Working for art

KATHMANDU: ‘The Ultimate Retreat’, a three-day artistes workshop, began on February 14, 2004 at Cave and Nest Restaurant, Nagarjun hill. The workshop was inaugurated by the mayor of Kathmandu metropolitan city Keshav Sthapit. With around a 100 artistes participating and visiting, the workshop will involve various disciplines of art — painting, sculpture, music and literature. Organised by the Restaurant, Penumbra and Maya Group, the theme is peace. During the inaugural ceremony, ‘Jeevanko Yatrama’, an album of songs was also launched.

“Over the years, we have gathered a lot of experience. With all of that, we plan to take this workshop and begin a different trend,” said Gopal Kalapremi, participating artist and member of the organising team. “We want to promote peace, unity, encourage interaction between artistes, and others. We plan to give it continuity,” stated Sudarshan Bikram Rana, participating artist and representative of the Maya Group.

Sculptures, installations and other artworks will be made. The Garden sculpture begun by Thakur Prasad Mainali and his friend will be revived. “The impact we hope to create is awareness,” say the artists. “We have invited a lot of school children and we want them to understand art education.” Professional artistes such as Om Bikram Bista, Dhiraj Rai and others will also be visiting.

Visitors are allowed at the venue from 9:30 am to 6 pm. The workshop continues till February 16.

Food fest for a cause

KATHMANDU: Shakti Nepal Nepal organised European Food Festival at Funky Buddha, Thamel on February 13. Shakti Nepal Nepal is an NGO based in France but has its branch in Kathmandu too. They motive is to help poor children and raise environmental awareness through different programmes.

Dipesh Munakarmi, secretary, Shakti Nepal, informed, “Through the programme we met street children and their families. One of the mother informed us that she had nine children and they were leading a hard life. The children’s were not aware of education. We also found some children who were bereft of education. So we thought: Why not give them basic education? Finally we had 15 children and we thought of teaching them till March.”

Shakti Nepal Nepal then took a room on rent in Boudhanath and found a teacher for them. Money matters and to pay the rent where the 15 children were studying and to pay for the teacher, they organised this European Food Festival.

Eugenie and Julia who had come all the way from Shakti Shakti Nepal, France, prepared European cuisine. Around 150 people came at the festival organised for a noble cause. Eugenie who has been in Nepal for four months stated, “I am enjoying my work. When I see the children I feel so glad.”

Araj thinks different

KATHMANDU: Araj Keshav is an upcoming talent not to be ignored. On February 14, he released his first album ‘Different Soach’ at C&W restaurant, Kamaladi. The album comprises 10 songs. Track number six “Shim Shimme” is melodious, catchy and the music has a Nepali touch. “HeyAanha” is also good.

Araj is a cameraman at Music Work, Putalisadak. He is also the personal assistant of the senior singer Jems Pradhan. Araj always wanted to be a singer but had no basic knowledge.

The album is produced and marketed by Kantipur Music Zone. People from different media houses, Jems Pradhan, Girish Khatiwada and Kollywood artistes Sumi Khadka and Bijay Lama attended the release ceremony. Jems Pradhan, regarded as Araj’s Godfather, shared, “I might not have looked after him quite well but I hope that he gets success in whatever he is doing.”

Find a Nepali sathi

KATHMANDU: A group of young talents — Sachin Rai, Sunil Bhandari, Niran Shrestha and Rajiv Ghimire — have designed a website www.nepalisathi.com. The web masters boast that their website is the first, largest, advanced and free match-making zone.

The attraction is that you can get information on celebrities, check horoscopes, log on to music, download wallpapers on art, fantasy, landscapes and movies, jot down your wishes or share your problems and you will be given suggestions by others.

They launched their office ‘The Friends Media’ on February 13. Visit them at www.thefriendsmedia.com.np. “We are working on another website. It is www.ktmfashion.com. It gives info on fashion,” they inform. — Himalayan News Service