Shakun is a visual artist who works in many genres. She began her artistic life in her native India, learning traditional folk arts from her mother and aunties. With formal art training in graphic design, photography and various other mediums, she has enhanced her background and teaching methods. Shakun uses her folk art background to make connections with other cultures and is dedicated to teaching all students the creative process.

Maheshwari went to North Hennepin Community College and completed a graphic design program. While there, she expanded her knowledge of oil painting in different mediums—acrylics, pastel, watercolor pen and ink and print making (wood cut, monoprinting) . Her work has been exhibited various places. She also enjoys the art of photography.

Learn more about Shakun in her August 2016 Artist Spotlight interview.

Sample Programs: Customizable To Site’s Needs

Virtual and Remote Programs

Mandala Design (Art Kit and/or Workshop)

Learn about Indian culture, history and celebrations through art making. Folk arts result from the creativity of ordinary people working with ordinary materials. Shakun demonstrates the rich cultural heritage of India, linking it to other countries with similar folk art materials and designs. Experience Indian culture, clothing, and language and make art using traditional materials. Mandala is a circular design representing the universe, the elements, and the human connection. For these sessions, a mandala design is already provided as a starting point. Participants add lines, dots, and color to the mandala to create a design that is uniquely their own. Participants are encouraged to continue exploring the art of mandala by creating an original design.

Materials in kit: Mandala design, Story Board design, plain paper, colored pencils, pencil, black sharpie, marker, pen

Rangoli Folk Art Online

Rangoli is a folk art of India. Together, participants will take a journey into Indian culture through photographs and artist experience. We will practice to make designs with available material and chalk. It will be fun to learn various way to create designs from different states of India. Designs are created to decorate the floors and walls.

Magazine Collages

Participants will concept their own designs and then cut various art and color square pieces from magazines, using glue to piece their designs together.

Paper Mache

Participants will learn how to recycle paper newspaper to make simple paper mache sculpture art using glue and paper. We can also add paint if desired!

Residencies

Impermanent Art

Learn about Indian culture, history and celebrations through art.  We will be exploring the uses of temporary art, or art made from chalk, sand, rice flour or henna.  Residency projects may include Rangoli, Mandalas, or Henna.  Rangoli designs are a temporary floor art that people create and redo on a daily basis in India in order to bring good luck and happiness to the home.  Create stylized rangoli designs with flour or colored sand, which can be displayed temporarily or transferred to paper.  For instance, colored sand can be “painted” to make a Mandala on paper.  Students may learn how to create traditional Indian designs and use henna for body decoration.  Henna is a plant known for its reddish color and is used to decorate the body for special occasions such as Indian weddings and celebrations.  In impermanent art, creating the art is more important than the art itself.

Note: Program can also be done as a workshop. Requires a minimum of two hours.

Ordinary to Extraordinary

Folk arts result from the creativity of ordinary people working with ordinary materials. Shakun demonstrates the rich cultural heritage of India, linking it to other countries with similar folk art materials and designs. Experience Indian culture, clothing, and language and make art using traditional materials. Possible projects includemosaic, acrylic sheet painting, block printing, batik and relief carving. Shakun helps children develop critical thinking skills and their imagination to create extraordinary projects with ordinary materials.

Designs and motifs change according to the materials and their uses in festivals and celebrations.

Relief Carving, Block Printing, Acrylic Painting: 3rd grade+

Batik, Fabric Painting, Mosaic:  7th grade+

Block printing  

Block Printing is one of the oldest types of printmaking and has been around for thousands of years. Artists in various countries still use traditional methods to print on textiles. Learn the history and traditional method of printing as well as how to create designs and transfer to printing material to carve and develop for printing. Then have fun with inking and printing!

Workshops

Henna Designs

Learn how to create traditional Indian designs and use henna for body decoration.  Henna is a plant known for its reddish color and is used to decorate the body for special occasions such as Indian weddings and celebrations.  In impermanent art, creating the art is more important than the art itself.

Sand Painting & Rangoli

Learn about Indian culture, history and celebrations through art.  We will be exploring the uses of temporary art, or art made from chalk, sand, or rice flour.  Rangoli designs are a temporary floor art that people create and redo on a daily basis in India in order to bring good luck and happiness to the home.  Create stylized rangoli designs with flour or colored sand, which can be displayed temporarily or transferred to paper.  For instance, colored sand can be “painted” to make a Mandala on paper. 

Note: Requires at least two hours of workshops