Not everyone has an eye and a heart for art like he did. Late Dr K. Anji Reddy, was not only an avid art lover and collector but he truly believed in and supported the artists. In his fond memory, the Kallam Anji Reddy Arts (KARA) festival was started last year and is soon becoming a known name in the art circles.
“The vision of the festival is to support art while raising money for causes that speak to our heart. As we grow, we intend to include other creative pursuits like music and dance along with the visual arts,” says Anuradha Prasad, managing trustee of Dr Reddy’s Foundation.
Last year, the camp brought together over 25 artists to create some beautiful artworks to raise funds for IMPACT, an organisation that helps children affected with cancer. “This year, we are raising funds for an international organisation called St. Judes, which helps children with cancer and other life threatening diseases,” says Anuradha, a keen lover of arts and culture. She is also the founder of Saptaparni, a cultural centre dedicated to indoctrinating Indian history and culture especially for children. The center is a hub for performing arts and a storehouse of books in vernacular languages handpicked by Anuradha and her team.
The KARA art camp in association with Gallery Space concludes on Sunday. “The three-days of painting in an open creative environment while socialising with peers creates a lot of enthusiasm and unleashes an energy that is a treat to watch. It also provides a place for the art lovers to meet their favorite artists and have informal conversations with them, an opportunity that is not always possible,” she adds.
An effort has been consciously made to include more women artists as well as emerging talent. This mix of artistic talent with various ranges of skills and experience is a great platform for the artists to mingle and learn from each other. Prominent artists include Thota Vaikuntam, Sudip Roy, Laxman Aeley, Bratin Khan among others.
