My Proposal

The primary goals of my Fulbright fellowship were:

• Engage with a small community to collaboratively create a significant positive impact and change in a sustainable way
• Spark new interest and dialogues about this unique work and the artists who make it
• Circulate information about the Nathdwara artists and the art of pichvai through technology and tourism 
• Promote pichvai painting as fine art which should have the opportunity to be viewed in collections and museums all over the world
• Create sustainable models to provide successful platforms needed for future artists to create and thrive for generations to come

My method of accomplishing these goals was to embark on a series of short- and long-term satellite projects intended to support the artists and afford me an intimate, honest, and realistic glimpse into their lives and the town dynamics. The long-term result of this time is a documentary film intended to, among other things, connect the artists’ work to an audience who would otherwise be unaware of this unique art. One of these satellite projects manifested quickly and unexpectedly, resulting in an invaluable learning experience and benchmark for future projects.