My india so far- hints for Volunteer Art Teaching?

GraceMctrace

Hello! I have been reading IndiaMike.com for well over 6 months now, but I've only been lurking, as they say. I've finally decided to jump in and introduce myself, and get involved. Part of this is down to the fact that I've finally gotten internet in my oh-so-rural location.

Let me tell you a bit about myself and what I'm up to out here. I'm an American artist, specializing in such varied things as mural painting, large-scale installations, and bookbinding. I got an opportunity to come out to a tiny rural village in Tamil Nadu and work as an artist-in-residence at a free independent school last fall. I used IM extensively to do a lot of research, as I had never been to India. I arrived in November for what is planned to be a one-year residency. "Residency" turns out to mean "art teacher" a bit more than I had anticipated, and I am basically working as a volunteer, receiving housing on campus and a very small stipend to cover my food costs.

Directly following my arrival, there was a cyclone called Neesha, and we had extensive flooding for about 2 weeks (the whole school under 4 feet of water). It was a pretty intense welcome to India, but there was only one point, after we had been evacuated to the village on the back of a tractor-trailer, that I thought seriously about packing it in and going home. I didn't though, I stuck around.

I've been able to do a bit of traveling, to Kerala during the pongol holidays, and a couple trips to Pondicherry which is not too far from where I am near Thiruvarur. Kerala was amazing, and showed me a whole different side of India. I think it's funny when I go to touristy spots -- all the people I encounter looking for their "authentic Indian experience," and me just trying desperately to escape mine.

The work at school has been incredibly difficult. I don't get along with the school founders (we just can't seem to communicate -- constant misunderstandings, and I feel they don't respect me), and most of the other teachers don't speak good english and tend to stick together. I thought the kids would all have conversational english, but this has not been the case, and so all my plans for encouraging creative thought and creative work have had to be reworked, since they all involved discussions, critiques, and thought questions. I am the only westerner for miles, and even after 3 months I still get stared at whenever I leave campus to go to the village or to town to buy food.

I've recently had a serious problem come up at school with my bosses which may mean I have to leave -- at this point I'm researching what other opportunities might be available for a socially-conscious artist-type with limited funds. If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know! I'm looking for volunteer work teaching art or making art, especially in Southern India, but I'm pretty flexible, potentially.

OK! I hope that's a long enough intro. I've found India equal portions total frustration and absolute amazement, mindboggling beauty and gut-wrenching ugly, totally impossible and totally soul-stirring and life-changing, and mainly all of these at the same time. I do know that I am forever changed, and this experience has forced me to confront all my weaknesses and inhibitions and become a much stronger, more self-assured person. But my goodness has it been a painful, difficult process!

Thanks for reading, and for any suggestions you may have for my next few months out here, and thanks also for all the great helpful info you've provided over the months. yeah.

-gracie

Aishah

Hello Gracie and welcome to India Mike! I am going to move your post into the volunteering Forum because I think this is where you will get the most help.
I can understand how you feel at times - having lived here now for 9 years it can be quite a mixture of frustrations, but as you get used to everything, they slowly disappear, and maybe my attitude is changing with the years too. There are still things that 'drive me nuts' if I let them, though. I find an occasional trip to Delhi where I can eat lettuce is a good pick me up!!





Mod Note: I have also added a bit more to your title so that your question is clear to all.

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jot20

Hi Gracie,

I dont have any advice but am really curious about how things are going for you now? Did you leave the school? Did you find something else? I admire what you want to do and hope you have found a way to make things work.

Jo

Aishah

And I see no one has come up for some suggestions for South India for you.

Would you be interested in something like McLeod Ganj, (Himachel Pradesh)and the Tibetan school for children? I'm sure there could be a need for your skills there. If you haven't already done so, have a look in this Forum because there are some threads on volunteering there.

clivington

If you're still around, Gracie, please drop me an email (see my profile). There may be an art teaching opportunity at the Kovalam NGO where I volunteer. They could certainly do with art lessons - for example, many of the kids draw dogs by the method of writing the characters "5 3 3" twice, above each other, and then joining them up. Not only is it not at all creative (which is what art is all about in my book) but it produces the most hideous-looking creature!
Clive

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LizzieLizzie

Hi Clivington

I am very interested in art teaching in India and would be very keen to get involved in what you are suggesting. I would be able to commit a month or two of my time from Januray/Feb onwards - would be amazing if you could email me with any details.

Hope to hear back form you - Lizzie

abracax

The place is full of children. I just haul out the paints and brushes, lay out some pieces of paper and away we go. If you're looking for some sort of formal structure when it comes to art, you're heading for the wrong country.

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clivington

Hi Lizzie, an email is heading in your direction at the speed of light!
Clive

jenhawks

Hi everyone,
I too have decided to go to India some time at the end of the year for six months and would also like to find out about some volunteering opportunites, preferably in art teaching for a few weeks or months. My degree was in design and I have had some teaching experience.

Cant wait to go! Let me know if anyone has any good advice for getting involved in any interesting projects, north or south, any time from November this year until March 10.

Thanks in anticipation!
Jenny

Nick-H

How do you do that?

It would probably be an improvement on any freehand doggie I could manage