LOCH NESS SARI IS STAR OF SHOW IN OXFORDSHIRE
LOCH NESS SARI IS STAR OF SHOW IN OXFORDSHIRE
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A brilliant blue sari with a Loch Ness monster snaking across its pallau is the unusual star in an exhibition of traditional and 21st century saris opening in Oxfordshire this month.
The colourful and humorous sari is the creation of Jenna McDonald of Mearns Primary School, Glasgow, one of dozens of children at the school who entered into the spirit of the Lottery-funded British Sari Story competition last year for 21st century sari designs. Winners’ designs were created into new saris and put on show in London.
The children were too young to enter the competition, but their work was shown at the Edinburgh Indian Association’s celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of Independence last August. Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, who attended, was so impressed that he asked if Jenna’s pattern could be made into a sari to join the touring exhibition.
Her sari is on show this month at the first stop of the tour – the Michael Heseltine Gallery at Chenderit School, Banbury.
“We are delighted that Jenna’s lively sari has joined the British Sari Story touring exhibition,” says Nidhi Uppal, exhibitions and events officer at Bridging Arts which has created and staged the show. “The exhibition is all about patterns – and the way patterns tell stories and reflect people’s lives. Jenna’s sari reflecting her feelings about being Scottish joins the other brand new saris, winners of last year’s competition.
“Some wonderful designs are on display, ranging from a London tube map sari to a Yorkshire sari covered with raindrops and snowflakes.”
This year, Bridging Arts is running a competition for a British Bridal Sari as the exhibition tours the UK. Instead of ideas for a printed, everyday sari, competitors are being asked to submit a swatch of fabric with embroidery, beading or embellishment that might adorn their dream wedding sari.
”We hope the young artists of Chenderit – and surrounding schools – will have a go at this,” says Uppal. “Entry is free and the top prize is £250.” The winning entry, plus the entries of other finalists, will join the British Sari Story exhibition tour and be announced at Charnwood Museum, Loughborough, when the show opens there this October.
The exhibition, created by Bridging Arts, and is touring with Arts Council England funding.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The British Sari Story exhibition was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and opened at Brent Museum in September 2007. The tour is funded by Arts Council England. For more information about the British Sari Story, email Nidhi Uppal at nidhiuppal@bridging-arts.com or call 078331 33742. The British Sari Story exhibition opens at Chenderit School on 3 March 2008 and will run until 31 March 2008.
2. To find out more about Chenderit School, please visit www.chenderit.northants.sch.uk or call John Childs (Arts College Director) on 01295 71156.
3. To enter the British Sari Story National Competition 2008 for a British Bridal Sari, please download an application form from www.bridging-arts.com. Alternatively application forms can be obtained by emailing info@bridging-arts.com or calling 020 8749 9010. Entry to the competition is free and the terms and conditions of the competition can be found on www.bridging-arts.com
4. Bridging Arts works with art, photography and design to raise awareness of issues central to people’s lives and trigger debate. Visit www.bridging-arts.com for more information.
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