Article Contributed on: 10/24/2007 12:07:07 PM
A rare opportunity, hosted by theGalleyat910.
Starting Friday, November 16, the people of Colorado have a rare opportunity to see some incredible art and photography.
The Dalit Freedom Network (
www.dalitnetwork.org), along with The Northeast India Project (
www.theindiaproject.com), have compiled a collection of artwork from the Untouchables and Tribals of India. Still considered non-people by the Caste System of India, these groups have long been hidden from most of the world. At over 300 million strong, it is time for them to gain the recognition they deserve.
theGalleryat910 (
www.thegalleryat910.com), located at 910 Santa Fe in Denver's Arts District, will host a show consisting of art work made exclusively by The Dalits and Tribals of India. Pieces will include paintings, sculpture, carvings, basketry, jewelry, mud paintings, and woven and textile art, just to name a few. All of this work is made by the poorest of the poor, from one of the poorest nations in the world. The show will run from November 16th through January 11th. There will also be screenings of documentaries produced by the DFN.
As near as we can find out, this is the first show of its kind in the United States. We are unaware of any other organizations putting together an art show exclusively showing art work by the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes of India.
Proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit The Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) and the North East India Project (NEIP). Both of these organizations continue to do very difficult work in rural India.
DFN concentrates its energies on helping the Dalits better their lives through education, health care, micro economics, and women's empowerment. NEIP works in Nagaland India, and concentrates on education, health care, water resources management, and eco-tourism development.
In addition to the art work, the adjoining gallery will feature photography by professional photographers, and Lakewood residents,
Vic Moss (
www.indiaphotos.us), and Jason Powers (
www.jkpphotography.com). The photography consists of images of the wonderful people and scenery from India. Proceeds from the sale of this work will benefit the travels of both Vic and Jason. Vic and Jason are also both graduates of the Art Institute of Colorado.
Vic works with Dalit children through a DFN school that is sponsored by his church, Light & Life Community Church, here in Lakewood. The proceeds of this show will finance his next trip, planned for February of 2008. On that trip, he will once again be working with the school, and has been invited to volunteer some of his time and work with The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, located in Delhi, India. They are an organization that documents and publicizes atrocities committed on Dalits in India. Vic is currently in contact with NCDHR and hopes to be able to work with their writer and illustrate some stories for her.
Jason is one of the two founders of the NEIP. The NEIP sprang from a trip to Nagaland by he and 5 others. From this trip, it was put on his heart to help the tribal people of Yimjenkimong village in Nagaland. The Village consists of 140 families. In 2006 he and Ghani Zaman, from India, formed the NEIP, and continue to work closely with government and tribal leaders to improve the lives of this village. It is their hope to use Yimjenkimong as a pilot project, and extend what they are doing to villages throughout the region.
Please plan on attending the show. You will see some incredible art work, and wonderful photography. You can learn about daily life in India, and if you like, how you can become involved in India. The show will also be a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping!
So whether you want to see nice work, learn about India, or are just curious, I hope to see ya' there,!