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  • [Untitled]

  • Community Collecting Event Scanning form

  • Community Collecting Event Scanning form

  • Community Collecting Event Photography Form

  • WCCE Event Image 1

  • Traditional Wedding Dress

    "This is a traditional wedding dress from Northern India, this example is not an antique"

  • Thanjavur Painting

    Thanjavur painting is a classical South Indian painting style, which was inaugurated from the town of Thanjavur (anglicized as Tanjore) and spread across the adjoining and geographically contiguous Tamil country. The art form draws its immediate resources and inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the Nayakas of Thanjavur under the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged art-chiefly, classical dance and music as well as literature, both in Telugu and Tamil and painting of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. It is distinguished by its famous gold coating. However, it can safely be surmised that Thanjavur painting, as we know it now, originated in the Maratha court of Thanjavur (1676 -1855).(1) It has been recognized as a geographical indication by the government of India in 2007-08. Thanjavur paintings are characterized by rich and vivid colors, simple iconic composition, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and pieces or very rarely precious and semi-precious gems. In Thanjavur paintings one can see the influence of Deccani, Vijayanagar, Maratha and even European or Company styles of painting. Essentially serving as devotional icons, the subjects of most paintings are Hindu gods, goddesses, and saints. Episodes from Hindu Puranas, Sthala-puranas and other religious texts were visualized, sketched or traced and painted with the main figure or figures placed in the central section of the picture (mostly within an architecturally delineated space such as a mantapa or prabhavali) surrounded by several subsidiary figures, themes and subjects. There are also many instances when Jain, Sikh, Muslim, other religious and even secular subjects were depicted in Thanjavur paintings. Thanjavur paintings are panel paintings done on wooden planks, and hence referred to as palagai padam (palagai = "wooden plank"; parlance. In modern times, these paintings have become souvenirs for festive occasions in South India - colorful pieces of art to decorate walls, and collectors, items for art lovers, as also sadly sometimes, dime-a-dozen bric-a-bracs to be purchased from street corner practitioners.

  • Kathak Dance (Lehanga)

    "This is Lehanga, traditional attire for Kathak Dance. This was used for a Jaipur Style Kathak Dance to Bollywood music. Dancers wear Gheengu on their feet, (Bells), bangles, Tika"

  • Kathak Traditional Attire

    This is a traditional look for Kathak dance. We wear lehengu. Kathak belongs to India from different parts of India from ancient times. We are performing Jaipur style. Additionally we wear jewelry which looks traditional too.

  • Kathak Dance Dress

    "I am dressed in a dance dress, which if from North India. Kathak is an Indian classical dance. This is an important dance in India that is performed to show the beauty of the dance and the performer. The dress I am wearing was worn in ancient India and is still being worn today to pass on tradition. I am wearing small accessories (earrings, necklace, head-piece) that enhance the beauty of the person wearing it."