Date:20/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052051050200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Moulding works of art from clay

Staff Reporter

Contest to commemorate International Museum Day

— PHOTO: R. RAGU

ENGROSSED: Children making objects at the clay modelling competition held at Fort Museum in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: The hall at the Fort Museum in the Secretariat on Sunday transformed into an interesting exhibition, as enthusiastic children hurriedly made clay models of various objects, including ships, mountains, volcanoes, caves and temple gopurams.

The children, aged between 7 and 15 years, were participating in a clay modelling contest, organised by The Archaeological Survey of India. It was organised to commemorate International Museum Day, with the theme ‘Museums as agents of social change and development.’

P.S. Sriraman, Assistant Superintendent Archaeologist, said clay had historical significance, as the earliest artefacts uncovered in prehistoric times were made of clay.

P.S. Nandini won the first prize for her clay model of a traditional house. The second prize went to B. Aravindha, who created reptiles. Dinesh of Hope Foundation received the third prize. A total of 55 children participated in the competition, of which 20 children were from Hope Foundation, an NGO working with HIV positive children.