|
By Tejashree T
An idle mind they say is a devil's workshop but what if the mind is channelized so as to let out all that latent artistic part of ourselves through hobbies which have a timeless soul satisfying quality!!
“These days work space rules what you are and very few people seem to make time for anything else”, said Divya Raghuram who along with Raksha Sriram founded 'Active Canvas' around a year and a half back. The spacious premises radiate artistic nuances all round with pebbles and stones paving the environs.
We spoke at length to a few people there and here are some excerpts.
How did all this start?
Divya Raghuram: “I used to do courses like clay shaping, painting, etc. side by side with my studies since my school days. Though I have not done any formal long course in fine arts I am of the firm belief that there is art in each one of us waiting to be explored. It is also one of the most beautiful ways to create one's own personal space, to unwind, to give vent to our own creativity and shape it to physical form, and to de-stress. Art also according to me cannot be bound by strict academic lines. Somewhere all these things inspired us to start 'Active Canvas' and we wanted to start a set up where the timings are flexible though we have a validity period of 3 months from the registration time”.
Could you tell us about the courses you offer?
Divya Raghuram: First of all, our courses are for both kids and adults. Many of our students are adults though we have a lot of children coming during summer and other holiday times. We have introduced courses during school days too but for just a day per week. This way it becomes easier for them to cope with their academics. The courses include creative drawing, painting, ballet, guitar and pottery making. Where it concerns pottery courses I think we are one of just a handful of institutes in Bangalore who offer the full works of pottery making. We have also newly introduced theatre workshops.
What is the general make up of people who attend these courses?
Where it concerns children they come here either because their parents tell them or they themselves are interested or both. When it comes to adults many of them have already been into these things while others are eager to learn.
I would like to mention here that there are quite a few people who have never attempted such things and think that they are no good at it but get very excited when they see that they are not bad at all.
Please give us some basics of pottery and ceramic.
Rahul Aurangabadkar (A student of JJ School of Arts and the Course Instructor)
Ceramic is actually clay & fire. The clay is given shape on the wheel and then left for drying. After that they are fired in the oven which is called biscuiting. The temperature for this is around 800 degrees but varies depending on the different types of clay.. Next is the glazing and decoration process which require higher & uniform temperatures of 1200 degrees or more depending again on the types of clay. Heating & cooling are always done gradually lest fine cracks appear.
Glazes are silica based and to these are added fondants such as potassium, sodium and lead. Lead is the traditional fondant used in ceramic work but has been replaced by alkaline fondants in recent years when it comes to production of products more specifically used for food consumption and are non toxic.
Contact Details
Active Canvas,
343, 3rd Cross, 10th A Main,
1st Block, Jayanagar,
(near Ashoka Pillar),
Bangalore: 560011.
Tel: 41609122.
URL: www.activecanvas.in
Email: info@activecanvas.in
|
