Al Art- a Art Camp to Commemorate 450th Birth Anniversary of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Mangaluru: “There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials. He who wishes to love God does not truly love Him if he has not an ardent and constant desire to suffer for His sake.” said Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, the Patron Saint of St Aloysius Institutions-Mangaluru. St Aloysius Institutions is a 138-year-old premier institution that has trained thousands of young men and women and presented them to the nation and to the world.
St Aloysius Pre University College {SAPUC} is named after St Aloysius Gonzaga, the role model to the management and students of this institution, who devoted his life to formation; his utter commitment to that formation justifies Him being considered a model for the youth. St Aloysius Gonzaga died at a very young age of 23, having contracted a terrible plague that wiped out half of the population in Rome, Italy. On the occasion of the 450th Birth anniversary of St Aloysius Gonzaga, St Aloysius Pre University College in association with Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi, Mangaluru organized “Al Art”- a Art Camp, at the Loyola Hall, SAPUC Campus on Saturday, 18 August 2018, from 9 am-5 pm.
Nearly 30 professional artists, including 10 budding student artists from SAPUC participated in the Art Camp, on themes like-“Plastic Free campus”; “Girl Child”; “Education”; “Rural Life”; “Patriotism”; “Unity in Diversity”; “Hazards of Mobile Phones”; and “Saint Aloysius Gonzaga”. The formal programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song sung the SAPUC Choir led by Miss Assumpta Crasta, which was followed by welcome address by SAPUC lecturer Sushma Pereira. The programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by chief guest- Fr Dionysius Vas SJ-Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, along with other dignitaries on the dais, namely Fr John lang Bosco SJ-Finance Officer, SAPUC; Kotiprasad Alva- President and Ganesh Somayaji- Former President respectively of Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi; and John Chandra- Convener of the Art Camp.
Addressing the audience in his inaugural address, Rector fr Dionysius Vas SJ said, “Today’s Art Camp will definitely inspire and evoke proactive humane action in each one of us. God has made each one of us a work of art. We need to appreciate the artwork of all these professional artists, who bring awareness on certain issues through their innovative and creative artwork. Art is often considered the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that
appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations and ways of expression, including music, literature, film, sculpture and paintings. When it comes to art, you can be anyone you want to be and express anything you want to. In today’s art camp we will see various topics that will be created by these artists, which will bring awareness and make a change in the society”.
Ganesh Somayaji also speaking appreciated St Aloysius Institutions being associated with Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi for many years, where many exhibitions were held in the college campus. And by having this Art camp to commemorate the 450th Birth Anniversary of St Aloysius Gonzaga is indeed a proud moment for us, added Somayaji. Later Rector handed over Stretchable Canvas Boards to the artists. Eranna, a member of Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi presented a painting of St Aloysius Gonzaga done by him to Rector Fr Dionysius Vas SJ. The formal function ended with vote of thanks by Sangeetha Sequeira-Counsellor at SAPUC. The programme was professionally compered by Anasa, lecturer in French at SAPUC.
A live demonstration of creating a picture of St Aloysius Gonzaga was done by an artist of Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi, which received loud applause from the students when he finished the artwork. The Art Camp ended at 5 pm with unique and creative artworks made by the artists.