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Friday, October 29, 2010

The Village Firefly

There is a certain truth to folk art that is hard to parallel in fine art. Folk Art originates from a culture's untrained artists who want to depict day to day activities or events in a style that is meant only to explain and record.
The Village Firefly in Houston is a gallery that has an interesting mix of various folk and mixed media artists. They range from jewelers to potters to painters to sculptors. Tucked in a little shoe box, this gallery is a little haven that has Alice and her wonders written all over it:)
The Village Firefly is located at 2422 Rice Blvd, Houston TX 77005.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Cholamandalam Artists Village, Chennai

Yea, what a let down! Such a disservice to artists! I am amazed by the callousness of this place. The only thing that appealed to me was the sculpture garden. Cholamandalam is a collection of galleries in Chennai, India and believe me its a waste of good space. It was blatantly obvious that the politics of the place has completely killed the essence that the founders meant to instill.

I walked into the main gallery in the ground floor and was greeted by a most unhappy lady at the reception who was busy signing papers of some kind, professor style. Anyway, when I picked up the artists information, I was told by the cleaning lady(!) that this information was confidential and I was not allowed to take it with me. And from then on, she followed me everywhere to make sure I didn't STEAL the artists info. I don't have a photographic memory and the inflated prices there definitely meant I wasn't going to pick anything during my first visit. So, how was I going to research on the artist???? I started writing down all the artists names.

Anyway, the best part about the galleries were the sculptures. Barring a select few, the paintings were mediocre and the concept of 'Indian Contemporary Abstract' seemed like a lost cause. The artists could not leave abstract to its true nature, it did not seem effortless. And too much of an overdose of mythological figures. They have been done to malnutrition, please find something else.

I had the opportunity to talk to a few Chola Artists and they were all disgruntled and none of them show there any more. And they are established artists who constantly show at galleries around town, just not here.
Says much doesn't it....

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