VA Kolam Welcome Sign

The ‘Kolam Welcome Sign’ lesson was created by award-winning art teacher and artist Meera Ramanathan. Meera is from Chennai, India but currently works and lives in San Deigo, California.
 
Kolam (pronounced (KOHL.UHM) is an ancient art form that originated in India 5,000 years ago. Kolam is a floor drawing made from white rice flour and is used for ornamental or ceremonial design. The drawing consists of a dot grid connecting lines and meaningful designs that symbolize happiness and prosperity.
 
Typically, a Kolam is made at the doorstep of each home to welcome visitors using rice flour. However, in this project, you will create your own Kolam welcome sign using colored sand on wood. The Moxie twist on this lesson is to create a triptych welcome sign that can be displayed at the entrance of a home. To do this, students will use paint, sand, glue, beads, and bells to create a sturdy and bold work of art. All supplies included.