The Creative Monks

The otherwise quiet,open space opposite the Government Museum and Art Gallery is a hub of hectic creative activity these days. Soaring Monks,a group of enthusiastic youngsters comprising amateur artists and students,have created their first event,The Monks Fest. The participants will be involved in pottery,clay modelling,photography and creating craft out of waste. “The idea behind this is to explore and use open spaces in Chandigarh for creative activity,” says Shubham Rattan,an MBA student from Panjab University.

While amateur photographers put up pictures on used refrigerator cartons,old bottles have been used for glass painting. “We spread the word without spending any money on advertising,as this is a completely non-commercial group,’’ says Nateshwar Jaswal,one of the participants and core members,while,Sukhmani,another participant is busy making baskets out of newspapers. “These baskets are really sturdy,’’ says Sukhmani,who runs Cafe Kafee Kuch in Sector 15,another open space for people to share ideas. “We’re creating user-friendly things,and this looks like a great place to start. We want people to enjoy the city’s open spaces,and come together to create something. Such initiatives also enable young artists to get a few appreciators,’’ says budding photographer Suniana Kaul. “The fest will be a regular feature,with new elements thrown in every time,” says Rattan.

The festival is on till Sunday.