CERAMIC WORKSHOPS & COURSES OUR GRATITUDE TO... Learn a new craft this year by taking up some of our ceramic work- Our heartfelt gratitude to Kausalya Devi, shops. With all the safety precautions in place, the Ceramic Centre at Devasena Sridhar, Susheela Vergis and Geeta DakshinaChitra is now buzzing with activity. Interesting workshops Vasudevan for donating sarees to our have been planned for the coming months. The schedule for the same collection. DakshinaChitra is looking to is given below. Kindly note that in light of the current pandemic, augment its South Indian saree collection and is these dates are subject to change. Announcements and updates will be seeking donations for the same. posted on our website. A kalamkari saree donated by Kausalya Devi Materials for the workshops listed below will be provided by DakshinaChitra. For details and queries, kindly contact our ceramist Portarasan at +91 - Our sincere thanks to the following donors for their valuable 9840672154. Timings: 10a.m. - 3p.m. donation of books to our library collection:- Ramamurthy, R M Palaniappan and Rekha Vijayashankar. Date Workshop (3-day workshops) Fee Jan. 2, 3 & 9, 10 Ceramic Platters Rs. 5000/- PRECAUTIONS TAKEN AT THE DAKSHINACHITRA CAMPUS Feb. 13, 14 & 20, 21 Ceramic Seascape Murals Rs. 5000/- DakshinaChitra is following all the necessary safety precautions in light Mar. 20, 21 & 27, 28 Ceramic Tea Kettles Rs. 5000/- of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining social distancing and wearing masks in the campus is mandatory. Temperature checks are conducted Ceramic Bowls and hand sanitisation is compulsory. We request all visitors to strictly adhere to the new, safe normal, for the safety of all.

Ceramic Platter Ceramic Seascape Murals Ceramic Tea Kettles

COURSES & REGULAR CLASSES The Ceramic Centre is also offering regular classes and a 6-month Pottery course where you can learn the nuances of the craft. The classes will be headed by our in-house ceramist, Portarasan. For DakshinaChitra is a plastic-free zone. registration and further details, kindly contact our ceramist at +91 - DakshinaChitra Muttukadu, , ON WEEKENDS 9840672154. district, - 603 112 WE ARE OPEN CERAMIC WORKS ON DISPLAY Tel: 2747 2603 TILL 7 PM The ceramic works made as part of Earth Matters 3, an Indo-Korean www.dakshinachitra.net Ceramic residency are displayed beautifully opposite to the Andhra For further information, contact Parvathy: +91 - 9841436149 House in DakshinaChitra. This Madras Craft Foundation DakshinaChitra is open daily is a permanent exhibit which If undelivered, please return to from 10 am to 6 pm includes the pieces that are Closed on Tuesdays. Weekends : 10 am to 7 pm Madras Craft Foundation part of our museum collec- G3 Madhuram Flats tion. Aesthetically displayed in DakshinaChitra is the project of 6 Urur Olcott Road a natural environment, the Madras Craft Foundation. Besant Nagar - 600 090 exhibit is unlike its regular Design and Content : Tel: 2491 8943 / 2446 2435 counterparts. Do check it out! e Phoenix Company Email: [email protected] NEWS & EVENTS - JANUARY TO MARCH, 2021

WorkshopsWorkshops forfor AdultsAdults AArtrt BeatBeat KADAMBARI GALLERY FEB. 12 - 28 The schedule for our workshops are given below. Kindly note that in light The schedule for our upcoming exhibitions is given below. Kindly note that in Conversation of the current pandemic, the timeline is subject to change. Please visit our light of the current pandemic, the timeline is subject to change. Please visit our An exhibition of sculpures and website for updates and annoucements on the same. website for updates and annoucements on the same. paintings by Vijayakumar VARIJA GALLERY Vijayakumar Date Workshop Resource Person Fee MAR. 15 - APR. 15 : A thematic art exhibition by interns of the Making of handmade soap and JAN. 10 - 31 Jan. 9 Rs. 3500/- DAK-IMM programme (batch 2020-2021) moisturising cream Archana Devi Paramparyam An exhibition of WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN Jan. 23 Dynamism in Staticity: A study traditional paintings by Ezhil Madhii Rs. 3500/- Kindly note that in light of the current pandemic, the schedule given below is & 24 of Pallava & Chola Iconography Lakshmi Krishnamurthy Lakshmi subject to change. Please visit our website for updates and annoucements. For Jan. 31 Handmade paper making Rs. 1000/- Lakshmi Krishnamurthy & product design Venkataraman registration, contact Lakshmi: +91- 9841777779. Cloth jewellery Shikha Doctor Rs. 1500/- Feb. 13 Resource Fee FEB. 7 - 28 Day/Date Workshop Person Mar. 6, 7 Temple structure Ezhil Madhii Rs. 3500/- CORE : Nova through the ages Jan. - Mar. An exhibition of paintings Organic farming Prabhu Rs. 500/- by Pravin Kannanur (Saturdays) Pravin Kannanur Jan. - Mar. Shadow puppet making Adhi & Prabhu Rs. 500/- (Sundays) & story telling MAR. 5 - 14 Jan. 30 Pebble painting Lakshmi Dhanraj Rs. 500/- 6th Women Artists Glove puppet making Cloth jewellery Soap making Handmade paper Feb. 20 Shikha Doctor Rs. 700/- making Group show 2021 using socks

SPECIAL WORKSHOPS Shadow puppet making & storytelling FEB 6 : SAREE DRAPING W/PHOTOSHOOT MAR. 20 - APR. 30 Participants will learn the various saree draping styles from across An exhibition of paintings & sculptures by late the country. There will also be a professional photoshoot against artist, TRP Mookiah. All works were donated Pebble painting Sock puppets the scenic architecture of DakshinaChitra. Fee: Rs. 2000/- to the DakshinaChitra museum. A catalgoue of Indian civilization his work will be published as part of the show. From January 8-10, there is an online class on FEB 20 & MAR 20 : SOIL TO PLATE - A HOLISTIC WAY OF LIVING TRP Mookiah through the ages by Ezhil Madhii. The fee is Rs. 700/-. For further details, Participants will explore various indigenious contact Lakshmi: +91- 9841777779. herbs and their benefits, learn home composting KADAMBARI GALLERY and planting. They can get expert advice on DAILY HANDS-ON CRAFT ACTIVITIES home gardening and learn traditional cooking Making an impromptu visit to DakshinaChitra? Worry not! There JAN. 9 - 30 are many craft activities for your children to enjoy at nominal through our live demos. Lunch will be provided. Fee : Rs. 1200/- Vahanas Outlined prices. Take a look! In the second weekend of February, there will be a hands-on An exhibition of drawings ~ Making upcycled pen holders - Rs.30/- Paper Conservation workshop by Amir. Participants have to and paintings on the ~Making paper flies - Rs. 20/- bring their old, printed documents to conserve. For further details, Vahanas of Temple Cars by ~Making a miniature house - Rs. 20/- contact Lakshmi: +91- 9841777779. KG Narendra Babu KG Narendra Babu GREETINGS FROM DAKSHINACHITRA JAN. 14 - 17 : PONGAL CELEBRATIONS FEB. 20 & 21: LANGFEST 2021 In the past year, many of us turned to art for solace. Whether to relax our minds or to learn a new craft, art came to our rescue when the ‘Pongalo-Pongal!’- it’s time to world came to a standstill. As we welcome a new year, we invite you celebrate the harvest festival with great pomp and show. Get the full to continue on this artistic journey with us and explore the various traditional experience at Dakshin- events we have planned. A one-of-a-kind language festival is one of aChitra with our special line-up the key highlights. There is the annual Utsavam symposium in March for the occasion. This year, Raju and interesting courses and workshops to sign up for. You can also and team will be performing a become a member of our new focus group for craft and textile variety of folk dances including In a first, DakshinaChitra brings to you the Language Festival, a lovers. Read on to know more... Karagattam, Poi-Kal Kuthirai and Mayilattam. There will also be a one-of-a-kind event that is bound to interest language lovers across Kindly note that in light of the current pandemic, the current schedule of street food festival with traditional games and music. After a year of genres. The first edition of the festival seeks to shed light on the native events is subject to change. Fresh updates and annoucements will be posted on home-bound celebrations, you know you don’t want to miss this one! language of Tamil. Owing to its ancient origins, Tamil has always our website. been more than just a language. It has been a symbol of cultural identity, a medium of artistic expression and a point of political JAN. 1-3 : TAMIL NADU VILLAGE FESTIVAL debate. The two-day festival at DakshinaChitra will have performances, activities, panel discussions and exhibitions that touch We begin the new year with upon language form and meaning and social, cultural, historic and some song and dance! Our political factors influencing language. Be a part of the first-edition this various village festivals are here February! to make your start to the year nothing short of eventful. For ONLINE CHALLENGE : OPEN CALL FOR DESIGNERS the Tamil Nadu Village Festival, JAN. 22 - 24 : ANDHRA VILLAGE FESTIVAL As a part of the festival, there will be an Online Challenge called there will be a Thappattam TYPE 2021 - a digital curation project that exhibits and archives performance by the Salangai Oli troupe led by John Peter from Vibrant costumes, eye-catching creative interpretations of Tamil typography and letter form. We Thanjavur. Thappattam is a folk dance performed with a ‘Thappu’, a props and traditional musical instru- invite artists, designers and creative minds to participate in this percussion instrument. This traditional art form is particularly ments - the Andhra Village Festival challenge and share their versions of the Tamil language. More details unique as the performer is both - the dancer and the instrumentalist. will have all this and much more. The on formats for the artwork and how to apply will be shared on our Begin your year on a high note with this festival! popular Garagalu dance of the state website and social media pages. Stay tuned! will be performed by Sri Vijaya JAN. 8 - 10 : VILLAGE FESTIVAL Durga Natya Brundam led by Nagab- OBJECT OF THE MONTH & COVER PAGE ART The Kerala Village Festival brings abu from Andhra Pradesh. As the ghungroo jingles to the beats of the you the state’s most famous tradi- drum, this cultural performance promises to enthral you by bringing This Kanchipuram Silk Saree tional art form, Chendamelam. to life ancient folk traditions. Block your dates today! was donated by Rasi Silks. The The Chenda is an ancient percus- saree has been meticulously sion instrument which is used in MAR.27 : VIRUDHU AWARD handwoven such that the body various art forms like Kathakali, has zari checks with flower Melam and Keli. The Chenda The annual ‘DakshinaChitra Virudhu’ award is instituted by Friends motifs enclosed within it (see percussion ensemble enjoys a of DakshinaChitra (FOD) to honour folk performing artists and right). While the border is plain prominent place among other traditional percussion art forms of groups for their skill & contribution to sustain & promote the field with the rudraksha motif, the pallu is grand. It comes with breathtaking Kerala. This year, the performance will be by Nandan Kumar and of performing arts. The recommendation for the troupes from the handiwork of central floral band and a row of peacocks, elephants and his troupe from in Chennai. Come witness this beau- four southern states comes from experts in the field. This list is later parrots with a branch in the beak on either side (see cover page image). tiful performance which will virtually transport you to the cultural vetted by a jury.This year, the lifetime achievement award will be The saree was woven between 1940 -1950. The beauty of the saree realms of Kerala! given to a folk performer from . remains unfaded; a testimony to the skill of the weaver.

FOCUS GROUP ON CRAFT & TEXTILES MAR. 5, 6 & 7 : UTSAVAM WEDDINGS AT DAKSHINACHITRA Here’s something interesting for all the craft and textile lovers out DakshinaChitra’s annual Theatre, With small, intimate gatherings becoming there. You can now become a member of DakshinaChitra Muse- Music and Dance symposium and the norm, there’s no better place than um’s Focus Group on craft and textiles, which is a DakshinaChi- festival, Utsavam, is back in full DakshinaChitra for your D-day! Our beauti- tra Library Initiative. Join us on this journey as we learn and swing. Curated by Shreya Nagara- fully landscaped campus of 10 acres dotted explore the various craft and textile traditions of . There jan Singh for DakshinaChitra, the with houses with traditional architecture will be a new theme every month. symposium is an enriching learning makes for an ideal wedding destination. In experience. Apart from interesting the small mandapam, guests can be seated subjects for panel discussions, the performances in the evening will Meetings will be held in the library on the under the shade of a lovely shaminana. The second Wednesday of showcase and celebrate young talent. Mark your calendars and join us larger mandapam can seat many more every month at 11:30am, guided by our librarian, Indumathi, who as we explore various fields of art together. will curate the books based on the theme of the month which mem- guests. It makes for a serene venue as it looks bers can browse through. This will be accompanied by a talk by one ONE MONTH CERTIFIED COURSES out on a scenic courtyard. DakshinaChitra is of our staff members/interns on the theme, and a look at some of one of the best wedding locations in South our collections. You can later go beyond the library space and contin- DakshinaChitra is offering a range of certificate courses which will India and it has been featured in ‘Harper’s ue the discussions over lunch in our restaurant at 1:15. be conducted by master craftsmen and experts from the field. It is Bazaar Bride’ as a top wedding destination. If a wonderful opportunity to learn traditional crafts while interact- you’re looking for the perfect place for your Cost is Rs. 200 per person, excluding lunch and entrance fee. Friends of ing with the experts. Materials for the classes will be provided by wedding, look no further. Capture your most treasured moments in DakshinaChitra have a 10% discount and free entrance. For more informa- DakshinaChitra. our aesthetic and artistic property surrounded by nature and take tion, e-mail us at [email protected]. Course Duration Fee back memories for a lifetime. For more information, please contact Francis @ 9841020149. DEC. 16 - JAN. 6 : HANDLOOM SARI EXHIBITION Folk dance and music 3 days a week/12 classes Rs. 5000/- Wheel pottery - Terracotta 3 days a week/12 classes Rs. 5000/- ‘A Weaving Journey - Stories of the South Indian Sari’, an exhi- Kindly note that necessary precautions are being taken at the Weaving - Table mat, table runner 3 days a week/12 classes bition of handloom saris and books on the same subject at the Varija Rs. 5000/- campus keeping in mind the current pandemic. The venue has witnessed several beautiful weddings following the lockdown. Gallery has received wide appreciation from visitors for highlighting The classes will be held at DakshinaChitra. For further details and the specific elements characteristic of each variety of South Indian registration, kindly contact Lakshmi: +91- 9841777779. sari. The saris on display belong to different time periods from 1930 - 2010 and exemplify the styles and traditions as they changed L & T through the decade. The exhibition is accompanied by a film with an interview of Sabita Radhakrishnan on handloom saris.

Saris aren’t merely a form of clothing but a legacy, a work of art and Weaving- Table mat & runner Wheel Pottery - Terracotta a cultural symbol. DakshinaChitra welcomes you to share your sari stories and experiences. Along with your story, please share a photo of you in a sari. The stories and photographs will be on display in JAN. 4 - 8 : COURSE ON TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE Follow us on social media to view our latest updates! Dakshachitra There is a five-day online course on the ‘Evolution of Pallava Facebook page: DakshinaChitra Chennai throughout January. Temple Architecture’ conducted by Prathik Sudha Murali. The Muttukadu, Instagram handle: @dakshinachi- Kindly mail the classes will be conducted via the Zoom platform. The fee for the tra_heritagemuseum, Website: www.dakshin- stories to us at course is Rs. 1500/-. To register, kindly e-mail us at dak.online- achitra.net (Scan the QR code on the right with your [email protected]. [email protected] or contact us at +91 - 9677190587. smartphone camera to visit our website.)