Paint your T and wear it, too

From the time People Tree started in 1991, one of its best-loved features has been the 'Paint your own T-shirt' offer. What it boils down to is this -- you are given a blank T-shirt (which you pay the raw cost for), the paints and brushes you need to paint your masterpiece, some guidance if you need it, and you get on with it. You can try one of the designs that People Tree uses, or something of your own concoction. When you're done, the T-shirt is yours to keep and wear. It's fun for kids, and can be exciting for adults.

At the Kala Academy exhibition, there are two 'Paint your T' sessions -- from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday Feb 11 and Sunday Feb 14. Hey, that's Valentine's Day -- why not come in with your boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse, and paint each other unique gifts this year?

Some points of note for the T-shirt painting sessions:

* All materials are provided, but if you want special elements like glitter or special paints, bring them with you.
* Wear old clothes, as the paint will splatter. You're going to sit on the floor and paint, so wear something loose and comfortable.
* Once you're done painting, you'll have to wait for the T-shirt to dry before you can take it.
* This time around, we have only white T-shirts. If this goes off well, and people express a desire to go a step further, we can try out coloured T-shirts the next time around.
* Sizes available -- S, M, L
* You'll pay -- Rs 70 (S), Rs 80 (M) or Rs 90 (L)

People Tree comes to Goa

Do you want to paint that masterpiece you have been thinking of? Or would you rather learn how to create 3-dimensional magic out of flat squares of paper? Perhaps you would like to see how a loom works and discover the story of textiles?

The good news is that you can do all of these things this week. A series of interactive sessions and craft workshops will be organised by the well-known Delhi-based design studio People Tree, at the Mini Open Air Auditorium, Kala Academy. They are part of an exhibition-cum-sale of People Tree’s products. From February 10 to 13, it is from 4 pm-8 pm. February 14, the last day, is a full day affair, starting at 10 am. T-shirt painting sessions will be organised on two days – paint your T-shirt, paying only for the raw cost of the T-shirt, and take home your masterpiece!

All workshops are free, and there are no entry restrictions or registration requirements.

The sessions planned are:

• February 10 (4 – 8 pm): Chandra (Alessandra) will work on her loom and narrate the story of textiles – how it comes to the weaver, how it is woven, what happens to it before you can wear it. Chandra is a hand weaver and textile designer, inspired by the Gandhian principle of Sarvodaya (welfare for all). She is active in the promotion of khadi and malkha textiles.

• February 11 (5:30 – 6:30 pm): Bookworm will have a reading-cum-visualisation session for children. As a story is read out, children can draw and paint their own interpretation of the story.

(4 – 8 pm): ‘Paint your T-shirt’ session.

• February 12 (6.30 – 7.30 pm): Rahul Alvares will cover identification of venomous snakes, first aid (in case of snake bite), how to handle a snake in emergencies, how to reduce the chances of getting bitten by snakes, snake myths and superstitions.

• February 13 (6.30 – 7.30 pm): Clinton Vaz will talk about waste management issues that affect us, and demonstrate how you can recycle many common household wastes.

• February 14 (10 am – 2 pm): Goa Center for Alternative Photography (Goa-CAP) will talk about pinhole cameras – how to make them at home, what materials to use, and how to take photographs with them. In addition, a Camera Obscura – which can hold two people – will also be set up. It will capture the surrounding scenery and produce a reasonably large inverted image on a screen inside the camera. People can then sketch the image on paper. This is a demonstration of techniques used by some of the Renaissance Old Masters, including Rembrandt and da Vinci, to achieve lifelike realism in their paintings.

(5 – 7 pm): Kanwarjit Nagy and Yashodara Kundaji will hold an origami session, teaching you how to create beautiful shapes out of flat paper.

(4 – 8 pm): ‘Paint your T’ session.

People Tree started life in 1991 as a design studio-cum-shop in Delhi. It is committed to the promotion of hand skills, self-expression and quality workmanship. This small enterprise has now became a meeting ground for art and ideas, leading to an exciting fusion of modern and traditional ideas and skills from all over the Indian subcontinent. It combines a sense of social purpose and ecological responsibility with the spirit of collective creativity.

For more information, check out facebook.com/peopletree and www.peopletreeonline.com; or contact: Anjali Sen Gupta at 9860089733, peopletreegoa@gmail.com