Covai Post Network looks at Srishti, the recently inaugurated exhibition-cum-sale of Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu, at Ramakrishna Kalyana Mandapam, Avarampalayam.

Revival of a near-forgotten art

The ready-to-wear salwar kameez with hand embroidery that are on display and for sale look pretty. They are from Needle Work Foundation, a Bengaluru-based NGO. “We are trying to revive the gypsy hand embroidery of Karnataka. We have around 49 gypsy women working in our NGO. This is the craftwork done by these women with the help of our designers” Usha Subrahmanya, trustee of the NGO, says. At Srishti, the flagship exhibition organized by Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu (CCTN), many such artists and craftsmen from across the country have showcased their unique works.

Attention-grabbers

While we walk around the exhibition hall we notice a crowd outside the stall put up by Arun Kaushik of Noida’s Pawan Emporium. On display are oval-shaped baskets made from cane and wrought iron in various sizes. Also on sale are serving trays in different sizes. Hand-crafted pen holders made of cane and wrought iron look elegant. All the way from Bhuj is Aurangzeb Abdulrazak with his Ajarakh print and hand block print dress material made only with natural dyes. The stall put up by a group of fashion graduates from Delhi has curious onlookers. The group of young entrepreneurs was selling capri pants and fancy blouses under their brand name Bonwarey.

For your home

Homemakers are busy with festival purchases for Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, and Diwali pooja. The handmade wooden trays coated with glass are by Jeenu Madan from Haryana. The trays were made from wood and each one had a painting done by the artist. It is coated with glass and the finish is neat. Selling coasters, table mats, tissue holders, magazine stands and a plethora of home accessories is Prtit Kanani from Mumbai under the brand name Cocktail.

While designers and artists display their unique creations, Srishti gives its visitors a chance to shop for the best clothing and home accessories for a good bargain. The exhibition and sale is on until August 24, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Entry is free.

Venue: Ramakrishna Kalyana Mandapam, Avarampalayam

Timings: 10.00 AM to 8.00 PM

Last date: August 24, 2015