ART CAMP

Art Camp at Neelbagh, 1st to 5th February 1999
Conducted by Seema Sathyu and Shaili Sathyu

It was in December 1998 that we first visited Neelbagh. Nomita took us for a day so that we could get an idea of the environment. On entering the Neelbagh campus it didn't take us long to get inspired and excited about doing an art camp for the children.

We decided to have a series of art camps through the coming year. Conducting just one camp would be like a half baked effort. Also the children will get the opportunity to express their creativity in a more consistent manner and generally have a lot of fun.

The first art camp was basically to help the children shed their inhibitions and discover for themselves the various mediums. We tried to make the children aware that there can be something beyond textbooks. The response we got from them had a positive energy. It seemed to be like a whole new experience for them. The camp was held in the main courtyard under the large rain tree. Half the time we were battling with the wind and trying to keep the drawing sheets from flying away with the leaves. The children were obviously unfazed by all this.

Spending time with the residential children after school hours gave us that extra quality time to get to know them better. Singing songs before dinner; sharpening pencils while they did their homework; bursting fire crackers under the full moon?... Maybe these will be the moments they shall remember more than the camp itself. But surely these precious little moments will help them to be more free and open with us in the future.

We also had discussions with the teachers about taking on our approach and carrying on where we left off. So it doesn't become a one-off experience for the children, but a continuous process; and part and parcel of their education. But this will take time. So we hope to keep going back as often as we can.

During our stay at Neelbagh we had a couple of 'Close encounters of the creepy crawly kind'!!! But that didn't dampen our spirits. It was a very satisfying experience for us, it was like going back to school days.

The place has a magical quality to it; in the wilderness, surrounded by hills with no habitation in sight?..A peacefulness which the children are very lucky to be a part of.

Seema & Shaili.
February, 1999