In celebration of the end of the term exams, Shriram Matriculation School, Thiruneermalai, Chennai conducted a three-day art workshop for the students of Classes 3, 4 and 5, from September 18 to 20, 2017. The workshop was divided into three different categories; clay modelling, paper and CD art.

The clay modelling program was run by Mr Aswin Siddharth, a Kalakshetra alumnus, who demonstrated to the students the basic techniques for cutting and shaping clay, and then encouraged them to give full reign to their creativity and imagination. The array of models made by the students included animals, plants, household objects, images of deities, and unique individual projects such as a model of a solar eclipse. Some of the children used leaves and sticks in their models, and after the clay dried the next day, each class had a session where they painted their creations.

Mr Thanigaimalai, primary school teacher, taught children to use junk CDs and ice-cream sticks as components to make art. His session with Class 4 consisted of creating sturdy useful objects out of ice-cream sticks such as mobile stands and pencil holders. During his session with Class 5, he helped the students make images of Ganesha with used CDs and other materials such as paper and sequins. On the third day, he worked with Class 3 where the students, divided into groups, used delicate touches to make animal faces, clocks and flowers out of used CDs, sequins and paper.

Ms Tara Sudhakar, a volunteer, shared a number of creative lessons with the students. The students of Class 3 made images of fish out of used CDs under her guidance. She helped the students of Class 4 make streamers and paper trees out of crepe paper. The students of Class 5 made and decorated the room with crepe ribbons, as well as paper parachutes, mango leaf thoranams and flower garlands. Under her guidance, children made rangoli designs on chart paper, and filled them in with rangoli powder in different bright colours. Ms Tara was highly gratified by the students’ creativity and artistic talent. “They drew the designs themselves”, she said, in reference to the rangoli. “I only showed them a few designs and the rest they came up with on their own.” All creations of the children were displayed in a ‘Bommai Kolu’ exhibition which was enjoyed by the whole school.

The workshop was a tremendous success, giving the students a much needed outlet to release the last of their exam stress, and an opportunity to channel their artistic passion, and nurture their skills. Their enjoyment and energy, as well as the warm enthusiasm brought in by the teachers made the entire program a wonderful experience.