Bangalore City is beautiful....but has major water issues

We went for a short Bangalore city tour – actually, if one goes to see Bangalore its easy . Especially from a children’s point of view. As an IT hub the kids were happy to see Infosys and we cant obviously show them the pub culture of the city as they are underage J

In our city tour, the first stop was NGMA on Cunnigham Road. A beautiful structure converted into a gallery with works of many Indian artists. We went through each gallery trying to help the children understand the method of seeing a picture and the importance of museums in our lives.

A group photo outside the museum building, as we were not allowed to take any photos inside the gallery

All the happy faces always ready for a camera

It was amazing the stories children can tell seeing just one picture.

We then just drove through the city. Since there is construction of the metro happening everywhere and anyway Bangalore is full of one ways, drove through structures like Vidhan Soudha, High Court and Cubbon Park to land up at Jaaga Studio.

Jaaga Studio has been set up by a fellow NIDian – Archana Prasad. An artist and animation film designer believes that good design and art comes out by collaboration and is very keen to support art based work especially amongst underprivileged and also craft communities. Jaaga is officially our resource partner for The 1000 Crane Project’s Bangalore chapter.

At Jaaga Cafe - enjoying the ambience and structure around them

The children also had an opportunity to meet my (Juhi Pandey) family who live in Bangalore too. They were all very excited to meet them as they have never met their teacher's family or felt so invited anywhere before.

So, the second half of the day was spent by the children at Jaaga.

Their first session was with Anders. A toy designer and a story-teller who has developed this very interactive story for children which basically instills environmental consciousness.

Anders showing his work to the children, with Archana acting as interpreter.

Kumar was completely hooked to the touch device and the colours on the screen

The entire Jaaga group helping with the stroy - Shaona and Shaun were drawing the stroy out, Madhavi was the Kannada interpreter, Archana was speaking in Hindi and Anders in English

The story of the Jorgites

The children were fascinated more by the tool used to tell the story which was an IPAD, and were really excited that the story develops as you touch the screen.

We then went for a short tour of the Jaaga studio where Archana pointed out how the entire 2 floor structure if made out of all recycled material and is also a structure that can be dismantled and assembled wherever they like.

Archana showing the children the walls of the studio made from recylced material like coir to grown plants

The upper level of the studio where the lighting is all recycled metal

Moving one level up but the floor is recycled materials too!

Introducing them to Speaker Man !

We then began the Screen-Printing workshop with Shaona Sen. A designer and a huge fan of children. She works with another non profit in Bangalore called Magic Bus as well.

Shaona and Archana took them through the entire process till the final developed screen but the lack of time did not allow us to print, but The kids all had to draw a imagery representing water, which we put into one screen to create a print.   

What is a screen? How is it used? Archana & Shaona 

The kids drawing their story of Water

Ramzan is very proud of his Merman :) 

Each child made is 4 X 4 artwork 

This is how the print was put together with each artwork

Washing of the screen after exposing it

Trying their hand out at printing

Shaona shall bring the printed T-shirts on 24th April 2013-Wednesday when she comes in for another workshop with us.

From today the kids would also be given A Task for the Day.

For day 5 it was to show responsibility towards your partner. We had put them in pairs and the only task was to stay with the partner and look out for their partner. It was pretty successful as we used the bribing tool of rewarding. But, the children also learnt a little more about being responsible.

It was a long day, we collected rcycled material from Jaaga to work with. Thank you SIEMENS for sponsoring the bus for the day. Thank you Bassavaraja, our driver for the day !! 

In all it was a day of fun, because the kids had a joy ride around town, they loved the Jaaga space and a change in environment always helps.