VoWW Interview #6 - Jyotika Bahree
Overview
"Voices of West Windsor" is a joint project between the Historical Society and SR Mosaic to fill in the gaps in our records of our town's history. We interview contemporary inhabitants of groups not typically found in our archives so that future residents can get a perspective decades later - much like how our perspectives of old West Windsor were obtained through interviews of longtime residents in the past.
In 2020, Jyotika Bahree is the President of the West Windsor Arts Council, an institution in our town since the creation of the Mayor's Art Center Formation Task Force in 2002. She believes that the arts can serve as a vital instrument to tie diverse threads of our community together. In this interview, VoWW interviews her on her perspectives on West Windsor and how art can help showcase our town's talent and culture.
"Voices of West Windsor" is a joint project between the Historical Society and SR Mosaic to fill in the gaps in our records of our town's history. We interview contemporary inhabitants of groups not typically found in our archives so that future residents can get a perspective decades later - much like how our perspectives of old West Windsor were obtained through interviews of longtime residents in the past.
In 2020, Jyotika Bahree is the President of the West Windsor Arts Council, an institution in our town since the creation of the Mayor's Art Center Formation Task Force in 2002. She believes that the arts can serve as a vital instrument to tie diverse threads of our community together. In this interview, VoWW interviews her on her perspectives on West Windsor and how art can help showcase our town's talent and culture.
Talking Points:
(On the capacity of art to bring the community together):
"Art speaks its own universal language. It goes beyond ethnicity and nationality. It speaks across times and generations. It is a language that we can teach our children for the future."
(On how art can explore history):
"Art is a language. Humanity has used art to express itself and to channel its emotions. Art in healing is a new project undertaken by the WWAC. Different artists were invited to exhibit their work on healing - whether from the pandemic (COVID-19) or any other event they may have gone through. September 11, 2020 is the date chosen for the opening of the WWAC exhibit."
(On where she sees West Windsor in 30 years):
"We hope it continues to grow. The affordable housing mandate will change our town. However, our shared values and passion for the community can provide a better direction for the cuture. We are all working towards a better community. A constant learning through the amalgamation of various cultures. Various organizations like the Arts Center, Historical Society, African American Parent Support Group, etc. will continue to unite people"
(On the capacity of art to bring the community together):
"Art speaks its own universal language. It goes beyond ethnicity and nationality. It speaks across times and generations. It is a language that we can teach our children for the future."
(On how art can explore history):
"Art is a language. Humanity has used art to express itself and to channel its emotions. Art in healing is a new project undertaken by the WWAC. Different artists were invited to exhibit their work on healing - whether from the pandemic (COVID-19) or any other event they may have gone through. September 11, 2020 is the date chosen for the opening of the WWAC exhibit."
(On where she sees West Windsor in 30 years):
"We hope it continues to grow. The affordable housing mandate will change our town. However, our shared values and passion for the community can provide a better direction for the cuture. We are all working towards a better community. A constant learning through the amalgamation of various cultures. Various organizations like the Arts Center, Historical Society, African American Parent Support Group, etc. will continue to unite people"