(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- Late this spring the gallery of the West Windsor Arts Center will feature the works by artists of the Indian diaspora and their interpretations of “Dharma in the 21st Century.” Curated by artist Hetal Mistry, the sales of artwork will also raise funds to support the Clean Ganga Fund, an Indian national effort to save the endangered holy river. The exhibit runs from May 8 through July 1, 2017. An opening reception is set for Sunday, May 21 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the art center.
Hetal invited artists to submit work that explores and interprets what Dharma means to them in the current day. Dharma has multiple meanings in Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain traditions and is a topic of interest worldwide. Perhaps the simplest interpretation is living a life that embodies: Satya (truth), Tapa (persistence), Pavitrata (purity), and Daya (compassion). The work in this show reflects the personal, inspirational and introspective journey of self as experienced by artists whose cultural upbringing was informed by the concept.
One of the works selected for the show is a mixed media painting called “Srishti” by Anusha Saran. About the work, Saran says, “To me, 'Srishti' or world is Dharma. The painting shows that Srishti is the essential order of things, an integrity and harmony in the universe and the affairs of life that cannot be disturbed without creating chaos. That which supports, nourishes, harmonizes and unites the individual, society and the world.”
Accomplished local artist and curator Hetal Mistry (B.F.A.) has created renditions of historical sites in Princeton including The Miller Chapel. Recent solo exhibitions include the Erdman Art Gallery at Princeton Theological Seminary and Premier art gallery in Lambertville. Hetal has had the opportunity to exhibit at the Artexpo in New York and internationally in India. Hetal’s recent trip to India included visiting the oldest living city of Varansi through which the holy Ganga river flows. She witnessed the evening prayers on the banks of the river that have been performed for thousands of years. It was truly an enlightening experience that inspired her to explore Dharma in the modern context.
Participating artists include: Vimala Arunachalam, (Plainsboro, NJ); Divya Attri, (Princeton Junction, NJ); Anjana Babu, (Monmouth Junction, NJ); Sheetal Bagewadi, (Monmouth Junction, NJ); Ketut Budiawan, (Ubud, Bali); Aparna Deshpande, (Monmouth Junction, NJ); Uday Dhar, (New York, NY); Rochana Dubey, (Princeton, NJ); Spriha Gupta, (Skillman, NJ); Parul Mehta, (Mumbai, India); Jyoti Menon, (Lawrenceville, NJ); Hetal Mistry, (Princeton Junction, NJ); Kavin Mistry, (Princeton Junction, NJ); Suvarna Nagaraju, (Belle mead, NJ); Anusha Saran, (West Windsor, NJ); Aparajita Sen, (Princeton Junction, NJ); Vishal Shah, (West Windsor, NJ)
About the West Windsor Arts Council:
The West Windsor Arts Council’s mission is to provide professional quality community arts programming in order to support, educate, inspire, and promote the arts and art appreciation in the greater West Windsor community. Founded in 2002, the arts council opened the doors of the new West Windsor Arts Center as of September 25, 2010 in the historic Princeton Junction Firehouse at 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550. For information on the West Windsor Arts Council and West Windsor Arts Center, please visitwww.westwindsorarts.org. Office and gallery hours: Mon-Fri, 10 am-6 pm; Sat, 10 am-4 pm.
