The Two Ends of Audubon St

It seems as though I am all over Audubon St, and I assure you it is not on purpose! I got in touch with Taylor at Koffee sometime last year when I saw an ad online that they were looking artists to show. Mono is Many came together recently and its such a funny coincidence that they are over lapping.

The opening for Mono Is Many took place last Thursday, and I am proud to say it was a pretty good turn out! I felt like I was being pulled from person to person but isn’t that what usually happens at openings? That was the first time I actually got to see the show and it came together really beautifully. Debbie and Jennifer really did an amazing job curating. I especially enjoyed the placement of my little installation with the textiles. Another exciting moment was when Allen from the New Haven Independent interviewed me. He spent quite some time speaking with me. He asked me many thoughtful and fun questions and I didn’t know who he was until way after were done speaking. A few days later, an article came out in the New Haven Independent featuring our show.

Here is a link to read the article: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/mono_is_many/

Following the opening, some folks headed over to Koffee to check out my show there. I wasn’t sure what to expect with comments on the paintings because it was my first time showing them around here. Luckily, I got a lot positive feedback and it has been good encouragement to continue painting. The space was well suited for my work and I think “In Thirds” came together pretty well.  

If you missed the opening for Mono is Many, the show will be up through June 17th. As for the show at Koffee, the closing reception will be June 25th at 5pm. There is still time to see both shows!

Open Studios at Chhaap

Before I could even fully comprehend, it was my last day at Chhaap. This also meant it was the day of my open studios. I split up my work between Baroda and Ahmadabad so there would be different work for the open studios as well as the solo show at the gallery. The day before in the afternoon Yogesh (the peon at Chhaap) and myself hung the entire show. We worked together with ideas and created something that I was truly proud of. Yogesh is pretty amazing. He does literally everything from documenting work, to bringing you chai, to printing an entire edition and of course being the best assistant while printing. I need someone like that to come back to America with me!

Open studios took place in two intervals. One in the morning and then again in the evening. The middle of the day is way too hot so we knew no one would come. The morning was filled with all of my relatives. They came from Bombay, Ahmadabad and even Kutch especially to support me. I truly felt loved. The evening was also filled with various characters. This included: professors, other artists, students, friends, and even a lovely textile designer. At one point there wasn’t even room to move. I am not one of those people who make art just for myself. I love explaining my process and showing people my water-based inks. I almost think that is equally rewarding as making the actual prints.

Yogesh took down the show in about ten minutes and I was off to finish up my trip in Ahmadabad! But before I could leave, I had to give an interview on the phone. I wasn’t sure if I should speak English or Gujarati, but since he was asking questions in English that is the same way I responded. At the end of it I told Kavita: “I have no idea if he understood everything I said, but I explained in detail!” I was published in two articles in Baroda and they got the jist of it that’s for sure.