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NOSTALGIC REUNION FOR ALUMNI OF PEOPLE’S HIGH SCHOOL P3

WEDDING BELLS

P4

NT BUZZ

Born to a Goan family, it is does not come as much of a surprise that Arthur Fernandes began learning

music at the age of 12. “I primarily play the drums, but play

the guitar and sing; music is my passion. I walk, eat, sleep, music,” says Arthur who after a year’s stint at Infosys as employee relations o!cer began to think about how he could take music to

a di"erent level. “I run two clinics at Pune where I

use di"erent forms of art like drawing, painting, dance and music in the form of therapy. Since music was my passion I

wanted to do something more with it and that is when I started the

Drum Circle,” he explains. A Drum Circle involves

the beating of drums by participants, together, as a

group. The best part being they do not need to have technical

know how about music or the instrument.

“I do not conduct

them, I just facilitate the process and they take it forward. Initially, I just give them a count to follow and then they get into the groove,” says the therapist who has been facilitating Drum Circle for the last 4 to 5 years. He has used this in corporate companies; community groups NGOs, also with people su"ering from Alzheimer or any other mental disability.

“All negativity embedded in the individual comes out through positive means, which is music. In contrast to a counselling session where the subject is just a passive listener, the Drum Circle allows participation even without the person talking. People who cannot express through words can express through music,” he elaborates.

He cites an example of a woman who once came to his session after a bitter squabble at home and refused to play the drums, “I just placed them in front of her and said that if she felt she could join in. And slowly as the others began playing she too began tapping her fingers and eventually was completely involved with the group. In the end she came and told me she felt much better and stress free,” recollects Arthur, who has encountered many such cases. “Apart from being a stress buster it helps in team building, problem solving, and building leadership skills. Post the Drum Circle, the person is in a positive frame of mind and in a better position to take decisions and solve problems which he/she was

struggling with before,” adds Arthur who uses di"erent kinds of Drums like the Djembe, Tambourine and the usual drum kits with sticks and even shakers at times. He also uses junk percussion, ie, boxes and tins, and other recyclable waste products.

After taking this creative healing tool to Mumbai and Bangalore, Arthur now wants to introduce it in Goa and will be doing so in January with the students of Holy Cross Boarding School in Siolim.

“I love Goa and Goans love music so I intend to start it here too. There is something so warm and pleasant about this place,” says Arthur who also shares a unique admiration for Konkani.

“The language has a tune of its own; it sounds like music even when a Goan speaks English there will be some rhythm attached to it,” he says. He is also keen to involve the Goan public through a community session.

“Drum Circle can get the best out of you; it is a creative form of auditory and visual exhilaration that instils confidence and lifts the spirit,” concludes Arthur Fernandes.

Arthur Fernandes of Pune is a Psychologist and Certified Arts-based therapist who uses music as a tool for healing. Speaking to NT BUZZ he talks about the therapeutic value of Drum Circle, which brings out the best in an individual and his wish to introduce Goans to this unique and creative process of healing

BY PERIN ILAVIA

Pyed Pyper Academy of Art, run by Wilson D’Souza is holding its second annual group show titled ‘What’s The Matter?’ on December 13, at the Kala Academy. On display will be hundred

words by twenty of the Academy’s best students.Wilson, who taught Creative Art at Bal Bhavan, opened his own

school a couple of years ago. Architects, designers, photographers, journalists, students and homemakers attend these art classes. Some come to relax and unwind after a busy day at work, some want to be artists; others want to pursue commercial designing.

The younger children unanimously a!rm that they can’t wait to get to the art class.

“My success are my students and their growth my victory. We don’t train anyone to be a Picasso. We have a syllabus, and students can choose their subject,” states Wilson. His students have got admission in Shantiniketan, Shrishti, NIT, Chritra Kala Parishad - Bangalore and Architecture College - Goa.

The theme of the current exhibition is the concept and facades of science and how it relates to our life in conjunction with light, flight, energy, human psyche, pseudo science, occult,

human anatomy, machines and cosmic elements.

Shamila, a XII class student, has depicted gravity while Rashmi has a story based on Zeus and his wife Hira and of how the Milky Way was formed; Neeta, a lecturer, has captured science in fauna while Raisa has associated food with science. Pearl is inspired by owls.

In all works the surrealistic play of light, colours and expression catches the eye.

It is amazing to see that twenty students have entirely di"erent concepts. The works in crayon, pencil, pen and ink, water colours, acrylic and oil, and charcoal stand apart distinctly.

Vivid, colourful and subdued dark pallets portray innumerable innovative depictions, where the language of the artists’ mind comes to the fore with strong lines, delicate and bold strokes. Reality is defined in a relative mode, in symbolic and perceptual experiences. The artists arrive at controlled symbolic forms, as dazzling abstracts share space with figurative work. Landscapes, still life, colours, forms and structure connect with movement and spirit of stillness.

Damodar and Sunil have sculptures displayed, lending new dimensions.

The exhibition also displays drawings and sketch books of students, whereby the viewer can follow the artists’ journey right through a sketch to the finished painting.

(On view from December 13 to December 17 at Kala Academy)

Budding artists make a statement

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. I don’t think people are born artists; I think it comes from a mixture of your surroundings, the people you meet, and luck. It is not hereditary; thank goodness.

-Pablo Picasso

Pic by Hemant Parab | NT BUZZ

Pic by Hemant Parab | NT BUZZ

BY ARTI DAS | NT BUZZ

“Goa being one of the most literate states of the country has good scope to evolve through English theatre,”

opines theatre artist Tathagata Chowdhury, who is in Goa to conduct a play and theatre workshop during the 3rd Art and Literary Festival, which will start from December 13.

Tathagata Chowdhury, who has his roots in West Bengal, runs a theatre group in Mumbai called ‘Theatrics’. He believes that the group while being engaged in experimental theatre also explores the commercial aspect of theatre.

“Theatrician is a 12-year-old theatre school where actors can earn through theatre. We present di"erent types of experimental plays also called abstract theatre. The idea is to make people hungry for such theatre and at the same time have commercially viable theatre,” says Chowdhury.

The 3rd Art and Literary Festival will see him conducting three di"erent sessions, all revolving around his passion, theatre. He is conducting a

Theatrician Workshop from December 14 to December 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at ICG, Dona Paula.

“This will be a fun workshop where you to rediscover the hidden actor within,” says Chowdhury.

He is also staging his famous experimental play ‘The Mumbai Zoo’ on December 15 at 1.30 p.m. at ICG, Dona Paula.

“In this play there are two characters, but one actor. I can conduct this play anywhere, even in a washroom,” says Chowdhury. He further explains that it is a dark play that talks about justification of terror activity.

On December 16 at Azad Maidan at 5.30 p.m. he will enact a play for which the cue line will be given by the audience.

This is not the first time that Tathagata Chowdhury is performing in Goa. Two years ago he staged his play ‘Mousetrap’ at Kala Academy. Being an artist who is well travelled, he believes that Goans, especially youth, are not exploring their talent. “I am not seeing much youth participation at events like the Literary Festival.

Even for my w o r k s h o p s I have hardly come across youngsters. It is more the young at heart enthusiastic people in their 40s,” says Chowdhury.

Commenting on Goa’s famous theatre ‘tiatr’ he maintained that it is not evolving. “I saw three tiatrs and they all have similar set up and way of presentation. There was nothing new,” comments Chowdhury.

He further lamented that the ‘crab mentality’ is also acting as a spoil sport here.

He is hopeful that Goa being an English speaking state will present a wide scope for English theatre. “Goa is not only about sea, sand and parties. Goans need to wake up about their social culture and it could be through theatre which engages, educates and entertains,” concludes Chowdhury.

Theatre artist, Tathagata Chowdhury is in Goa to conduct theatre related activities during the 3rd Art and Literary Festival. In a chat with NT BUZZ he speaks about English theatre and Goa’s tryst with theatre