Mysuru: As part of its monthly programme ‘Sadhakarondige Samvaada’, the Mysore Art Gallery will felicitate Shrimathi Arun Kumar, handicrafts artist. The felicitation event will be held on July 8 at 11 am at the Mysore Art Gallery on Ramanuja Road.

Former President of District Kannada Sahitya Parishat Maddikere Gopal will be the chief guest. Singer and dentist Dr. Snehashri Nirmal Kumar and Kannada lecturer G. Chandrika will be special invitees.

About the artist

Generally profession and passion (hobbies) don’t go together and they rarely mix. One such artist who studied B.Com and stayed away from numbers and calculations to work on handicrafts, her passion, is Shrimathi Arun Kumar.

Born at Sringeri, Shrimathi Arun Kumar is settled in Mysuru. Her mother was an inspiration for her to take up handicrafts as a profession and she excelled in it. She opted for handicrafts at a time when there were no entertainment options like now — TV and mobile. Initially she started with rangoli, thread and needle work, stringing beads and small decorative items and she learnt all of it by watching her mother doing them.

She later improved her skills and took up a variety of delicate art works, nib painting, embossing and art with coconut shells and leaves. Apart from works of art, Shrimathi Arun Kumar is proficient in designing bridal accessories, cloth decorations and decorations of doors.

She has won many prizes at the Dasara Exhibition and at the Yuvajanotsva organised by Kannada and Culture Department. Shrimathi Arun Kumar also collects coins from different countries and has a collection from around 40 to 50 countries.