By Anishka Gogoi

We’re thrilled to congratulate Mahima Kolar on the incredible achievement of selling her painting at auction for $600!  A 7th grader at Lakeside School, Mahima submitted her artwork to Lakeside’s ROARing Hearts online auction, an event organized by the Lakeside PGA to help raise funds.

We are so proud that Mahima chose to represent Madhubani art outside of the studio in a way that benefits her community. And let’s not forget - $600 is quite an impressive price tag! Once again, congrats on this accomplishment Mahima!

By Jahnavi Shukla

January 17th, 2025 might have seemed like an ordinary Monday to any other person. But to the students of International Community School (ICS), and Ms. Sumi Panchapagesan, it was quite the opposite! It was ICS's annual “Phoenix Day,” a daylong program where parent volunteers came to teach enrichment classes to the students. Ms. Sumi, a senior artist from our school, used this opportunity to teach these ICS students about Madhubani. 

Prior to the program, Ms. Sumi carefully sourced her teaching materials and set up her classroom. Her hard work allowed students to walk into a fully prepped classroom-turned-Madhubani studio and begin the session seamlessly.

Ms. Sumi then started with a presentation on the roots of Madhubani, detailing the history, origin, and timeframe, then followed with a hands-on activity: decorating a wooden frame with Madhubani designs. In the end, Ms. Sumi was able to teach 60 students throughout the day, reaching the admirable goal of giving back to the students at ICS and her community.

By Anvika Bheemarasetty

Our founder, Ms. Deepti Agrawal, recently visited the Washington State Capital in Olympia, where she led a group to advocate for the arts, culture, and humanities in the state. She met with Senators and the House of Representatives to discuss the incredible artwork happening across Washington and why it’s important to support these creative efforts. 

Ms. Agrawal also shared how local arts programs are making a real difference in communities and asked lawmakers to ensure there is enough funding in the state budget to support them.

Thanks to her efforts, she’s helping to keep the arts alive and valued in Washington!

By Anvika Bheemarasetty

Vyakhya is back with a special feature this month, showcasing the work of youth artists Tanvi Kuttuva, Shraddha Karthik, and Arunim Goyal. Each artist has chosen a painting and written a brief reflection inspired by the theme of Mahashivratri - a sacred celebration of the union between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, symbolizing the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. It is also a time for devotees to overcome darkness and seek Lord Shiva’s blessings for health and prosperity. Through their artwork, our featured artists have truly brought this theme to life!