CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA (Oct. 14, 2006) – Google recently announced the formation of a for-profit philanthropy. But Google was not the first with the concept. Five years ago, a young business school professor, Baba Prasad (Ph.D., The Wharton School) and S. Chandramouli (Mouli), an internationally-
While analysts say that Google’s motivation to start a for-profit philanthropy is to avoid governmental oversight, VirtualO chose a for-profit status for more philosophical reasons. Dr. Prasad, the only-non-Deaf person in the company, says, “The acceptance of a non-profit status immediately signals both to the outside world and within our own organization that somehow, because we are differently-
VirtualO has focused on recognizing Deaf artists in early stages and on helping them develop into full-fledged professional artists. In a unique arrangement, VirtualO provides these artists steady monthly salaries, art supplies, and studio space so that they can pursue their love for art without worrying about livelihood. VirtualO markets the art online in the form of original paintings and also as printed greeting cards, and profits are used to develop the firm and help other Deaf artists. In the five years since its founding, VirtualO has helped more than a dozen artists, some temporary, and some fulltime. When artists reach professional status, VirtualO markets their artworks. Currently, VirtualO is marketing the work of Khaled Mohammed, whose paintings were displayed in two very well-received exhibitions that VirtualO organized recently. The renowned art historian, Jagdish Mittal, inaugurated the first exhibition in Hyderabad, and His Excellency Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, The Governor of Karnataka, inaugurated the second one in Bangalore.
Khaled Mohammed has brilliantly revived a difficult 17th Century Deccani art form of marbling (this technique was also used 2000 years ago by Japanese artists who called it Suminagashi)
The ebbs and flows of the paints and the patterns reflect the long meditation and close control of the artist. These visual patterns question any assumptions we make about the predominance of sound patterns in daily life. Familial scenes (mother and child, conversations, family scenes), natural landscapes, and rural life portraits display senses of belonging and alienation, or even ambiguity.
While the art itself, depending on the artist’s self-expression, may or may not comment directly on deafness or Deaf culture, VirtualO sees its mission as simply to foster and promote artists who are socially- and economically-
Visit http://www.virtualO.com to view Khaled’s powerful and poignant artwork. The site also allows you to purchase original paintings and greeting card reproductions.
To set up interviews about VirtualO, or to request a media kit, contact Dr. Baba Prasad at 919-338-8164 or at bprasad@virtualO.com.
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