In April 2021, our school reopened after being closed for in-person learning for over one year. At this time in San Diego, our Covid-19 infection rates have dropped, the governor has reopened the state, and the vaccine is available for most. Still unsure of their comfort levels with the pandemic and a little timid after such long seclusion – about half of our students decided to opt-in and come to school. For this third day in school, our class explored the traditional art form of Rangoli. Rangoli originates from the Indian subcontinent. Artistic patterns are created on the floor or a tabletop using materials such as powdered lime stone, red ochre, dry rice flour, colored sand, quartz powder, flower petals, and colored rocks. Our classroom guides to this art form (historically and practically) were Vanathi and Suresh Kumar who virtually met with our class on Zoom from Tamil Nadu, India.
You can learn more about Vanathi’s and Suresh’s beautiful Rangoli practice here and here. Below is the work our students created inspired by their presentation.
