Paramasivam
My inspiring husband, Paramasivam, has made wonderful sculptures, exciting toy workshops, a warm home, while also illustrating several of my books. Learn about him here and on his website, then contact him to book a workshop, buy a fine sculpture, or a detailed illustration.
www.Paramasivam.com
I've been working in copper and bronze since 1968, and my sculptures are in collections in U.S., India, and Europe. I studied in Madras, South India,and then lived in Cholamandal, a co-operative artists’ village on the Indian ocean. At that time, 1968 - 1977, I focused on copper animal and human forms.
From 1980, I've worked as a sculptor in Seattle, Washington, with frequent trips back to India. In 1984, I worked on my kite and shadow series; these forms were designed to hang on walls and be rearranged as one wishes.
I started work on the theme of the homeless in 1991. As a sculptor who grew up in India, I am concerned about the great need for human shelter there. After seeing so many sleeping on footpaths during a recent visit, I did a series in bronze, Shelter, in Madras, and then in Japan explored the theme through ceramic sculptures.
The problem of deforestation has also influenced my art. In India, only 18 per cent of land is covered with forests, a figure dangerously below optimum standards. Here in the Northwest, people work to preserve the old growth forests. My works, Trees and Salute to Old Growth, explore these themes of forest loss, East and West.
Lately, I’ve been fascinated with moving parts and mobiles. I am trying to make birds that bounce on their stands, heads that bop, hearts that open, mobiles that twirl - all out of copper. Fun!
Art workshops
As a father and an artist who enjoys working with children, I have developed several workshops for schools, libraries, and museums. One project, coming from my concern with the environment, is to help students make Indian folk toys out of recycled boxes, cans, tubes, and paper. As they create, they develop a respect for recycling resourcefulness, and an appreciation for my homeland, India. From the workshops have come a book, Simple Wonders. It has directions for making many clever toys, plus a tale for each toy, to tell or just enjoy.
Another project, inspired by my wife’s study of the Indian storytelling tradition, is the creation of an unique North Indian storytelling box, the kavad. This splendid wooden box unfolds panel by panel to tell grand tales. I help children each make and illustrate a simple but exciting version out of cardboard, and then they go on to tell their own stories.
