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Art professor presents work to India’s first lady

January 14, 2013
Bart Woodstrup and Her Excellency Suvra Mukherjee.

Bart Woodstrup and Her Excellency Suvra Mukherjee.

On a trip to India during the holiday break, NIU Time Arts professor Bart Woodstrup had the opportunity to present some of his work to Her Excellency Suvra Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (India’s presidential palace).

Bart presented several digital prints and a video documentation of his multimedia composition, which is titled “Under Saraswati River.” The video was recorded Oct. 26, 2012, in the NIU School of Music Recital Hall and featured Curtis Bahn (extended sitar and effects) and Robert Chappell (percussion).

In addition to being married to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, president of India, Suvra Mukherjee is an accomplished Rabindra Sangeet (Songs of Rabindra) singer.

“Under Saraswati River” is in reference to Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of learning, arts, and science. Saraswati is referred to as a river goddess, because she is named for a river that once flowed in Northern India. The work features visual and sonic references to environmental concerns relating to water.