Shristi (Nature)

Artist Nupur Nishith painted the Animodule as part of a collaborative venture with Barat Foundation, NJ, USA who provided the 3Dimensional structure , Animodule

Mode : Acrylic on Wood

Size : 40in (h)  x 18in(w)

Shristi means Nature in Hindi.

This was conceptualized with a viewas an amalgamation of art style inspired from Indian traditional artform Mithila art on Native American Totem inspired symbolic structure. Main big figure represents Goddess Earth. The two main heads on both sides of represent people of different gender, color, creed, race etc living in the world. Hands and body of the main figure represent the other living and non-living bodies with plants, animals, water etc   Four small heads around the main body represent the cycle of seasons, each head representing each season respectively.  The amalgamation of seasons and weather carrying the Goddess Earth all around the year again and again constitutes as the existence of Nature.

Barat Foundation

The Barat Foundation is a 501(C) 3 not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to the power of the arts to transform lives and to level the playing field for highly motivated, underserved youth. Founded by creative and entrepreneurial individuals Gary and Chandri Barat, the foundation has pursued and accomplished goals towards its mission: transforming lives by fostering a passion for learning and creative expression, through an interactive educational experience featuring cultural exchange, artistic immersion, humanistic values, and a commitment to each individual’s creative potential.

What are Animodules? 

Animodules™ are artist facilitated, community created, contemporary totems. The collaboratively made public sculptures are a Newark original art form proclaimed by the Mayor’s office as the city’s Official Peace Ambassadors. They are instruments of community formation and encourage pride, ownership and stewardship of public space. Animodules™ are rebranding Newark as an international center of arts and culture and are currently on display at Newark Airport where they greet half a million visitors annually. Each year they march in the Creation Nation Art and Peace Parade bringing the vibrancy and voice of Newark’s youth to the streets.

Mission: To beautify public space, unite communities and empower under-represented youth though collaborative public art. “Public art by the public” promotes peace making through the arts, diversity, inclusion and creative place making highlighting a city’s unique history and culture. The Newark Animodule™ program serves as a model of civil rejuvenation through collaborative art that can be implemented in other cities and municipalities.

Brief History: From humble beginnings in cardboard and glue the Animodules have grown to become “Newark’s Official Peace Ambassadors”. Over 50 of these unique interlocking sculptures have been created with schools and communities throughout the city and a dozen are on display at the Newark Airport welcoming visitors to the NY/NJ metropolitan region and showcasing the creativity of Newark’s youth. Each year they serve as the backbone of the Creation Nation Art and Peace Parade marching through the streets alongside the artists and youth that created them.