Most of you would have been to art shows and met an assortment of artists, but have you ever been to an art teachers’ gathering — artists who have an academic bent to their aesthetic vision?
This edition of the monthly Art Park, originally conceived by artist S.G. Vasudev, brings together 25 art teachers from across the State at Sculpture Garden (Shilpavana) on J. C. Road on April 2. This Art Park is a special one as it completes three years of its novel exercise.
The commencement of the fourth year is also a special one as the Art Park Committee, comprising 15 contemporary artists, has decided to have a rare demonstration from the art teachers, to elicit their perspective on present-day requirements.
“They are artists ... but being in the field of teaching, we will find it interesting to see their outlook and standpoint, and know how they respond to people, artists, and the needs of the market. They are moulding the young minds that learn art,” said Mr. Vasudev, who flagged off the first Art Park initiative in March 2014.
Art Park was seen with a larger social interest when it was visualised. “The initiative gives the public a chance to see the best works available at rock-bottom prices,” Mr. Vasudev added. A good piece, sold for ₹25,000 at a gallery, could be available for ₹1,000 at Art Park, while one gets to see the work being done in front of their eyes.
The April Sunday gathering will have two interesting features.
Haravu Spoorthy, poet and writer, who was once inspired to write a poem after seeing Mr. Vasudev’s tribute drawings for A.K. Ramanujan, will read some of her poems. Also, the huge conglomeration will have art teacher V.G. Andani from the Gulbarga College of Fine Arts. His session will highlight the importance of taking to art.
“Is there anything that can survive without imagination and creativity? Learning art is not just for students who enter colleges of art ... it is also for engineering and medicine students who can use art to express themselves better,” Professor Andani said. Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s creativity was a phenomenon only because he backed his thoughts with crystal clear drawings, he said.
From May 2017, there will be two Art Parks in a month which will travel to all areas of Bengaluru on the third Sunday.
Art Park will be held at Sculpture Garden (Shilpavana), Ravindra Kalakshetra complex, J. C. Road from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 2
