By Arathi Satish
A door to imagination opens through art. It makes us pause and ponder about the world - what we know and don't know. Art helps us to see our environment in a different way - to think about and see things as we never did before - to dream and create. "Art IS Education," a national program, strives to inspire everyone to experience the world around them through the lens of artists.
The prominent and important role of art in society can be found at galleries, museums and schools throughout the world. One such school, Kalamandir Art School, based in Fremont and founded by art teacher, Kala Ghaty will display student artworks at Fremont Main Library's Fukaya Room Saturday, April 2. Since opening in October 2001, more than two hundred students have expanded their horizons at Kalamandir. Although trained as a computer programmer during her college years, art became an overwhelming passion for Kala who later studied traditional Mysore and Thanjavur painting at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, College of Fine Arts in Bangalore, India.
Kalamandir Art School offers lessons for students of all ages including those with special needs. Beginners draw and sketch objects with a variety of art media such as crayons, oil pastels, markers, watercolors and poster colors; then they proceed to freehand drawing, nature drawing and memory drawing. In addition, creative arts like glass painting, scratch art, embossing, foil art, acrylic painting, clay art (ceramics), charcoal drawing, paper art, rock painting, candle decorating, silk embroidery, string art, murals and quilling are included in the curriculum. Adults learn traditional Tanjore style paintings, traditional Mysore style paintings, Tanjore paintings on glass, embossing and one stroke painting.
Every year, during national Art IS Education month, Kalamandir students display their work in the Fremont Main Library; this year in the children section. A special art show will be held on Saturday, April 2 in the Fukaya Room of the library.