Tag: dharajain

SCreEn PrIntIng |The Source|

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I keep asking my workers, crafters, artists, this one question and often its just a greeting………. “Khush ho?” (Are you happy???) …….. the man/ woman smiles…….. surprised and shy most of the time, happy by the gesture itself sometimes and at other times back with a story in his/her life – the stories are the best! These guys have much to share and those smiles – content –  rather contagious and one of the reasons that I just love to chat up with them creators, the men/women who truly believe in their contributions to whatever big or little they do – they are happy and more than that – proud, something that I always have to remind myself off, strangely!

Ever thought about this – the people and businesses that a creative supports also supports them. It needs to co-exist like a demand and supply chart, its use needs to progress and develop not only in availability but in education and awareness as well and only then can an art form and its representative artistry stay alive. I feel elated that the digital world could never take away from this 2000 year old form of printing  – Screen Printing.

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The Source | Bombay Paperie

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Walk in to gape at the massive antique wooden table right in the centre with all paper products on display – as if it were an island on its own; stacks of paper lined on the sides and graded by colour – as if gazing at a rainbow so near;  colonial architecture holding various exhibits of paper and paper products – as if to belong together; further in (by this time I have already decided my favourite spot) to the back and then to the corner is a dedicated section flaunting images of the craftsmen at the mill, their work in progress and a showcase of the different processes in the making of the paper – as if inside a museum making a connection felt through the story they are trying to tell —- Bombay Paperie – where paper is made without cutting trees and sold planting just love.

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More than just clay- MITTY |Source|

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“My inclination is more towards teaching people and its more about my hobby and interest rather than the sale.”

For any history student – like me, the first connection you will probably make when you come across shelves of unglazed earthenware and hand sculpted art pieces are the chapters on the Indus Valley and Harappan civilisations! and then start to think about how ancient the traditional craft of pottery is… what its roots are? how has it evolved over the years? why we don’t come across enough people who practice/teach it?….and how it is the most underrated art form!!

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#DidYouKnow taking up pottery has numerous benefits? Other than being a wonderful creative outlet there are dozens of physical and mental advantages from expressing oneself by creating something that requires full concentration and focus on the activity itself. It helps with the sensory development and motor skills for the young and is beneficial to those prone to arthritis in the hands as it promotes joint movement and dexterity. Pottery also works as a super de-stress agent and is often described as being therapeutic and relaxing…….

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Fine handworked linen for the home: DIT STORE |SOURCE|

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“Has this shop always been here?!” I mumbled while trying to recall as I walked into the small, quaint store. Looking at all the exquisite linen products, i felt like i was stepping into my grandmother’s cherished linen closet, not a store at Colaba causeway. I have spent a large chunk of my college days roaming around causeway making it my second home and having wonderful memories with friends, food and shopping at every corner!  So imagine my surprise when I was recommended this store by colleagues (while working on a film) who are not even originally from this city… it is one of the things I value most about what we do, sourcing these fine old gems everywhere we go.

DIT was established in 1942 by Mrs. Josephine Mendes who began her career as a seamstress at the store and managed it all the way through her 90’s! why call it DIT? “Well it was mom’s pet name ” explains her son Frank who now runs things here. He was a commercial pilot back in the day and swooped in to help Mrs Mendes at the shop when things at home started to go south.  Mr.Frank loves reminiscing about the old days.. talking about everything from his friends and family, to his travels around the world and how fabulously his mother used to dress up the store windows.

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A Reluctant Super Hero- Himanshu S. |Inspiration|

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I am a traveller, with my car as my office and my two feet as my means of transport. Every single day, I journey from one corner of Mumbai to another, crossing numerous roads, streets, lanes, by-lanes, malls, stores, shops, events, exhibitions, pop-ups, and more to source and plan for the work I do. I call myself a traveller because I encounter countless faces, interact with them, learn about their joys and sorrows, and experience the world through their eyes – Stop. Share. Shop.

Recently, I’ve come across zines and booklets that are all about straightforward, sharp, and somewhat thought-provoking one-liners, messages, and dialogues.

“Everyone is an artist,” he says. “There are no dirty words, only dirty minds,” he adds.

“Stop making sense,” he says. “Let’s be awkward together,” he adds.

“Orgasms are very nice, but revolutions are better,” he says. “Drop out!” he adds…

These are a few lines, or rather titles, from the booklets that first caught my eye. I won’t lie – they looked pretty cool and clean, type-printed on pamphlet paper, single-lined, bound together, and very reasonably priced – so I bought them all! (At least, all the ones on display.) Easy to read and sometimes re-read, each line and every page intrigued me, making them more than just a weekend flip-through but impactful messages written in the simplest way possible.

the purpose is just to be... and in doing so
turn on everybody who can be turned on and 
turn off everybody else...

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