Healing with art

CHENNAI: Using art as therapy for children with learning disabilities and their families, the Artists’ Conclave Foundation is conducting a free art camp,‘Artitude’ on October 27 from 3 pm to 5 pm.

“We will be focussing on art as therapy for not just the children but their parents as well,” said Kalpana Yuvarraaj, artist, designer and founder trustee of the Artists’ Conclave Foundation. “We want to provide a platform where the family can grow and bond over art. We want them to enjoy art and the finer aspects of life.”

“We have noticed that many mothers of children with multiple disabilities suffer from stress and anxiety,” she said, adding, “Art can be a great stress reliever and also a good outlet for these family members. Further, our focus is to work towards building a more inclusive society so that we have regular classes where both abled and differently abled children can learn and help each other because that is how it should be.”

“After this workshop, we are looking to expand our work further to include a lot of other activities as well,” she said. These activities include photography workshops, outdoor activities and trips where the family can bond over taking pictures, painting a scenery on canvas or while watercolour sheets.

In addition to children, the Foundation has also worked with transpeople and victims of trafficking. “I have been constantly working with the transgenders and trafficked victims for more than two decades now,” Kalpana said. “I teach them art and enable them to appreciate the finer aspects of life setting aside
the trauma they underwent in their life.”

The art camp will be held at G-7, Gems Court, Khader Nawaz Khan Road in Nungambakkam. For details call 9841024078 or 9176188445.