With the election of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris whose mother is of Indian descent, three Indian American women created the Inauguration Kolam 2021 Project to creatively welcome the new administration and Vice President Harris, in particular, as she became the first Asian American and Caribbean American woman to hold a nationally elected office. This public art offering was featured in the official Presidential Inauguration Kick-off events.

Our guests today are the three creators of this project, Shanthi Chandrasekar, Sowmya Somnath, and Roopal Shah.
Shanthi Chandrasekar is a Maryland artist who has been drawing and painting since early childhood. Shanthi has a deep understanding of kolams from her grandmother, formal training and her own practice. While many of Shanthi’s works are influenced by her Indian heritage, her true inspiration comes from the mystery and majesty of the world around her.

Sowmya Somnath brings together three amazing skill sets: she’s a structural engineer who has spearheaded a decade of design and construction projects throughout the US, community water, sanitation, and hygiene education specialist focusing on community development projects in various countries and she’s a Tamil mother raising two beautiful daughters with language, culture and wisdom of her family traditions. Sowmya is also the energy behind tippytap.org/ and an incredible advocate for the power of handwashing to save lives.

Our third guest, Roopal Shah enjoys being a journeywoman of the Narmada Parikrama and an energizer bunny of service projects. She co-founded and co-led Indicorps’ Service for the Soul fellowship program helping Indians from around the world understand self and heritage through immersive, grassroots community-based service in India. She encourages family and friends to be good stewards of the earth.

Know more about them: https://www.2021kolam.com.

 

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