CELEBRATING ART FOR ART'S SAKE
 

Almost as soon as Bengal steps into its new year. Kolkatans can look forward to a three day celebration of art for art's sake- without consideration of profits or provenance. Allowing them a rare opportunity to simply appreciate the beauty of a line or stroke or admire a sculptor's efforts in shaping life into a piece of bronze or stone. All without the pressure of keeping up with bids or keeping up with the who's who. And making all this possible will be the Signature Art Fest 2008 -- an event that is hoped will further the cause of art and artists from across the country.

Signature Art Fest 2008, scheduled to be held from 25th-27th April, daily between 3 pm - 8pm, within the spacious and comfortable environs of Avani Signature, 91A/1 Part Street, Kolkata 700016 (Opposite St. Xavier's College). It will offer both established maestros and young practitioners a chance to share the spotlight. Allowing visitors a chance to see, appreciate and even buy any works they may fancy.

An initiative of the art fraternity of Bengal, supported by the Avani Group, Signature Art Fest 2008 will give all artists, established or otherwise, an opportunity to showcase their talents in any medium of their choice. With almost all artworks being moderately priced so as to encourage the common man to indulge in a pleasure that, till now, may have been well out of his reach.

Apart from art displays, visitors will get an opportunity to witness live installations by the Alternative Art Group, as well an onsite art performance by artist Chhatrapati Dutta. They will also be able to browse through books on art offered by Seagull Book Store and Starmark.

Among other surprises in store will be talks on art by eminent personalities like Shri Ashoke Vajpeyi of Lalit Kala Academi, Pranab ranjan Ray and Prayag Shukla, amongst others. Projections on video art  featuring artist like Chhatrapati Dutta, Aditya Basak, Avijit Gupta, Avik Mukhopadhjyay, Prabhat Bose, Amitav Sengupta and others will add to the allure of the 3 day fest. The idea being to attract art lovers and provided them with an experience they will cherish while looking forward to an encore.

The event is being thrown open to all art galleries, art groups, art colleges and book stores from across India, with 24,000 sq.ft. of air-conditioned space and utilities for the Art Fest being provided by the Avani Group free of cost. The art colege and video shows will be sponsored by Emami Chisel Art.

The 24 participants at the Signature Art Fest 2008 are:

1. Lalit Kala Academi

2. Painters Orchestra

3. Open Window

4. Society of Contemporary Artists

5. Calcutta Painters

6. Calcutta Sculptors

7. Art Konsult (New Delhi)

8. Art Space (Mumbai)

9. Gallery 7 (Mumbai)

10. Santanu's Galleria (Mumbai)

11. Aakriti Art gallery

12. Chirakoot Art Gallery.

13. Gallery Rasa

14. Frank Ross Ltd

15. Artist from Santiniketan

16. Seagull Book Store

17. Starmark

18. College of Art & Design, Burdwan

19. Painters 80

20. Jagriti Art Initiative

21. Govy. College of Art & Craft

22. Indian College of Art Draftsmanship

23. Mon Art gallery

24. Alternative Art Group

The Signature Art Festy 2008 will be inagurated by Shri Sunil Gangopadhyay on 24th April followed with a preview by special invitation. Entry will be open to the general public between 25th-27th April, 3pm - 8pm daily, at Avani Signature.

• Fair Spirit - The Telegraph (30/4/08)
   

• Shilpo Bisoyok - Dainik Statesman (29/4/08)
   

• Getting more "art"iculate! - The Times of india (26/4/08)
   

• Making space for afine art - The Times of india (24/4/08)
   

• ABP(21st April 2008, Diary of Kolkata or Kolkata Karcha)
   

• The Economic Times Kolkata Wednesday 16th April 2008
   

• The Times of India