INVC NEWS
Chandigarh,
Abir First Take 2017, an annual platform celebrating art across genres in a distinctive contest and exhibition, has struck the gong once again. Led by noted natural dye artist and exponent Ruby Jagrut, entries from artists across the country have been invited. In its second edition now, Abir acknowledges the creative bent of mind that promises to encourage, inspire, empower and connects budding artists with master painters.
The last date of submission this year is May 30 with all entries waiting to be vetted and shortlisted by an eminent panel of juries. The panel comprises culture critic, art curator and writer Johny ML based in New Delhi, prolific Indian contemporary artist Manu Parekh, stylized folk art specialist Madhvi Parekh and Walter D’Souza, noted for his practice in the print medium and an expert sculpter.
Abir has evolved into an initiative that penetrates into deeper contours of the country and revives waning strokes, techniques and mediums of art in the process. It is a non-profit effort, which reflects an individual culture and background that artists are inspired by and is a take on the diversity of human race.
“Abir First Take has matured into a tested platform, fostering art talk in a manner the city of Ahmedabad has never seen. Our maiden edition last year saw a mindboggling response. It collated creativity from across the country. While we have conceptualized First Take in the form of a contest between diverse art forms and their creators, the moot objective is not restricted to a competition. The ultimate motive is celebration of colors and art and providing apt hand-holding to those who stumble along the way. In 2017, the response so far has been invigorating,” said Ruby Jagrut.
First Take 2017 will be held at Kanoria Centre of Arts and HP Hutheesing Visual Art Centre, Ahmedabad from September 9—16, 2017. All shortlisted entries will be exhibited. There will be dialogues, discussions and demonstrations with senior artists, art historians, art critics, curators and investors sharing their take.
So far, 175 entries from 43 cities have already been received and many more are in the offing. These have come in from locations such as Ahmedabad, Akon, Agra, Amravati, Pune, Aurangabad, Amethi, Belgaum, Bhopal, Vadodara, Chandigarh, Forbesganj, Gurgaon, Greensburg, Gwalior, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Jalna, Jalgaon, Kumta, Kolkata, Mehsana, Mahuva, Mau, Madhugiri, Nadiad, Nanded, Nandurbar, New Delhi, Pen, Patparganj, Panvel, Parbhani, Rishikesh, Surat, Siliguri, Tamluk and Varanasi.
For art connoisseurs, there is a scope to add an exquisite art memorabilia to the collection. Around 100 artworks will be selected. The best out of them and 6 awards in 3 different categories are bestowed. The winning entry can take home an award money of INR 1, 00, 000/- while the runner- up is awarded INR 50,000/- in each category.
The maiden edition had received 629 entries from 48 different cities of India and around 108 selected artworks were exhibited. Last year’s jury included Shri Vrindavan Solanki, Mr. Karl Antoo, Ms. Mallika Sarabhai and Mr. Pavan Bakeri.
