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Entertainment
Wonder creations by the challenged
VIDYA SAGAR'S exhibition-cum-sale of products designed by the institute's spastic, autistic and multiple disabled children has colour creativity and king-sized smiles reigning supreme, where `everyone can play and every one can win'! And clearly, every challenged craftsperson is a winner here _ from the incredibly talented N. Madhavan and Shiva whose superb art work is the central theme of New Year cards to the host of older children who have fashioned a range of artefacts and products like embroidered towels, tie-and-dye and batik dupattas, a host of papier-mâché articles, terracotta products and much more.
The smart leaf plates, fashioned by Vidya Sagar's older children are the contemporary avatars of yesterdays `donnais'. Smart and savvy, they could be a lesson to the less challenged craftsperson entrepreneur. Says Rajul Padmanabhan, "We adapted the leaf cutting machine so that even children affected by severe cerebral palsy can handle it''. The sets of sterilised leaf plates come in many sizes and are also microwave-oven compatible. The designer greeting cards are superb in artwork and design, superior even to the best available in the market. The papier-mâché and paper technology products too speak of creative ingenuity, be they coasters, pencils boxes, photo frames or mirror frames. Among the papier-mâché products designed by the challenged children are pretty Christmas decorations.
Small terracotta artefacts, vases, planters and candle bases are also available. Wooden trays, decorated with laminated dry flowers, are another example of the challenged craftsperson's high sense of aesthetics and harmony. A variety of smart and attractive designer paper bags are also on show. Pretty, functional and ably crafted, the hand-crafted products created by Vidya Sagar's challenged older children and adults are as much a process of learning and discipline as all life's journeys are. As Poonam Natarajan of Vidya Sagar (formerly Spastic Society of India) puts it, "We want to create more awareness of the challenged child's creativity, to sensitise people to see how able they are..."
The Mela at Vidya Sagar (#1, Ranjit Road, Kotturpuram), which will be open on December 14 and 15 is ample proof of the challenged world's ability and creativity.
PUSHPA CHARI
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