From an art tribute by Sakina Baig | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sakina Baig has combined her love for dogs with her passion for art and teaching to serve a social purpose. In her first exhibition, An Art Tribute, which concluded recently, Sakina showcased a range of paintings, mugs and postcards based on dog themes.
There were more than 75 items on display — including watercolor and mixed media artworks — that filled the venue with vibrant images of her favorite neighborhood dogs.
As an accomplished art instructor and avid pet groomer, Sakina has been teaching art to children aged four and above for over a decade. Her project, The Little Art Class in Town, is a creative space for children that encourages spontaneous self-expression through inspiring and fun art classes. Students get a glimpse of the world of art at an early age using different materials, processes and techniques.
Sakina Baig (centre) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Talking about her first show, Sakina says, “My students suggested me to hold an exhibition as I had a large collection of dog paintings. They were quite excited to host it themselves. One of my students opened up his house to use as a gallery.”
“After class, Sakina usually watches TV and draws sketches of dogs. We noticed that she has a lot of dogs, which is why we suggested she hold an exhibition,” says Rohan Srinivas, a Class 7 student who has been attending her sessions for the past seven years. “It took us about a month to plan and execute this exhibition,” he adds.
Organising the exhibition became a community engagement activity for her students. “From renting the venue to setting up the goods, making the bills and hosting the guests, my students did it all themselves,” says Sakina.
The art tribute was not just an exhibition but also a fundraiser to raise money for dog rescue. All proceeds from the fundraiser were donated to the Fraser Canine Squad. The price of these artworks ranged from ₹100 to ₹4,000 and by the end of the exhibition, about 60% of their artworks were sold.
From an art tribute by Sakina Baig | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Explaining the role of rescue squads in Bengaluru, Sakheena says, “We have squads in all parts of the city, spread out from the centre to different branches. Two ambulances should not be sent for the same rescue operation.”
During the pandemic, Sakina began working with an animal rescue group in her neighbourhood Cooke Town, where she drew, sketched and painted street dogs to raise money for their care and rehabilitation. Sakina has always been an animal lover and made it a goal to create a sketch every day.
Although the exhibition has ended, Sakina (@sakenabegg) takes the orders and the funds go through the Fraser Canine Squad to the hospital where the animals are being treated.
From an art tribute by Sakina Baig | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
