Marblehead library exhibit to focus on Indian culture Oct. 5-27

MARBLEHEAD – Visitors to the Abbot Public Library will have a chance to enjoy some colorful Asian art in October.”Folk Colors of India,” paintings by Sunanda Sahay in the Madhubani style, will be on exhibit in the Abbot Library’s Virginia A. Carten Gallery, starting Monday and running through Tuesday, Oct. 27.Sahay is a native of the Madhubani region of India, located in the foothills of the Himalayas near the Nepal border, and she takes pride in carrying on a centuries-old tradition of narrative painting – a tradition which was almost exclusively practiced by women.Historically – and even today – Madhubani paintings have been created as murals on the walls of village homes, but Sahay paints on cloth. That makes the art form portable while staying true to the traditional themes of mythology and life cycle, and using the dense, arching and bright strokes in primary colors that are characteristic of the style.Each painting on display in the exhibit depicts a scene from one of the two main Hindu epic poems, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.In conjunction with this exhibit, the library will be offering two very special programs highlighting Indian folk culture.Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. KhelMel, a group of Indian artists and performers, will present an interactive program of Indian folk dance and song in the library meeting room. They will be accompanied by Indian musical instruments in celebration of Divali, the Hindu Festival of Light. This family-oriented event, geared toward children ages 5-10 – but with younger children welcome – will include opportunities to try out some cool Indian folk dance steps and to sing along with Indian musical instruments.The program will run for about one hour. Marblehead residents may sign up for this program beginning Thursday. Non-residents may sign up beginning Oct. 9.Exhibiting artist Sundanda Sahay will offer a hands-on Madhubani stencil craft workshop for ages 5 to adult on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. Children will use stencils to create animal and other traditional designs in the Madhubani folk style. Adult caregivers are welcome to participate in the workshop with the children. The workshop is limited to 25 people. Sign-ups begin for Marblehead residents on Friday and for non-residents on Oct. 10.