Soon to come

I will soon post the update on the exhibition and the auction. Some people are still dropping by to get their stuff and hence I will need to wait until I process everything.

The gallery has been doing really well in terms of attracting the Mount Holyoke students and staff as well as some off campus audience. So far, more than 90% of the things in display from Haiti and Jurshital Institute in Nepal have been bid on. I am so excited with the response so far and thankful to everyone who managed to be there at the gallery. I also received encouraging comments from people saying how much they appreciated the arts from grassroots and the cultural enlightenment they got through the artworks from Haiti and Nepal. There is only 3 days left until the final auction night on Thursday, February 24th (7.30 pm to 9 pm). I hope to see as many people supporting our cause of women and children empowerment!!!

Yesterday we held a reception at the Blanchard Student Art Gallery. Although I was afraid that not many people would turn up due to the snowy weather and change of opening date, which is rather inconvenient, I am glad to announce that I am satisfied with the number of audience. Not all of them bid on Art Works but I am glad that they at least showed up and that they carried away with them some reflection on Mithila culture and hopes f Haiti.

Another good news I share is that, two of my most favorite painting were bid. One of which is the long painting that stands at the center of the room. Among all, couple paintings have become quite famous and more than three people have bid for them, making it tough on who is going to be the ultimate winner. Though this is my first time getting involved in an art exhibition business, my lack expertise on art was not a big problem. I was able to tackle all the challenges in getting this exhibition up with the help of my partner Haeinn Woo, my roommate from last year, Dani, my best friend Bishal, and other friends who have supported me throughout. I am also thankful to Davis Projects for Peace and Clinton Global Initiatives without which this project would have no financial support. I cannot remain without thanking the student art board who gave us the gallery to display our paintings until the 24th of February.

I really hope that people will remember this exhibition until the last day and bid on maximum of these paintings so that we can raise maximum amount of funds for women in Nepal and school building project in Haiti.

Opening Day

Due to adverse weather conditions in South Hadley, MA, our exhibition got postponed. It will happen tomorrow evening from 7.30 to 9 PM.

Art from Grassroots: What Takes to Change a Community

I am very excited today and equally flooded with work. Classes begin tomorrow for me but that is not my prime fear. I am worried that my classes are going to interfere with my daily routine of working on graduate school applications, my seniors thesis research, job applications, interviews, AGM coordination, CGI U mentoring and my art exhibition preparation.

I wish there were no classes so that I can emerge myself into all the rest of the things that I just mentioned. But I am not going to let my classes ruin my fun from all these things that I have been doing right now. Hence, I have not even checked my schedule yet, pretending that tomorrow will be just like any other day of my winter holidays.

I am lost in preparation of the Art Exhibition based on Mithila paintings from Jurshital Institute along with Arts from Haiti brought back this winter by my colleague Haeinn Woo. I am enthused since this is my first time organizing an exhibition!!! I feel like an artist, framing the paintings, buying supplies for that, writing descriptins, and so on. The exhibition starts on 1st of February until the 13th in the Mount Holyoke College Blanchard Student Art Gallery. People can bid on these paintings from day one until February 24th, which is the final day of the auction happening at Blanchard Great Room.

The fund raised will go towards Jurhistal Mithila Art institute in Nepal and building a school for Haitian children in Haiti.

Artist Profile: Rukmini MIshra

The artist Rukmini Mishra is a mother of three daughters and the youngest son. She lives with her father in law and her husband. Her husband has been working abroad in Qatar for three years in a steel industry. He has taken a lot of loans from the village for his first flight and itinerary to Qatar which Rukmini hopes to start paying back from the extra money she makes at the Institute.

Artist Profile: Indu Baitha

The artist Indu Baitha is one of the three daughters in laws in her house. She is the last one in line and her husband is mostly abroad in India, working in some factories. She only gets to see her husband once a year during off season at the factory. She is very happy to have had this opportunity to join the Institute and would like to thank all the customers that buy her paintings.