Profile

Academic Qualifications

• 1979: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative Painting), Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara, Gujarat.
• 1981: Masters of Fine Arts ( Creative Painting), Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
• 1989: Post Diploma (Textile Art), Goldsmiths College of Arts, University of London, UK.
• 2000: Principal Scholar, Fulbright exchange program, Rhode Island School of Design, USA

Work Experience in India (academics I)

Elementary School  involvement

• 81-87: Taught ‘Art & Craft’ full time at Navarachana Higher Secondary School, Vadodara, Gujarat
• 2003: worked as Artist in Residence, The Galaxy International School, Rajkot. Initiated a program on Education through the arts emphasizing on holistic learning.

Work Experience in India (academics II)

Higher Educational services

• 1990-91, 2004-06: Taught full time at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
• 1991 till date: conducted workshops, presentations, slide talks, guest lectures/modules , at the:
• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad,
• National Institute of Fashion Technology (Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Surat, Chennai, Mumbai,Kannur)
• Pearl Academy of Fashion (Jaipur and Delhi),
• Arch Academy of Art and Design (Jaipur),
• Indian Institute of Craft and Design (Jaipur), Clothing & Textiles Department
• Sardar Patel University (Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat),
• International Institute of Fine Arts, Modinagar,
• Kalaraksha Vidyalaya (Vandh, Kutch),
• Northern India  Institute of Fashion Technology (Mohali,Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Punjab),
• SDPS Women’s College (Indore, MP),
• International Institute of Fashion Design (Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Indore, Nagpur, Jaipur),
• University Institute of Fashion Technology & Vocational Development, Punjab University ( Chandigarh),
• Shrishti School of Art, Design & Technology (Bangalore)
• International College for Girls (Jaipur),
• International Institute of Fashion Technology (Mohali, Punjab)
• Faculty of Fine Arts (MSU, Vadodara),
• Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Environmental Design, School of Architecture , Interior and Planning, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat (teaching Basic and Studio design to First  and second years)
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Institute of Technology (Architecture & Interior Design), Vasad, Gujarat (Electives in ‘Textiles for selected space’)
• Institute of Design & Technology (Fashion, Textile and Interior Design), Surat (Surface/Fashion design community project/Creative Textiles)
• School of Fashion Technology, Pune,
• Symbiosis School of Design, Pune,
• Institute of Apparel Management, Gurgaon,
• Institute of Fashion Technology, MS University Vadodara.
• Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, College of Fashion, Jalandhar, Punjab
• Banasthali Institute of Design, Jaipur
• Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Gaekwad Institute of Design, c/o MSU, Vadodara
• Vishwakarma University, Department of Art, Design & Architecture, Pune
• School of Design, Auro University, Surat

Academic  responsibilities undertaken till date (subjects taught)

1990 till date: As Guest Faculty: Conducted Guest workshops, presentations, slide talks,  guest lectures/modules in:  Art to Wear, Creative Textiles, Advanced Surface Ornamentation, Surface Design, Basic Design, Basic Materials, Color, Indian Embroidery (History & Sampler), Fashion Illustration, Developing fabric samples for design collection, Conceptual Craft (Public Art Installation) (textile dept), Public Art Installation for Interior/Arch students , Material  Studies ,  Open Electives (Dolls and Puppets, Second Nature, Creating Sketchbook,)&  Textiles for Interiors, Fabric/Fiber Jewelry, Foundations of Indian Culture, History of Traditional Indian Textiles & Costume.

2007-9: As Professor, Course Leader (HOD) Fashion Design Department, Pearl Academy of Fashion, Jaipur. Modules Undertaken: Creative Textiles (FD), Indian Traditional textiles (FD), Material Exploration (Foundation), Felt making workshop (Jewelry), Craft Documentation( FD), Portfolio Development (FD), Internship program (FD), Final Design Project for the graduating batch (FD) General Administrative tasks: managing all aspects of running a department (time table, planning, monitoring, counseling, auditing classes and marking observations, writing reports, co-ordinating with head office  and  Chennai Branch, Video conferencing, Involved in a post graduate course for higher education (PGCHE) conducted by Nottinghan Trent University, UK, Industry interface (for placements, internships), assisting Director with activities related to institutional branding, admissions and other typical institutional duties

2007: As Director, International Institute of  Fine Arts, Modinagar, UP. Tasks included promotion of the institute, organizing/ hosting local, state, national and international workshops & events. Oversee managing general and academic administration, ensuring impart of quality education, induction of faculty, faculty development program, monitored courses such as Creative Painting, printmaking, fashion & textile design, applied arts, sculpture, film and acting, foundation program

2004-6: Employed at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad as senior faculty and co-co-ordinator of Apparel Design & Merchandising department. Courses taught: Nature & form, Design Overview, Color & Composition, History of Fashion & Costume, Design for selected space (Textile Department), Sewing techniques, Design Project 1 & 2,  Elective course (designing with natural material in natural surroundings), Life drawing, term garment (design project). Administrative tasks included: Organising, managing, counseling, monitoring, infrastructural follow ups,  industry interface, outsourcing faculty. Academic administrative tasks included:  mentoring, guiding student projects, time tabling, evaluation and report writing, jury,  new admission procedure,  assisted with faculty development program, actively involved in assisting with international events held at NID (International Centre for Indian Crafts, GRIMCO & DETM (Design conference), Designed the installation for the unveiling of the foundation stone for NID Gandhinagar campus… and many more activities

2003: Artist in Residence at the Galaxy International School, Rajkot. Initiated a program on ‘Art Education’ which emphasized on  the ‘holistic growth of a child through value based education’ teaching aids, curriculum building, in house projects, teachers training and sensitization, project on awareness drive, and focusing on the general belief that learning can be a responsible as well as a fun filled activity.

1990-91: Inducted into a faculty development program at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Course taught: Life drawing, History of costume, color and composition (Apparel dept),  color and composition and Basic materials (foundation). Admin tasks included assisting coordinating the head of department with managing, monitoring day to day departmental duties as well as being involved with other institutional events.

2015 – 2017:  Appointed as Professor @ College of Fashion Design & Merchandising, Mody University, Rajasthan : Responsibilities undertaken were: Assisting Dean in setting up the department from scratch, overall supervision, academic co-ordination, managing, faculty recruitment and induction, 4 years bachelor syllabus  and 2 years masters syllabus drafted from scratch.Teaching courses such as history of textiles, creative textiles, surface ornamentation, setting up the resource centre, knowledge management centre/library

2017-2018:  Taught at Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Environmental Design, VallabhVidyanagar, Gujarat:  Responsibilities undertaken were : Area Head for ‘Humanities I & II’, co teacher for workshops i.e  textiles, wood, metal, ceramic & clay, electives, basic design, history of interior design, mentoring and guiding 8^th semester Thesis students, furniture design

2018 (July to November): HOD at UKA University, Maliba Campus, Bardoli, Gujarat. Contributed  towards organizing the Board of Studies to finalize the curriculum and generally streamlining the day to day running of the department.  2019 (May to November):  Senior Professor & Artist in Residence at School of Design, Auro University, Surat

Professional  non-Academic  Art, Craft & Design  projects (national)

1999: Curated an exhibition of Contemporary Textile Art in India at New Delhi, entitled ‘Historical Roots and Contemporary Perspectives’, showcasing works of 18 designers, craftspeople, artists and supported by the United States Educational Foundation in India and British Council (New Delhi), Gallery Son-et-Lumiera (Mumbai), Bhailalbhai Foundation (Vadodara) as well as  individual donations.

1999-2000: Awarded Govt of India ‘Senior Fellowship’ in Visual Arts.

2001: Invited to participate in an International Embroidery Exhibition /seminar ‘Creativity, Tradition & Innovation’ organized by the Crafts Council of India, Hyderabad.

2002: Invited to conduct a design workshop in ‘Creative Embroidery’ for a group of 5 communities in  Sumrasar (Kutch) and sponsored by Developing Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles &co-ordinated by Kalaraksha Society & Trust, Bhuj, Kutch.

2010: Appointed ‘Designer’ for handling Design Development and skill up gradation in  Embroidery Craft Cluster at Savarkundla Project of GSHHDC (Gujarat State Handloom & Handicrafts Development Commissioner) undertaken by the International Centre for Indian Crafts (ICIC) at the National Institute of Design.

2013-14:  Executive Manager, PRINCESS DIYA KUMARI FOUNDATION (A Social Outreach Initiative) c/o  Maharaja SawaiMansingh Museum II Trust ,  The City Palace, Jaipur  .Key working areas:  EDUCATION, LIVELIHOOD, ENTERPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH CARE, ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS & UPGRADATION, AWARENESS, EMPOWERMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING, SELF  HELP GROUPS,  SOCIAL WELFARE ,CULTURAL PROMOTION ,HUMANITIES, NETWORKING WITH LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS/ORGANIZATION

2012 & 2014:   Project Phulkari (Indian Embroidery)  SIDC i.e STATE INITATIVES for DEVELOPMENT of CRAFT,  Ministry  of Textiles, Government of Punjab, c/o Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology. Invited to collaborate with 5 local phulkari women artisan’s to develop a program in the area of ‘skill, design  & product development, through classroom interventions involving students of Fashion & Textiles to sensitize them in the area of ‘sustainable’ future for traditional local crafts of Punjab.

Professional  Academic &  non-Academic Art & Design  projects (International)

1987-89: Awarded Charles Wallace Festival of India Grant to study Textile Art at the University of London, Goldsmith College of Art, UK.

1999: Invited to participate in an Indo-Austrian Artists workshop (jointly organized by SanskritiPratishthan& Austrian embassy) worked with Austrian artist Gudrun Kampl.

1999: Invited to participate in an International Textile Art Exhibition, ‘Quilt En Sud’, St. Jean du luz, south france. Travel sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural relations, Govt of India, New Delhi.

1999: Invited to be a jury member at ‘melting pot’ International Exhibition & competition ‘Quilt En Sud’/  France Patch work, South France.

2000: Principal Scholar selected for Fulbright fellowship, Visual arts, textiles by the United States Educational Foundation in India (New Delhi) & Institute of International Education (Washington DC, USA) Research on a comparative study of the fiber/textile art movement of the 1930’s (USA, Europe, Japan) Vs The traditional and modern textiles of India. A journey of discovering the potentials of textiles as a medium of art.

2002: Invited to curate a traveling exhibition ‘Indiartextile’ A research exhibition on Contemporary Textile Art in India, showcasing 200 avant-garde textile art works of 35 artists, designers, craftspeople and organizations from India at the 8^thEuropeen Du Patchwork c/o Office Du Tourisme, Saint Marie Aux Mines, Alsace. India and Italy were jointly ‘Guests of Honour’ at the event.

2002: Invited to participate in France Patchwork ‘Rhone’ Exposition (Germany, France, India) organize par la delegation, Castel Com ANSE (Lyon), France.

2000: As part of the Fulbright program Audited Winter and Spring sessions in Printed Textiles and CAD at the Art & Design Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, USA. As well as traveled on invitation , guest lectured and made presentations at Monamari and Minessota Quilters Association, California State Univ (fiber art department) and friends of fiber art international (Philadelphia symposium)

2004:   USA: Textile Centre, MN,   Art & Design DeptISU,Iowa,  Creative Artists Studio, Ames, IA, Community College, Emmetsburg, IA,  Painters Anonymous club, ISU, IA

2010 May-Oct: Invited to Participate in the 13^th International Triennial of Tapestry, The Central Museum of Textiles, Lodz, Poland

June 2011: Invited to participate in the 5^th International  Mini Textile Exhibition (Scythia Textiles), Kherson, Ukraine

June 2011 : Iowa & India : Intersecting lives of two widows: IOWA Arts Council , , Mini Grant, USA. studio-based  collaborative Visual Arts project at Vadodara/Ahmedabad, between Professor Cindy Gould, Iowa State University (Art and Design department) and myself

Sept 2019: DESIGN CONNECTS  Helped organize a  National Seminar Celebrating the Interdisciplinary Nature of Design  (Fashion & Textiles) @School of Design, Auro University, Surat

Papers Presented

2004: Invited to participate, travel and present a paper on Contemporary Textile Art in India,  at ‘Aspect of India’ Art Exhibition/Symposium organized by IOWA State University, Art & Design Department. Travel Grant sponsored by Council for International Exchange of Scholars, Washington DC (Institute of International Education NY) & United States Educational Foundation in India,  Delhi.

2005: Invited to present a paper on ‘Contemporary Textile Art in India’ at the Tasmeem Doha 2005, International Design Conference, Doha, Qatar, sponsored and  co-hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University of Qatar (VCUQ) and Qatar Foundation for Education, Ministry of Civil Service Affairs & Housing.

May 2011:  ‘Pairings: Conversations, Collaborations, Materials’  Invited to present a paper on ‘The Savarkundla Project and Beyond’ at the International Conference, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

2013: Presented a paper on ‘Contemporary Textile Art in India’ at a seminar ‘Design Innovation in Indian Fabric Art #1950-2000’ organized by Department of Visual Arts/painting/textile design, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP

Special Interests (1)

• National & International ‘Artists in Residency’ programs
• Community Arts Service
• International Design, Art, Craft networking & collaborations.
• Art Textile installations/ textile mural/ commissions in public and private places (Commissioned to do a textile mural by Sanghvi Exports(jewellery), Mumbai 2000.
• Material exploration
• Transforming/Changing Education through the Arts
• Design for Holistic Health
• Member of  ‘Art of Living Foundation’ which  an educational and humanitarian movement engaged in stress-management and service initiatives. The organization operates globally in 155 countries and has touched the lives of over 370 million people. The programs are guided by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s philosophy of peace: “Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world peace.The Art of Living movement has spread peace across communities through diverse humanitarian projects, including conflict resolution, disaster relief, sustainable rural development, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all, and environmental sustainability.
• To teach Foundations of Indian Culture

Proposed Projects

1) ‘NURTURE’ Interactive and Educational  Art& Craft Exhibition for and by Children. 

2) ‘EDUeSIGN’ Development of Eco-friendly cloth /story books for toddlers. 

3) ‘CRAFTArtistry’  Development of an International  range of highly artistic mixed media 2D and 3D textile art works in collaboration with Indian Craftspeople working with traditional crafts skills.

4) Art Therapy:   a series of interactive, hands-on  and experiential  arts and crafts exhibits journeying the self towards inner healing and healing others through color and design.

5) Arts/Crafts/Design  in  Elementary Education (self initiated research)

6) ‘GITArtextiles’ a research and travelling exhibition to promote the teachings of The Bhagwad Gita through development of a collection of Textiles Art (Art & Spirituality) works in collaboration with Indian Traditional  and Contemporary Textile Artists.

Exhibitions

(Separate List)

1981- 2009:  12 solo shows & 25 group shows in India & abroad

Collections

• Centre for the Arts & Spirituality, RI, USA
• British Museum, London, UK
• Art Heritage, Delhi, India
• Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
• Charles Wallace India Trust, London, UK
• Fulbright House, Delhi, India
• British Council, Delhi, India
• Gallery Jamaat, Mumbai, India
• Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
• Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy, Ahmedabad, India
• Times of India, New Delhi, India
• Indian Petrochemicals, Vadodara, India
• Eicher Gallery, New Delhi, India
• Gallery Son-Et- Lumiere, Mumbai, India
• Alembic Industries, Vadodara
• Light Publications, Vadodara
• Office Du Tourisme, Saint Marie Aux Mines, France
• France patchwork, Rhone, Lyon, France
• Institute of International Education, NY, USA
• Central Museum of Textiles, UL. Piotrkowska, Lodz, Poland (official catalogue position CMW 17206/w/1915)
• Several Private Collections in India & Abroad

Publications

Reviews

Interviews

• Star TV (NDTV) Good morning India, New Delhi Sept 1999
• AajTak, National New Channel, New Delhi, and a documentary coverage by Delhi local television in Hindi and English, sept 1999
• Television Locale du Val d’Argent, Alsace region, France Sept 2002
• Chai City: Local television channel promoting Indian Arts & Culture, MN, USA 2003
• Contemporary Textile Art in India, catalogued
• Article: Living in a God fearing nation’ world of embroidery, magazine, UK March 2000 issue
• Woonsocket News, RI , USA
• India abroad, NY, USA
• Les Nouvelles Du Patchwork, June 1999 France
• DernieresNouvellesD’Alsace, Edition de Selestat, France Sept 2002
• Alsace Central, Saint Marie Aux Mines, France sept 2002.
• Catalogue: 8^thEuropeen Patchwork Meet’ sept 2002
• Fiber Arts magazine, Article compiled by Jessica Hemmings, Dec 2002, USA.
• Popular Patchwork, Quilters Magazine, UK, Article by Elisabeth Fuchs, May 2003 issue

International Memberships

• Friends of Fiber Arts International (Attended FFAI International Conference April 2000 USA, previously held membership
• Textile Study group, USA , previously held membership 2000
• France Patchwork, France (Quilt en sud) 2002
• European Textile Network, Germany, previously held membership 2000
• ICE International Centre for Embroidery (embroiderers guild, UK, on invitation. 2002
• Surface Design Association, USA (Attended SDA International conference June 2000, previously held membership 2000

Current Status

Freelance Artist/ Design Educator, available to conduct workshops in the specialized area of   ‘Creative Textiles  2D & 3D’