Gratifying Response To Batik Art Show

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31776, 5 September 1968, Page 3

Gratifying Response To Batik Art Show

The public response to the exhibition of Indian batik art in Christchurch surpassed her wildest hopes, the promoter, Miss Diana B demi, of Bombay, said yesterday. The pictures sold well and many patrons expressed a wish to learn the art process themselves.

“We sold 33 of the 50 pictures in the exhibition and raised about $lOOO for our $20,000 Village of Hope project in Bombay, which, will include a residential block and school for destitute Indian children, training centre and shops,” she said. Miss Balemi had already raised about $2OOO for the building fund before she arrived oh her present visit to New Zealand. The enthusiasm shown for batik art in itself was most gratifying, she added. “I have been asked frequently to bring a batik demonstrator to New Zealand; many people want to learn to do the resist-dyeing technique themselves.” Art Master Miss Balemi said she would seriously consider bringing a demonstrator to New Zealand, probably to the four main centres. “I would hope to be able to bring Mr Chandrakant Upadhaya, art master at our Door of Hope batik art centre, and one of the world’s leading exponents of this technique,” she said. In her busy 13-day visit to Christchurch, Miss Balemi has been helping to launch a campaign to sell $lOO certificates in New Zealand for the Village of Hope. “Units Of Hope”

“Each certificate represents a ‘Unit of Hope’ and will provide 20 square feet of living space for one child — the minimum amount of space required,” she said. “A plaque with the name of the investor will be placed on the wall of the living space provided for the particular child.” More information about these investment certificates was obtainable, she said, from the Door of Hope’s New Zealand representatives, Smith and Barnett, Accountants, Box 585, Hamilton. Miss Balemi will leave Christchurch today for Ashburton and Dunedin. She will then travel through the North Island, leaving for Melbourne and Sydney on November 1.

Before leaving New Zealand she will spend a few days with relatives and friends in Hamilton, her home town, before she left for

Bombay less than four years ago to help destitute Indians get a start in life. To Meet Mrs Gandhi

In Huntly she will show a small exhibition of batik art in association with the Huntly Rotary Club. She will hold another exhibition in Sydney, where she will also address business groups and appear on television. After leaving Australia she will go to New Delhi to have discussions on the Village of Hope project with the Prime Minister of India (Mrs Gandhi ).- “But before leaving Christchurch I want to say a heartfelt “thank you’ to all those who have patronised our art exhibition, to the Lions Club of Christchurch South which organised the exhibition, and to all the others who contributed to its success. I am quite overwhelmed with gratitude,” Miss Balemi said.