. These elements are seamlessly integrated into our program, ensuring comprehensive development for every student.
Social Outreach and Community Giving
Giving back to the community is an integral to our curriculum. Through our non-profit arm, Wind Beneath the Wings, we curate 20-25 programs annually, inviting our artists to participate in roles of their choice. The information about upcoming events and opportunites are published in the newsletter and time-to-time in the School’s Whatsapp community groups. We are a PVSA certifying organization, assisting our artists in accruing volunteer hours for the prestigious award.
Our in-house round-the-year programs like Northshore Kindness Crew, The Beacon, Vyakhya, and Creative Voices foster empathy, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills. In addition, our team is dedicated to supporting any student-led initiatives that hold value and contribute to the greater good.
Every currently enrolled student is eligible to participate in the above programs based on their interests and time at hand.
Feel free to delve into the intricacies of our offerings as we embark on this creative journey together, exploring our rich heritage along the way!
Recent Highlights
TEDx Speakers
Our founder, Ms. Deepti Agrawal, delivered a TEDx talk at the Maydenbauyer Center in Bellevue on April 7th. Organized by Pinelake Youth, the event centered around the high-level theme of "Flourish Beyond School" and featured a curated lineup of influential personalities dedicated to youth empowerment.
For the TEDx event, select youth had the opportunity to audition, and we are thrilled to announce that our artist, Mahima Kolar, successfully made it through and shared the prestigious stage with Ms. Agrawal and eight other speakers.
In her TEDx talk, Ms. Agrawal emphasized the importance of holding on to one's own identity in today's rapidly changing world. She shared her personal journey of trying to change herself to blend in the mould of what was considered popular. She further highlighted how being different and being herself helped in making a strong statement of authenticity. Ms. Agrawal spoke about her own experience of feeling invisible while attempting to fit in during her childhood, and how she ultimately found strength in embracing her uniqueness which was powered by proudly accepting her rich cultural heritage.
In her TEDx speech, Mahima recounts her journey from childhood curiosity to embracing diverse perspectives. It all began when, as a kindergartener, she passionately advocated for voting rights after a classroom apple-tasting exercise. Over time, Mahima realized her family's views influenced her, but as she encountered conflicting opinions, she began questioning and seeking understanding. Through exposure to different perspectives and active curiosity, Mahima learned to appreciate opposing viewpoints and challenge her beliefs. She urges listeners to embrace curiosity, listen to differing opinions, and strive for deeper understanding, fostering a more informed and tolerant society.
It was a truly inspiring event that celebrated individuality and authenticity, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.
Studio - Gallery
Starting from the month of April, we can have one student show up 3-7 paintings and put up a monthly show in our Bothell studio.
Our artist for the month of April is Anvi Dua. She is showing three pieces. Here is a quick glance at her artworks -
“Hi! I’m Anvi, I’m a 14 year old freshman at North Creek High School and I am showing my paintings of Lord Panchmukhi Hanuman, Lord Ganesha and Lakshmi Ji.
Panchmukhi Hanuman is one of the less commonly depicted forms of Lord Hanuman and represents all five directions. He has a very interesting story and the fire and water in the background shows elements of it.
Ganesha is most often recognized as the god with the elephant head which is explained in his story. Lord Ganesha is always the first god prayed to because he is said to remove all your worries and obstacles.
Goddess Lakshmi is known as the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Each of her 4 arms represents moral life, wealth, love, and self-knowledge, overall showing a balanced life. I tried to maintain this balance visually in my painting as well.
Hope you enjoy my works”
We invite students to put up a show in our current gallery. To sign up for the month in which you can show your work, please click below -
WA State Speakers Bureau Talk at Washington State University
Ms. Deepti Agrawal, a Washington State Speaker, was invited by Washington State University to deliver a talk on how the ancient art of Madhubani Painting fostered community cohesion in bygone eras. Her discussion expanded to explore how this timeless art form continues to unite people today, nurturing a robust cultural identity among the youth.
The event was held over Zoom on March 19th. Accompanying Ms. Agrawal was Anvika Bheemarasetty, who presented one of her artworks and subsequently led the group in an engaging art therapy session, guiding them to create their own cherished keepsakes.
Ms. Agrawal's talk, titled "Ancient Art, Modern Freedom: Madhubani Painting as a Tool for Liberation," has garnered significant attention from universities and schools statewide, resonating with audiences seeking insight into the enduring relevance of traditional art forms.
Overlake School Diversity Fair
Deepti Design's teaching artist, Anvika Bheemarasetty, a seventh-grader at the Overlake School, recently participated in her school's diversity fair on April 13, where she showcased ancient Indian art forms.
She was also invited to teach participating students, faculty, and their families how to make a Madhubani coaster or bookmark. The event was a great success, with many attendees showing interest in the unique and ancient art form. Anvika's paintings were met with admiration, and many took the opportunity to create their pieces to take home. Overall, the event was a success and a representation of the enduring appeal of these art forms.
Upcoming Events
&
Opportunities
Mothers’ Day Workshop
Deepti Designs is conducting a special non-profit Mother's Day art workshop at our Bothell studio! This event is designed for kids and their moms to come together and create beautiful artwork side by side.
Date & Time : May 5, 2024 | 1:00pm - 3pm
Location : Deepti Designs Bothell Studio
Volunteers over the age of 8 are welcome to sign up with Ms. Vidhya Durai (text only: 425-286-0942). Volunteer hours will qualify for PVSA.
KCLS - Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Traditional Arts
Deepti Designs is partnering with King County Library System for a FREE interactive presentation on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional arts. This interactive workshop would be presented by our artists Anvika Bheemarasetty, Srinidhi Kodemala and Rama Panchap under the guidance of Adult mentor Annapoorni Panchap who is Engineering Program Manager at Apple Inc.
This workshop explores the fusion of traditional Madhubani Painting with modern AI technology. Madhubani art, steeped in Indian mythological anecdotes, often lacks direct visual representations of these narratives making it difficult to relate with them. To address this, the workshop introduces the use of AI to generate visual cues inspired by these anecdotes. Participants will witness the generation of visual hints from simple prompts, which then serve as an inspiration for them to play with.
Event Details:
Date & Time : June 8, 2024 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm (PDT)
Location : KCLS, Bothell Library
Registration is a must. We encourage bringing your own devices for interactive games and to practice generative AI. A limited number of library laptops will be available.
City of Bothell - Art Walk in the Woods
We are thrilled to invite you to join us for a day of magic, art, and culture! Get ready to be mesmerized as you take a stroll through the enchanted woods and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Madhubani Paintings created by some of the most talented Indian artists.
The city of Bothell is partnering with Deepti Designs for a fun-filled day of art at Bothell Landing Park. As you walk through the woods, you will find yourself surrounded by a variety of Indian artists and vendors showcasing their unique and traditional handicrafts. You can participate in fun games and grab some delicious Indian food bites as well.
Please SAVE THE DATE for the event at the moment. More details coming soon.
Event Details:
Date & Time : September 21, 2024 | All Day
Location : Bothell Landing Park, Bothell
To volunteer at the event, please reach out to Ms. Nikita Thakalath (text only: 425-894-5984)
Kathith Events
Tanjore Style Painting Workshop
Join us for an exquisite Tanjore Style Painting Workshop led by the esteemed artist, Vishnu Prabha!
Vishnu Prabha is a self taught multidisciplinary artist who works with both traditional and digital mediums to create art. She draws inspiration from spirituality, mythology, traditional art forms, folklores, nature, nostalgia, simple joys, emotions, and everything else that’s inspiring.
She has exhibited her artworks at prestigious galleries in Richmond, Atlanta, and St. Louis, and has also participated in juried art shows. She has crafted illustrations for a variety of spirituality-themed books, including an ongoing project dedicated to illustrating the 4000 Divyaprabandham.
In this 4-day workshop with Vishnu Prabha, the participants will delve into the intricacies of drawing from scratch, color blocking, and adding exquisite fine details to their artwork.
Event Details:
Date & Time : May 11, 12, 18, 19 | 8.30am - 11:00am
Location : Bothell Landing Park, Bothell
Mysuru Art Workshop
Mysuru Painting is characterized by its finely detailed brushwork, intricate patterns, and use of rich colors, including real 24 ct gold leaf embellishments.
We invite you to immerse yourself in the intricacies of this tradition, guided step by step by the renowned traditional artist, Shri Shashank Bharadwaj.
Hailing from a lineage of musicians, Shashank Bharadwaj learned secrets of the art through the study of classical texts, research across contemporary art forms, and restoration of old paintings.
He has showcased paintings in various shows like Mysore Dasara art expo, Art House Bangalore, Chitrasanthe Bangalore and World Art Expo in Dubai. He has been awarded the prestigious title of “Kala Tapasvi” in 2019 by Mysore Samskruthika Kala Pratishtana.
Event Details:
Date & Time : July 27, 28, Aug 3,4 2024 | All Day
Location : Zoom
A traditional supply kit will be shipped to the registrants. Registration will close as soon as the available kits are claimed.
This particular workshop is for USA residents only.
Ages 12 and over are recommended. Younger enthusiasts could accompany a participating adult.
Featured Artist
This month’s featured artists are Riya Subramaniam and Ruthvi Subramaniam!
Riya Subramaniam - Elephant
My name is Riya Subramaniam. I’m in 5th grade in Forest View Elementary. Art has always been my favorite hobby and I like drawing the designs in Madhubani paintings. The elephant in this painting is portrayed in front of a temple, wearing a headband, a flower garland, colorful blanket on its back, and anklets on its legs. At twilight, the sky is a dark shade of blue, and pink. I’ve used designs like kachni, bharni, koshes, cross hatching, bumps and circles. The elephant is standing on a black and white checkered floor.
Ruthvi Subramaniam - Peacock
“My name is Ruthvi Subramaniam. I’m a 5th grader in Forest View Elementary. The designs in Madhubani paintings attracts me the most to this form of art. In this painting, the peacock is perched upon a branch filled with strawberry dots and koshes in the sunny yellow light. Underneath the branch is the open field of grass. The peacock, surrounded by leaves, and red and orange flowers, is designed with kachni, bharni, bumps and dots. Its train is colored with green, yellow, orange, and blue on each feather with kachni around it. This project has a double border made up of joda patti and koshes.”
Activity Time
This time, we have a short jigsaw puzzle!
Please email your answers to newsletter.thebeacon.dd@gmail.com for a chance to get featured in next month's newsletter.
