Vibrant Colors Filled the Art Courtyard of Lake City on Sunday

Udaipur: The second day of the three-day "Art Courtyard" event, organized by the Kashti Foundation and Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, brought together various forms of art to engage the students of government schools. The event, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of arts and culture in the region, began on Saturday and continued on Sunday with a variety of artistic activities.

Shraddha Murdia, the head of the Kashti Foundation, shared that the morning session of the Art Courtyard at the Government Higher Secondary School in Varada was dedicated to sketching. Led by urban sketcher and architect Sunil Laddha, over 35 students and artists collaborated to create a wide variety of sketches using pencils and colors. The session was conducted by storyteller Rajat Meghnani. Murdia also mentioned that the three-day event, supported by Miraj Group, Round Table, Manglam Arts, Kapoor Traders, Shreeji Property, and Udaipur Colors, will conclude on Monday evening with an exhibition.

**Jataka Tales Teach Many Lessons: Ayyar**

Hemant Joshi, the coordinator of Art Courtyard, explained that the art discussion session featured a conversation between artist and retired professor Srinivasan Ayyar from Rajasthan Vidyapeeth and Sunil Laddha. Ayyar highlighted the messages in Jataka tales, Panchatantra, and various elements of nature, sharing insights into the different dimensions of art. He spoke about the creative process of artists and how they draw inspiration from various sources like the shape of clouds, using them to create works of art. He also discussed how art benefits the general public. In a similar vein, Mahesh Kumawat, an artist from Pindwara (Sirohi), shared his experience of being selected as one of the 12 top artists for the Prayagraj camp and his journey in art. Mohit Agarwal, Mohit Singvi, and Mannan from Round Table motivated the students, while Ahmedabad-based artist Fenil Patel shared her views on the role of women in the art world.

**Film Director Kunal’s Story Inspired the Audience**

In the second session of the Art Courtyard, emerging Bollywood film director Kunal Mehta, who gained attention with the film *Tairaki*, shared his inspiring journey with the students. Having studied in a government school, Kunal narrated his experiences working in theater, acting in short films, writing scripts, and eventually transitioning into feature film production. The audience and artists applauded his passion and perseverance.

**Participants Delved into Wood Carving and Danced to Rajasthani Songs**

In the music session of the Art Courtyard, Vidit Meghwal performed Rajasthani songs, Ghoomar, and Arijit Singh’s melodies on the guitar, which got both artists and students dancing in joy. In another session led by Prateek Mistry, students tried their hand at wood carving. Additionally, some students explored the techniques of painting, sketching, and creating sculptures using scrap materials.

The event was attended by Mahesh Kumawat, Sandeep Rathod, Kamal Joshi, Hemant Mehta, Kunal Mehta, Vinay Dave, Nilofar Munir, Rahul Mali, and Kamlesh Dangi from Urban Sketchers, among others.