RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 15

RANDOM REMINDER

INDIAN ART

There are not many better instances of leadership by example than that offered by Miss Diane Balemi, the New Zealander who visited Bombay in 1965 and stayed to establish the Door of Hope Society there. Her devotion to helping the poor, the handicapped and the illiterate is a shining example to everyone. Miss Balemi is in Christchurch at present, but only briefly. She is visiting the city while an exhibition of Indian Batik art, sponsored by the Christchurch South Lions Club, is being held

at the Canterbury Society of Arts gallery. The exhibition, which opened on Wednesday, is of much importance to the work Miss Balemi is doing, but it is of great interest to everyone, for Batik art is quite distinctive with its colourful portraits and designs on textiles. The work has been done by physically handicapped, illiterate or needy people who are being trained at Miss Bal emi’s headquarters, to develop their art and earn a living. She has an even more ambitious project in view,

a Village of Hope—a residential block for those in need. There are plenty of them in India. The exhibition, open each day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., will close on Tuesday. All the exhibits are available for purchase, and there is a small charge for admission. So there is ample time to visit an unusual and rewarding exhibition, and to assist in a cause which must appeal to everyone able to recognise the need to give a little to those who so badly need assistance.