An Oasis of Artwork in Ambagilu

A plethora of colour- the students' artwork Source : www.gerebare.blogspot.com

Udupi: From the main road, 'Gerebare Art Training Centre' is inconspicuous, a small space above Durga General stores about 100 metres off the Ambagilu  bus stop. However, the art lining its walls is anything but that. The school hosted a cartoon exhibition between 24th and 26th of January based on the theme of 'Climate change and global warming' to mark its fifth anniversary.

Held with the intention of educating the children about the threats to the environment, the exhibition featured the work of prominent cartoonists across Karnataka such as Panduranga Rao, Prakash Shetty and Harini. While the cartoons featuring the earth personified in suffering received much attention, the centre of attraction was the brightly coloured students’ artwork. Scenes from everyday life and mythology populated three walls, admired by the proud parents who attended the inauguration ceremony.

James Vaz, a cartoonist since 1981 and working currently with leading Karnataka magazine, the ‘Taranga’ inaugurated the exhibition and enthralled the children by making a quick sketch of a smoky skull looming over an industrialised area.

As a part of the anniversary celebration, prizes were given to the best young artists. The guest speakers at the occasion emphasised that the parents of these talented children must not force their dream careers of doctors or software engineers on them.

“Nowadays the line of thinking is changing”, Dr. Upadhyay, a guest,  told TMJ. “ No profession alone is noble. Talented students can do so much in their own field.”

Would the parents then, most of them locals of Udupi and nearby Santhanekatte be willing to let their children lay down the pen and pick up a paintbrush?

Sudhindra Bhat’s parents seem supportive. The 13 year old won the prize for the best greeting card design. His father Sudhir Bhat, who owns an auto shop at Press Corner in Manipal says, “Since he was three years old, he was drawing on every surface he could find. He has been coming here since five years. We will let him do what he wants”.

The Gerebare Art Training Centre offers ‘Art to Heart’  classes, a concept which is explained by the Director Jeevan Shetty, an artist himself for 13 years. “ We have five teachers and give each student individual attention. They are allowed to choose whatever they want to draw and how to do it.” The classes are held on weekends so as not to interfere with the children’s studies. Meanwhile, Gerebare is expanding into other areas of cultural interest. “We have now started music and dance classes,” smiles Sudhindra Gavaskar, principal since the institution’s inception.

The school also holds art camps and art shows around Udupi. “It is definitely a platform for young artists to grow,” says James Vaz.

Sub-edited by: Pavithra S Rangan