On a different note, I
also got involved doing volunteer work for the local Indian community.
I had been involved in Indian folk dance for many years. I became
in charge of organizing the Hindu Mandir Diwali Function, a cultural
function that draws over 800 people for an evening of songs, skits,
and dance. I was involved in all aspects of the “production”,
including lighting, set design, and brochures. It was an overwhelming
experience to be responsible for so many aspects of the function,
but it turned out to be a great success.
I opened my own gallery, Shakuntala Gallery on Nicollet Mall in downtown
Minneapolis. This was a great learning experience for me. I had much
of my own work displayed, but also displayed work from other local
artists. Unfortunately I became very busy with running the gallery,
and found that I didn’t have any time left over for actual painting.
With an upcoming demolition planned for most of the buildings on the
block to clear the way for corporate buildings, I decided to close
down the gallery and work out of my home rather than try to relocate.
I did gain contacts and a great deal of business knowledge that I
had not had before, and I hope to open up a different type of gallery
in Uptown soon.
I recently focused a lot of my attention on folk art, specifically
the art of henna and rangoli. Henna is the traditional hand decoration
done in the Middle East and India. Rangoli is a form of decoration
done on the floors and entryways of homes in India. I demonstrate
and teach these arts in schools and cultural festivals, such as the
Festival of Nations, and the Minnesota Heritage Festival. I enjoy
using my knowledge to work with kids to help them to understand themselves
and the world around them. By learning about other cultures we can
celebrate what we have in our community. My experience as a person
grows as I continue my journey in the art world, and I hope to share
my knowledge with the next generation.
