CFRIA
Center for Revival of Indigenous Art (CFRIA) is committed towards preserving and reviving Indigenous Art practices in India. Its aim is to promote and support declining indigenous art practices concerned with the upliftment/ economic regeneration of the artist community, with a focus on the Chittara folk art of the Deevaru community in Sagara, Karnataka.
Through CFRIA, Geetha Bhat has worked with Deevaru artists and the younger generation to realize the value of their contribution, created opportunities to further aesthetic understanding and created exposure for the art form in urban and contemporary spaces. Through Geetha's sustained efforts over 20 years, CFRIA has become an authority on Chittara in India, and has carved out a space for this folk art tradition in the modern world.
Founder
Geetha Bhat, the founder of Centre for Revival of Indigenous Arts,
is a multifaceted artist, educator, and cultural ambassador with a diverse background in traditional arts, including Origami, Ikebana, and Chittara painting.
She has been working with the Deevaru Community for over two decades on their art form Chittara. With her fieldwork, numerous introductory workshop on Chittara have been conducted in several educational institutions like Christ (Deemed to be) University, Valley School, government schools and fine art colleges. Chittara Murals have also been commissioned in a few public spaces like South Western Railways, Spicmacay Resource Center, Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts (IGNCA), Indian Music Experience and in a few private residences. Her research has led to presenting papers in international conferences.
In the Media
The Better India
How a Conservationist’s Love for Chittara Art Led Her to Empower the Community Behind the Art Form
Deccan Chronicle
Chittara: Geeta Bhat will not let this ancient art die
Deccan Herald
Art inspired by nature & culture
MAMCS Blog, Christ University
TALK at Bangalore International Centre
The Balcony Stories
"Creativity Across Generations” At Chitrakala Parishath
Bangalore Mirror
Malleswaram Mirror Special: French connection
The Hindu
Claire Hamant and her family’s artistic legacy come to Bengaluru
Bharat Times
Claire Hamant and her family’s artistic legacy comes to Bengaluru
Shibumi
Select Exhibitions
2007
Chittara artworks and posters exhibition at The International Conference on Asia Pacific Art Education (National Hualien University of Education, Taiwan)
2008
First International Chittara painting exhibition, workshop, lecture-demonstration and photography exhibition on Lifestyle of the Deevaru Community
Jan 2014
Chittara workshop & display at Spicmacay State Convention, Chikkamagaluru
July 2015
Chittara Backdrop for Founder's Day at Valley School, Bangalore
April 2016
Chittara paintings exhibition at Royal Orchid Hotel, Bangalore
(Silver Surfers Senior Citizens Club)
Aug 2016
Chittara painting exhibition at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
Feb 2018
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Chittara art fundraiser (Pause for Cause) at Taj West End, Bangalore for Concern India Foundation
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Chittara art fundraiser for Concern India Foundation (Calcutta, Pune)
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Chittara Paintings exhibition at Japan Habba
Sept 2018
Chittara painting and Baskets exhibition at
Tata Consultancy Services
Oct 2022
Chittara paintings exhibition at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore (International Indian Folk Art Gallery)
Nov 2022
Exhibition & stall at Global Investors Meet
Feb 2023
Chittara Exhibition at Bangalore International Center
Mar 2023
Chittara painting exhibition for Kannada Rajyotsava
(Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore)
Dec 2023
Exhibition & stall at Folkluru (BLR Design Week)
Research Papers
InSEA – Asian Regional Congress
(Seoul, South Korea) - Aug 2007
From the physical to the virtual environment: Investigating the impact of this digression on the transformation of autochothonous art practice of Chittara
InSEA – World Congress (Osaka, Japan) - 2008
InSEA - International Conference on Asia Pacific Art Education (National Hualien University of Education and Hualien Creative Culture Park, Hualien, Taiwan) - Oct 2007
From mother to grandmother's art -
Chittara: an autochthonous art practice struggling for survival