[Assam] Jupi Tora Das's paper creations

[Rajen Barua]

Hear a hundred Gaganas play No, we’re not always doctors, or engineers, or IT professionals — not even airport cleaners. Meet some of us who march to the beat of a different drummer Jupi’s art gallery in downtown Harrisburg and (above) the artist with Laura Bush Jupi Tora Das’s paper creations have made it to the top of the White House Christmas tree My canvas may be, like that of so many artists’, paper, but my paintbrush is a blade. People say the result is not very different, though — if they hadn’t looked closely, they say they could have mistaken my creations for pen and ink drawings. What they are really called is ‘paper cuttings’ or, if you are a stickler for the original word, Scherenrchnitte. I translate my feelings into each piece that I cut, preferring simple form and bright colours to express the stories and experiences of my life. I create so that the energy and enthusiasm that I put into each piece will bring as much joy to people as the process of creating them brings joy to my life. I am a mother of two children and a full-time artist. My husband and I have been living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania since 1994. As an artist I work in many mediums, but my specialty is paper- cutting. As a part of my job I do art exhibitions and art shows in many states in the US. Last year, in August, I opened my own studio and gallery in downtown Harrisburg. My husband Jyotish is a computer engineer, and he is also working in Harrisburg. My daughter, Jahnobi, is six years old, a smart first-grader, and my son, Jyotirnav, a 10-year-old, is already a creative young artist. After a year of our marriage, we moved to USA from China, for my husband’s projects with an American company. From the moment we arrived in the US, I thought it a pretty cool place. We started exploring the new places, food, culture and people. In the few years it took to accustom ourselves to these experiences, I put myself into a whole new world. I’ve enrolled myself in a degree programme in travel and tourism; even though I knew that I was not going to make a career in that field. But going to college helped me in many ways to establish my own business in my art field. In between, I started joining the local art groups and organisations and start on my own art shows and exhibitions. I’ve been an active member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (PGC) and Guild of American Papercutters (PGC) since 2001. I really enjoy working on my paper-cutting projects and with my organisations. Currently I do 20-25 art shows a year. (Anybody wanting to know more about my artwork may visit my website, www.jupisart.com)

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org