CHENNAI: Their hands glided together in coordination as they took turns to fill a traditional ceramic jar with layers of different ingredients. “First, the wine grapes followed by wheat, sugar, rice husk grains, cinnamon and cardamom,” said Mary Venmathi, founder of Maven Art Academy to the participants of her non-alcoholic red wine-making work shop.
Following her instructions, the women who had come from different parts of the city enjoyed this unique wine making process. “We thought it would just be crushing and mixing but this was a new method and we thoroughly enjoyed it,” said a participant from Ramapuram towards the end.
Talking about the process Mary said, “Red wine has health benefits and is good for women and children. It keeps breast cancer and heart attacks at bay. It also avoids aging. But, most wine constitutes alcohol which makes it inconsumable for women and children.”
As the first stage of wine-making came to an end, she closed the jar leaving it aside for fermentation. “It has to be left this way for 20 days after which the first filtration will take place.” she shared.
Mary was not always a winemaker. In fact, she began her career as an art teacher in educational institutions “One factor I noticed in all the schools was that art teachers were either used as substitutes or as student coordinators,” she rued. Dissatisfied with the quality of art education, she decided to quit and start her own academy in 2010.
After completing schooling, Mary was unable to pursue higher education but she did her diploma course at the Ajanta School of Art. “Though my family was hesitant at first, they began to show support after they noticed how good I was,” she grins, and credits her skills to the exposure she received at Vidyodhaya School.
“I was the art teacher there for five years. I got to interact with autistic children and observe them. I gradually started teaching them and my idea of opening an art academy came from there,” recalled Venmathi, who has over 40 children with dyslexia, autism and other disorders.
“We have three-year-old children and even senior citizens visiting our academy to either learn or to indulge in art as a therapy, but the needs of these special children are totally different,” she explained. “Some are very young while some are 17 and above. Their free hand drawing skills are extraordinary but their concentration span and grasping skills differ. They get distracted easily and that’s why we have teachers trained to individually spend time with these children,” she explained pointing to the art works by children with autism.
Would she call herself an artist or a teacher? “I am a proud art mentor. Most artists cannot be teachers and I have the skill to be one,” she said.
Her dream is to open an art academy only for children with special needs. “My first venture has been good and I feel blessed. But, in the future I would like to open a separate academy for children who need individual care and support. I want to do that and change their life with art,” she added.