craft exhibition in Kalakshetra

There has been a lot of excitement in the locality about a craft exhibition in Kalakshetra. You might wonder, what is special; there are craft exhibitios from north east, craft exhibition from orissa and what not every other week in the city (well not really, but almost).The first reason is that it is all india craft exhibition and it is in kalakshetra. The environment makes a lot of difference as we had seen. It was as though the serene kalakshetra campus was transformed by the buzz and beauty of the artisans, visitors and the splendid ware they were displaying.It was COLOURFUL. Last sunday when my sister and me made a beeline to the exhibition, little did we realise that it is like going to your club. You saw your friends, your relatives, your kid's friends, your kid's parents, your niece's dance teachers, students and parents. You can add to this list your friend's relatives whom you never wanted to see!

The USP of the exhibition was the craft maps of the various states of India. I kept looking at the maps and could not make much of it. Actually I was quite distracted with all the colour and activity around.On a second look, I was able to make out that it was made on fabric, and had detailed legend of the unique craft work and style of that state, pictorially represented. Jaya Jetley, one of the moving spirits behind this venture had said that it takes a couple of years to complete each of these maps. It was intricately done and yes, it would have taken a hell of a lot of time. We had reporters from newspapers and magazines make a beeline for the maps and were in a hurry to capture them on film before they could capture it in their minds.

It was good fun, strolling the stalls and picking up some pieces and art work.We went there again yesterday this time with the whole family jing bang.We made a beeline for the canteen and delicious vada sambhar and coffee was had by all. Of course all of us remembered the kutchery season in chennai in December and the canteen used to be as much reviewed and reported as the music/dance performances.

I picked up some dry flowers which I had fancied for long.This one was from manipur stall and the artist manning it explained how they make them from the dry leaves and twigs. By a deft play of fingers she was able to create magic with the few twigs!

Yesterday Leela samson the director of kalakshetra was spotted visiting the stalls and generally checking up on things. Kalakshetra students and teachers were assembled in full and they sat under the banyan tree and sang very melodious songs. It was a wonderful experience. That the students were extremely elegantly dressed and were moving about most gracefully didnt hurt.

Does kalakshetra attract girls/boys with grace and elegance ; or is taught there; or is it an acquired trait, imbibed when you become a part of that tradition?

Beauty and elegance has a definite place in our lives, no doubt about that.