Cas – CAS 2017

VISUAL ARTS (AS) ~ LONG TERM ACTIVITY @ FS

June 9, 2016 Vinit Nirav Jogani Cas, Vinit Nirav Jogani

Visual Arts this year was a completely new and amazing experience. I had tried VA once before, but it had not intrigued me as much. Although much of it was out of my skillset, I discovered some very interesting areas of art which I further explored throughout the year – for example: woodcut printing, usage of clay, painting etc. Woodcut printing was the hardest of all, because we had no prior experience. Carving the wood took humongous patience and effort – but by the end of the unit, we were able to do it reasonably well. This way, I developed an amazing skill which I think I can really grow in over the years.

We also worked on installation art. All the VA students together collaborated to work on a project of our own. We initiated the experience and planned together. We didn’t really have to be creative in accumulating blocks, and painting them in different colors – but it was time consuming and hard. Painting was the interesting part. We divided the blocks into groups to paint the blocks in primary colors so that we could finish it faster. We then planned how we would settle the blocks into one installation piece. It was an amazing experience. I really learned to work well with team as we had real fun working together.

During our journey with art, we learned not only art, but also about lot of other issues of global significance. For example, we learned the mineral value of the clay. We learned how the art of expression is diminishing as we rely more and more on “lol”, “haha”, “rn” and “gtg” these days. Amidst all this modernization, we recognized the true need to be able to express ourselves and communicate our true feelings through multiple mediums. Our installation art also possessed a strong message about how harmony in life is generated through primary colors and contrasting through the color wheel. The colors can have multiple meanings – about how the few important things in life lead to all other things. My interpretation of it was how perseverance, love and energy can be used to achieve every other color in life. The most basic colors help us identify the most deepest feelings. We also learnt how unity of these colors is so significant to the world we live in. Every other color around us is made of these three colors: red, blue and yellow. However, these colors alone may cause little wonder and would keep us from experiencing the world with all its beauty!

Throughout the year, we also had to maintain a VA journal where we had to spend time daily to doodle and scribble what we felt. This required commitment as it was hard sometimes to find time for VA. We also had to persevere while making the woodcut as some parts of it required patience and hard work. We grew tired but the excitement of the end product kept us going.

However, what was perhaps the most important part of our activities was to take inspiration from great artists without stealing their artwork ideas. It was something we needed to consciously maintain to abide by the ethical standards of art.

Overall, it was a really challenging and fun journey learning the art of expression through visual means. I would like to take up more such opportunities. It was filled with learning and I loved VA!

Dance performance-Kalautsav

May 2, 2016 Kabir Suresh Kabaria Cas, Kabir Suresh Kabaria

I learned hip-hop style in dance. I dance on the song “sorry” by Justin Bieber. This is completely new style as we used to perform different folk dances in As performance till now. It was completely different experience. I thought this form of dance would be easier than other but it turned out it was as difficult as another form of dance. I was quite nervous before the performance. I was scared what if I forget steps. Although, I was excited because I was going to perform the new style of dance. We practiced during our AS slot.

My strength was I could learn quickly. I was able to replicate what our choreographer was teaching us. My weakness was the pace at which dance was perform was fast so before I could finish my first step, the second step was already started. This even led me to remember few steps.
It was challenging because I was not very flexible. There were steps which required us to be flexible which restricted me to perform clear movements. I work on my flexibility with methods like warm up, cool down and stretching exercises.
It was not a solo dance so we required coordination. Working as a team helped us to know each other. As It was a completely new form of dance for me, It made me tired and difficult to show the consistency in my performance. And time management was also required. We had really few classes before our final performance and we were left with few seconds of our song so reaching early for the class helped us finish the dance. I have attended almost all the classes so make sure that I am not lacking behind.
Working in a group is easier for me because I coordinate with other and we make best of it. Working with a group of the dancer who were familiar with this style of dance was benefiting for me as I could always ask them for the demonstration about steps that I had to clear upon.
Dance is an entertainment. I enjoy seeing audience enthusiastic and energized by our performance Learner profile I achieved was reflective by learning the steps from our choreographer. However, It was a really different experience. Now hip-hop is my new favourite form of dance.

Trip to Vansda(Creativity and service)

May 2, 2016 Kabir Suresh Kabaria Cas, Kabir Suresh Kabaria

This was our first ever CAS trip. We went to a place called Janki Van which is a new botanical garden in Vansda village. This botanical garden was under construction so we were
given an opportunity to contribute to the garden, plant trees. This was the first social service activity to which I actively participated in. We were there to help laborer and learn how
to plant trees. We were divided into two groups of 15 people in each group. Both group were assigned different location. Competition between these group who will complete their
work first.

My strength was I was able follow instructions correctly. I was able to understand the information which workers were giving. I was able to transport sampling from one place
to another faster without damaging any of the plant samples.

As I was planting trees first time in my life so I had no clue how to plant a tree. The challenge I faced was tearing out the plastic that was covered over the bottom of the plant
was difficult. If I use too much strength I would damage the sample, and If I use too little the plastic won’t tear. This required proper amount of balanced stregnth. Few of my friend
and I used axes to dig in the ground without anyone’s advice because we wanted some more difficult task. I effectively and carefully used axe with the help of one of the worker. It
required great strength and accuracy. I knew I had enough strength but I wasn’t sure about accuracy. Accuracy is difficult to obtain in a short period of time. I overcome this
challenge by communicating with working which was very fruitful. He even demonstrated me how to dig with accuracy. I was able to replicate it to most extent.

We were faster as we worked collaboratively with teammates and we competed other team. Working in a pair alternetively during digging with axe helped us to regain our
strength. It made our taskier simpler and easier.

Major cause for global warming is concentration of carbon dioxide in the enviorment which can be reduced by planting trees. By planting the trees I really felt proud as it will
impact on environment. It will not impact to a very large scale but to some extend it will so I really felt that I fulfill my goals by planting few trees. felt good after helping to plant
trees.

After lot of work on this warm day, it was certain that I would try to find shortcuts to finish task faster. I could have improperly buried a plant or skip adding fertilizer, but I was
motivated by how the workers over there put in efforts so I managed to plant trees correctly, in a right manner, by completing all the steps.

It taught me how to be patient, how to not lose temper and not to get frustrated as it was very warm day. I was also able to appreciate the effort that labourer put in to planting the
trees. However I enjoyed planting trees and digging in the ground. I felt really productive because I completed task successfully.