Student Feedback
Read their stories below.
Ankita and Reyhan Gupta
Studio 78, a plethora of art beauty and mirth, was one of the best things that I have experienced so far. The studio is so vibrant, brimming with lively art and pieces of pottery and has a life of its own. The sheer joy of soiling one's hand and to see the wheel spinning as it conjures subliminal pieces of art was unparalleled. It is rejuvenating, enthralling and soothing at the same time. At the very heart of this place is Mrs. Meena Vohra, the zest and ethereal energy of Studio 78. Her passion, her dedication and the way of living with a constant effortless smile is the one reason to not to miss out on this experience. Studio 78 is not a place, it’s a contagious vibe and experience of sheer happiness and bliss. Cheers!
- Ankita Gupta
Hello mam! Had such an amazing and a memorable time today! I have frankly never had such an experience with art before, pottery and the whole process was just spell binding. Plus it was made even more beautiful by your presence and vibrancy, your energy and enthusiasm. It was so inspiring to see someone following her passion so religiously and making the most of the time, enjoying and relishing it all. This memory would be etched forever in our hearts and we would love to drop by whenever we get to, next. Thanks for sharing all those experiences and making us feel at home. Plus your studio was just mesmerizing. So beautiful! Years of hard work and passion condensed into it. Plus so many beautiful memories attached to it! Thanks for such an amazing and an eventful day, feel blessed to have spent time with you!
-Reyhan Gupta
Sia's 10th Birthday with Pottery Theme
We all look forward to birthday celebrations, be it parents or children. As always, it was my endeavour to do something unique for my elder daughter’s birthday. Sia was turning 10 this year and I was not interested in the run of the mill kind of party. Being from a cultural background myself and seeing Sia’s interest in art and craft, I explored options online. I came across Meena Aunty and read about her exciting workshops. Her smiling and energetic persona, gave me an instant heads-up to host Sia’s birthday party at her studio. With positive vibes and smiles all around, we brought Sia’s 10th birthday on 18th February 2018. I thank Meena aunty and her team of students to make our special day even more special with their warmth and personal attention to each child varying from the age group of 2 – 10. The children got the touch and feel of clay and went back with their wonderful creations. I recommend such experiences for everyone in this welcoming studio. Thank you Meena aunty for this unforgettable birthday.
HARLEEN AHLUWALIA
NOIDA
Surprise Birthday Gift
I gifted my sister this pottery (an Experience) and this is the best gift I could ever think of.As Ma'am rightly said gifting and Experience and Time is the best thing to gift in life.
It was an amazing experience as finally we were out of our comfort zone and trying something new which was in our wishlist long ago.While doing pottery and sitting on potter's wheel was very exciting.You feel relaxed at the same time focused.It was great fun- cutting cake,laughter session,discussing about pottery and their meaning ,music and of course her wonderful experience sharing and inspiring conversation made our day.
Thank you so much Ma'am for this wonderful experience . We are looking forward to be in your HEAVEN again and will always cherish this beautiful memory.THANKS :-)
My Tryst With Pottery!
I feel blessed to have booked a pottery session with Meena ma’am. I never thought of “a two-hour pottery session” to be such a liberating experience. Meena ma’am is not only a great artist, but also a wonderful soul to be around. One could feel the positive aura around her, and for sure wouldn’t stop laughing in her company. Even in her 70’s, she is full of energy and enthusiastic about her work. Even today, she looks for ways to expand her horizons and add more value to the art. Everything in her studio and at her home is a reflection of her passion for pottery, most of which are handmade items. According to her, “pottery is not only her identity, but also a way of living. Pottery has taught her to be at peace and content with herself.” If you believe me, I could feel that warm glow of happiness on her face.
She enlightened us (me and my friend) with her years of wisdom and imparted a great deal of knowledge about pottery. She was patient enough to resolve all our inquisitiveness related to pottery. Only a learned and skilled teacher like her can help you understand the depth of art, as unique as pottery, in a way that it leaves a lasting impact on you. If you guys are looking for a wholesome experience that celebrates both life and art, I would recommend you to take at least one session with Meena ma’am. Thank you, ma’am, for such a lifetime experience.
God Bless!
Amrita Rajput
Digital Content Expert
Americans (both Life Coach )staying in Delhi!
Meena,
We had an amazing time at the studio exploring new things we had never done. It was fun building memories filled with laughter. Thank you for creating a peaceful place to create.
Jyotsana n Nina (Phillipinos) - "Mother Daughter Bonding "
For the longest time I had been searching for a pottery class, something which could be a "good experience" for both myself and my mother. I have to say that the warmth with which Meena Ma'am let us into her home was incredibly heartening! At no time did we feel like we were part of a "clinical class". Her philosophy of reaching nirvana through pottery rang true with both of us. Her laughter is infectious and her rooftop studio is beautiful. Before we knew it, the feel of cool clay in our hands made the summer heat magically disappear and voila... In no time, we had created two clay pots by our very own two hands!! While we waited for our pots to dry, we shared cool refreshments in her beautiful home and got to know each other more. It was like making a new friend for life. We finished off the session by decorating our pots and got to take our creations home. The whole day was a wonderful experience and left us wanting to take up more classes, hopefully soon! Thank you Meena ji for not just a wonderful creative art experience, but also creating 'mother-daughter' bonding time with memories to cherish!
Last Day Session Feeling By Arshla - Emotional
Was my last day today...but it's hard. .i am still not getting enough of this place and it's people. I'm sorry aunty, can't express anything, i still feel that i have to come back. May be i will share on the day when i accept it in reality 😅😘
Arshla
French citizen, I am 31 years old and i was social worker in an Island in East Africa during 8 years and studying during these last 3 years in the same time...so I was very busy and sometimes out of a lot of very simple and important things of the life and the precious time of own life.After hard work, i had the certificate of director. But, before engage all these responsibilities, I finally took the decision of enjoying for few months, my time of life with a new point of view. Enjoying this precious time for opening DOORS in myself, and mostly the DOOR of the CREATIVITY
Here comes a pottery in my life & after visiting a pottery few months ago, I remembered my child's feelings when i was playing with clay and thought it was the good moment for learning pottery. Simply this idea excited me so much.
Then I found MEENA VOHRA, and, her ART, her SMILE, her MIND, her LOVE for TOGETHERNESS and SHARING...when I saw that and mostly when called her, I felt and think : will be so lucky if I can learn with her!:)
She welcomes me directly to the studio and thanks to her effort, her generosity and with wonderful heart of one student and her family, they found for me an accommodation in a house full of love and welcoming. Impossible to find that anywhere.
Thank for her interest in teaching and sharing, ALL WAS IN MY HANDS, IN MY MIND AND IN MY HEART FOR THE BEST LEARNING EVER':)
Did 12 days, during these I share a lot of different moments with Meena, first of all, I learnt different pottery's technics every day and practice for improving these one.
I could SHARE PURE, SIMPLE AND ARTISTICALLY MOMENTS WITH OTHER STUDENTS I MET. I saw SMILES every day, heard laughs every day, How lucky I was to learn with other student, sharing our experiences!
Thanks Meena, for SHARING YOUR TALENT, with your very good PEDAGOGY, teaching PERFECT and ACCOMMODATE FOR EVERYBODY, and very ATTENTIVE,for giving us JOYFUL and BROADCAST how feeling the clay, enjoying playing with the clay and how CREATE and OPENING THE DOOR of our imagination.
IF YOU ARE READING MY WORDS, don't wait, YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO JUST GO TO THE STUDIO 78 and discover the joyful of the pottery with Meena!:)
Dolly Bhansali Chopra -- a Chartered Accountant by profession , moves to Delhi from Bangalore and before she starts work , she explores creative avenues ( her first love she says .)
4 th July 2016 . After her first class today she expresses herself ---
Muddy Madness..!!
I always believed in adding magic in my ordinary days and this class with clay, just added a feather to my world of passion.
The Clay that was gentle at the first, left only a thought behind, “Come on mould me your way - I’m Yours"..!! Thats all was needed and the rest is just Pure, Serene, Devine, Meditation and Magic..!
With Meena Ma'am along side, so beautiful & gorgeous, full of joy and happiness, the entire process of moulding it into a creativity took off to an another level in a glimpse of time. Her engaging conversations and the spin of the wheel, fingers allowing it to take a shape, my first pottery project was ready (Happiness - Happiness).
She just made it feel like heaven in no-time and like she said - “Pottery is the only form of art that touches the Human soul as it constitutes all the elements - Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Space”, shall remain with me forever.
Happiness is adding MUDDY-MAGIC in my ordinary days!
Ma'am, This is to every aspiring potter!
If you are a quiet someone, and want to go to a quiet someplace, hold hands of Meena Ma'am and she will guide you through the realms of pottery to your-own-personal space.
So, what started as a hobby-based interest is developing into a relationship that I want to keep for always now. It is not just about pottery anymore. It is about feeling at home, feeling the support of ma'am outside her role of my pottery Guru, and looking forward to her company every Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday. Her spirit is awe-inspiring, and pottery could not have been the same experience without her as the trainer.
And,
Thank you ma'am for being my Guru, for being a wonderful person, for being a life-coach. One thing that I am going to keep with me from my very little experience with wheel so far is - 'Only when I find my center and stay there, is when I can become the best version of myself', and, one thing that I have picked from you, and am going to carry forward is 'parvah nahi'!
PRAPTI
Godmother
Usually people have a Godfather but I’m blessed with a Godmother. I still remember my first meeting with Meena mamat her studio. There were so many beautiful ceramic pieces to entice me but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. There was something in her smile, her voice that I decided there and then to learn pottery from her. Her biggest asset is her never get tired attitude. She is willing to do all work by herself… be it a pottery, cooking, or decorating her home. For her, Age is NO bar…be it a fun or work. Above all, she is a great human being, fun loving person and makes pottery a memorable experience for every student.
Now, it’s been over three years, I’ve continued my association with her in some way or the other…either for meditation, masalatea, chit chat, or some pottery tips. She always welcomes her old student with an open arm. I’m truly blessed to have a person like her in my life….thanks you mam for just everything!!
Pooja Verma
All the way from Canada
When we went to visit Meena yesterday we had no idea what to expect. With an open mind and big heart, Meena and her husband welcomed us into their home and gave us an experience we could have never imagined. Not only did we feel at home the minute we walked through the door but I don't know if we ever stopped smiling or laughing the entire time!
After getting to know each other we had some lovely Indian Masala tea then we went upstairs onto the rooftop to one of the most beautiful art studios. It was beautiful in the nature around it such as plant life and artwork everywhere that gave off the most amazing energy.
Meena taught us how to become one with our clay. We connected our souls into our art and created beautiful pots! We have never done pottery before but this experience has driven us to try it again sometime. While our clay was drying in the sun we went inside for the best vegetarian meal I have had since visiting India. After an amazing meal, Meena gave us some of her own beautiful pottery to take home, gifts made by the child’s autistic hospital and we got to take our own creations home.
The laughs and food made not only our stomachs full but our hearts bigger than we could have ever imagined. We were very sad to have to leave before trying laugh yoga or a painting class but if we ever get the opportunity to come to India again, Meena’s home will be our first stop!
We are beyond grateful to have had Meena and her husband welcome us into her home and I wish anyone who visits India comes to see how truly beautiful, mind-opening and destressing this experience was.
We went in thinking we would have a fun time but left with so much more:
An experience of real Indian culture and a new formed friendship. Thank you again Meena for having us over, it is an experience we will remember for our entire lives!"
Julia and Chad Turner from Nova Scotia, Canada,
Accenture pottery (and team building) and session
We’re a team of about 15 marketing and communications writers in the Marketing Services team, working happily to tell compelling stories and build lasting value for marketing teams within Accenture, globally.
Here’s how some of my team members sum up their experiences with pottery:
The pottery session was indeed a wonderful experience. Though I had my initial apprehensions regarding the whole exercise of wearing an apron and getting my hands dirty, in the end it was all worthwhile. In the Holy Bible, there is a verse: Thou art the potter and I am the clay. Mold me and make me according to Thy will. I guess that summarized my experience on that day. Life can be sometimes hard and painful, with us going through constant breaking and remolding just like the clay. But rest assured, there’s a Great Potter who is in control of our life and helps us shape it into a better pot. In the end, we are all pots of different sizes, shapes and colors in this world—reflecting the beauty and values He has instilled in us.
So, thank you, Meena Ma’am for taking me through this experience…would love to make my hands dirty once again, of course, wear that silly apron!
~ Shiju Thomas a.k.a. Prince.
The pottery experience was unique and something that has had a lasting experience. My biggest take away from the pottery session was the importance of patience and acceptance in life. I would like to make a special mention for our trainer, Meena ma’am, whose energy and positivity in life is infectious. A big thank you to her once again. :)
The session, followed by lunch, was also a great team bonding experience. Loved all of us coming together as one team and all the chit chatJ.
~ Komal Sharma
Here’s what I liked most about the session:
1/ Meeting the team outside work for a fun activity.
2/ Playing with clay with my team members. It took me back to my childhood days.
3/ The vivacious Meena Ma'am, who infused life lessons and lots of laughter in the pottery session.
~ Alice Angom
I really enjoyed the session – it was great to bond with our team in a non-work setting, doing something creative that didn’t involve computers. :P
The pottery session was very satisfying because we saw something that we had created with our hands come to life, and it was fun brainstorming and planning things out with our little teams – we saw all our hidden talents come to the fore. J The trainer, Ms. Vohra and her students/trainers were all very helpful, and it was great to hear Aunty’s booming laugh punctuating every other moment of the session!
The gift hampers and the subsequent lunch was also fun.
~ Sudha Kuruganti
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was nice to switch off from work for a change and interact with my team in an entirely different setting. We were creating/coordinating as a team, only this time there were no deadlines or other pressures—we were relaxed and were learning a fun skill side by side.
It was nice getting to know Ms.Vohra and her students as well. They were supportive and guided us reassuringly as we created our models of clay. I felt very much at ease with them.
~ Mohona Chakrawati
Surprise Gift for Mom
Little did I know that my day out with my daughter Rhea would turn out to be such an out of the box experience. Pottery has always been in my bucket list and for my daughter to have so thoughtfully surprised me with a session with Mrs Meena Vohra was a complete delight! I loved making my little clay tumbler on the potter's wheel under Meena maam's guidance. Her expertise and sunny personality really made this experience so special. A big thank you Mrs. Meena Vohra and to my daughter Rhea😀
Rhea always knew her mother's love for pottery. But this time when she came home from her College in Mumbai , she explored and found Studio78, Noida-where her mother could come and do a one-time session Sonali Roy Lawrence was given a surprise gift by her daughter on 22nd April. 2016.
Gifts give joy ,but Surprise Gifts give exhilarating , lifetime happiness. It was a "Dream come True " for Sonali . Her pics depict the soulful experience she had. How blessed are such parents whose children think of fulfilling their parents longtime desires or passions , which they couldn't do themselves because of family commitments and time constraints. Kudos to children!!!👏👏👏👏
Birthday Gift
Because birthdays are not just about growing up and moving ahead, but also looking back and letting the child in us remain, not very far from reach. And what's a better reminder of childhood during #BirthdayMonth than a messy, loud, creative afternoon spent molding clay!!!
Thank you, dear Meena aunty, for the most wonderful, meditative experience, creating pottery out of clay. And for an afternoon of music, intermittent singing, stories of love and lots of giggling. You helped me present the perfect gift :) :) Happy birthday in advance, Deepit!!
There’s nothing more fulfilling than becoming one with nature. And what better way to do it than by digging into my inspiration pit- Mother Earth.
I have always wanted to get my hands dirty at pottery, and thanks to Pruteik Asija, I was introduced to Meena Vohra’s Studio78.
As I stepped into her world, I was greeted with the tunes of old Hindi melodies playing in the background and a radiant Meena ma’am. The infinite energy about this grandmother of 5 was awe-inspiring! Soaking in a sudden burst of positivity, I was all set to surrender and to be surprised!
She guided us to her terrace studio where we were about to experience something wonderful. Pruteik and I picked up our share of clay and got started. With childlike playfulness, we smashed clay pieces onto our work table and then kneaded it to get rid of air bubbles. With Meena ma’am guiding us at each step, it seemed like a cake walk.
The icing came when I placed the clay on the potter’s wheel. My excitement knew no bounds when I felt the clay in my palm as I spun the wheel. Here was my chance to become the creator. To devolve a part of me into my creation. It was a moment of exhilaration and tranquility all at once. As a DIY enthusiast, I have always been thrilled about creating something by hand. The satisfaction my work of art gave me and the therapeutic value of pottery is inexplicable.
We learn by trying new things, by putting time, effort and energy into the recognition of the core vibrations of what’s happening. Meena ma’am allowed me to do just that.
Couldn’t have been more moved.
With love,
Pruteik, Elvy
First Stint with Pottery
My first stint with pottery and this wonderful experience came courtesy Meena Ji. Her passion for pottery started almost 20 years back and she emerged as an expert self-taught potter with her dedication and spirit to put in her best. What strikes you on meeting her apart from her beautiful house embellished with her soulful art work all around is her large-heartedness to welcome one as a student and share her skill with so much belonging that you cannot but fall in love with her and this art form. The feel of sitting at the wheel and creating made sheer fun and exciting. Added to that the brilliant hospitality and personal connect that Meena Ji builds with one through experience sharing is a humbling experience.
Grateful to you Meena Vohra ji for opening your beautiful home/ studio to me and for this memorable experience. Lots of love and best wishes! I will surely return to learn more and have fun on the way!
If anyone wants to try hands at pottery for sheer fun, as a serious hobby or therapy, you can get more details about her and her studio at https://meena.smugmug.com/
Emily Turner Special mention and thanks to you for silently enthusing love for ceramics in me. You are an inspiration!
Megha
Comfortable, Fun, Informative and Inspiring
As a young couple, we are constantly looking for different experiences on special occasions and pottery making seemed to be just the thing. We have always been intrigued by the art form and thus, was on our list for quite some time now. However, what we got from this experience and Meena ma'am was much more than what we had imagined. The experience was so comfortable and fun but at the same time equally informative and inspiring. It leaves one truly appreciating the beauty of pottery making. She welcomes you in her home with such humility and love. Her love for life and inspiring life stories are an added bonus! :) we absolutely cannot wait to go back! Thank you so much Meena ma'am for such an amazing time.
Love, Mehak and Kunal
Another day of Celebration with Clay !!!
Kunal, an army officer, gave a surprise gift to his friend Rashika and this is what she had to say - It was absolutely lovely to attend the pottery class. At first I was awfully confused because this was supposed to be a surprise. I couldn't figure out what it was, there were a lot of questions going in my head... were we meeting Kunal’s grandparents? Then when you said it's an exhibition, I thought we were there to see an exhibition and that will be it. But my face totally lit up when I hear we will be attending a pottery class. That was something I totally didn't expect when I woke up that morning. I remember I took up pottery in my extracurricular activity back in school and the love for it revoked when we entered your studio. It was the first time I was seeing a manual wheel and working on it felt quite therapeutic. I cherished the class quite a lot as it was full of fun and laughter. The whole experience was great, the warmth from you and your husband and Mrs. Chitra, the beers and the mini pizzas (yum), chatting.
Loved the day! Thank you so much :)
Finally on the Wheel
My interest in pottery dates back to 1983 while in Georgia (erstwhile Soviet Union) where pottery items were extensively used by people in their daily life. It was here I was introduced to exquisite pieces of hand crafted pots, jugs, vases and lamps. My sheer delight knew no bounds when I came across our adorable Master Crafter Meenaji who was graciously imparting her knowledge of pottery in the making! Million thanks to our wonderful patient teacher and the joy of finally actually being on the wheel first time knew no bounds!!!!
Geeta Sawhney -- 62 yrs.
First wheel experience
It was a wonderful experience sitting on potter's wheel first time in life. It's a dream come true. In my childhood I use to see potter making lot of diyas, surahi n many more things on wheels but I never imagined that one day I will be able to make these things myself on wheel. We have to do ourselves to experience this joy. My heartfelt thanks to dear Meena ji for teaching me this lovely pottery which my whole family n friends like it n my grandchildren love it.
Mamta Awasth, Naval officer's wife and teacher for 32 yrs
Valentine Day Celebration
"It was a rejuvenating experience for me on the whole.It is as if pottery somehow helps to center me. It is almost meditative in nature and at the same time helps you to explore your creativity." Aarti
An art of freedom!!
I am a kind of person who wants to constantly learn new things and that is how my curious mind brought me to this studio. My experience with clay was much more than learning a particular technique and making a particular shape. It was a way of expressing things which I cannot speak and a perspective moulded into a shape which otherwise was abstract and difficult to make people understand. For me it was a channel of expression which is important for people who do not usually convey whatever they feel.
Working with the wheel instigated in me a sense of freedom. It’s like a wheel of life, the amount of hard work you put in your work is proportional to the outcome. The clay is your life, you have the whole freedom in the world to make it unique irrespective of how people perceive you and your life. How you create it, break it and mould it, completely depends on you. The guiding angel that looks after us in our life is like Meena ma’am who looks after you and your life (clay) so that you do not break it but mould it into a precious piece of art. It sounds a little philosophical but that’s how it is. I don’t know how far I will be able to pursue it but definitely the experience and the joy of touching the clay, working on the wheel is going to stay with me forever. For me, this is not just a pottery wheel but a wheel of complete freedom that takes me into my own abstract, creative world.
Loads of love.
Alisha Mahajan
Pottery- A date with the Wheel!
Yashaana’a first date with the ‘Wheel’ was not only a momentous occasion for her but also for her Instructor and me. Needless to say she was mighty excited, a few days before her pottery class she made sure that she read everything that she could get her hands on, to do her homework before sitting at the ‘Wheel’. But it wasn’t to happen so mechanically of course, knowing Meena, I knew there would be an experience waiting for us. And sure enough she had more than just a Pottery class (to give) for Yashaana.
Read the full blog on http://hookedonhomes.net/pottery-a-date-with-the-wheel/
Soulful Pottery Class
My wife and I both had recently shifted to Noida. Having spent three four months here we were looking for a new kind of experience. It is then that we discovered Mrs. Vohra's pottery place on littleblackbookdelhi.com. And we enjoyed every bit of her teaching. She puts her soul in everything she makes. Her house is like a paradise very exquisitely crafted with her own handmade articles. She really made us feel at home. Eventually, what we took back was not just an experience. We took back a part of the soul that she instills in all her articles. Amazing!!
Parag / Vertika
Yashaana's Pottery Class
As I sat there watching my daughter, Yashaana, take her first pottery lesson, it was heartwarming to see her with such a passionate instructor at work, they bonded as if they have known each other forever...
It was indeed a pleasant feeling and a knowing that it is not just pottery class…it is a beginning of a journey…of a lasting relationship…creative, spiritual and soulful. Yashaana has always been a keen learner…always in pursuit of learning new art forms to push her creative boundaries; pottery seemed a natural step in that direction. Looking forward to our next class with Meena Vohra, an artist who defies not only the conventional learning norms but age as well!
Read more on http://hookedonhomes.net/pottery/
Greetings from Austria
In the world people are connected and due to meet one day! That 's what happen to me and Meena....we were due to meet one day at one time. We didn't know both about each other but our way had to cross...it took me a long way to reach her. I'm a French artist who live in Austria i wanted to learn wheel pottery cause i know this is the way to be alive and to feel as one with myself. That why i decided to go there and meet her. A beautiful friend of mine find her for me. I saw one picture of her and i knew i want to meet this amazing woman. I became close to her without knowing her. i knew i was going to live a beautiful experience during my stay with her in her studio. And that's what happened. I meet a friend, a master, a sister, a woman, a mother. If u love life, beauty, gentleness, strength, creativity … „wheel schala“ come and turn the wheel! Come and meet Meena!
Soulful Connections
There comes a time in life when you wonder about what your purpose of being here is. I would say, I have found my calling. I still don't know yet, how far I will take this experience ,but it has been enlightening.
When I thought of doing something new for myself, I looked up pottery classes in Noida....and Meena ma'am 's site is the first one I saw. What struck me the first time I opened the site was her picture. There is a serenity and calmness about her, an almost zen like quality, and her white hair. That is what did it for me. Looking at the site further, her awe inspiring work,the feedback of her earlier students , I decided to give her a call, and was invited for a cup of chai to her home.
The first day I met her in her beautiful home is the day that will forever stay with me. I just knew I had come to the right place.
I feel the joy of learning something new reaches a new level, all because of the person who is taking you through the process,and this experience has been a magical one, because of the person that Meena ma'am is. She is so much more to me than just my guru, who has given me an insight into her art it is not just a class room learning.
It's a whole new experience of learning.....her studio on the terrace the soul of the place the clay the music( well....she didn't have a choice about it as most days we got our way with the FM radio), the chai, the treats the greenery the sunshine, the chit chats the recipe exchanges the sharing of our life experiences and lots of laughter ,joy and some tears too. And lots of healing.
Meena ma'am is such an intuitive teacher she pushes you to open your mind and let go of your inhibitions builds you up when you are not feeling too confident ,and makes you feel so good about yourself when you achieve a small goal that you are charged up and ready to start on your next piece with confidence.
Starting on clay I was not the only one apprehensive about t she made us feel confident about being able to make something tangible from our ideas guided us through it but never told us what to make always encouraging us to think for ourselves ,fire our imagination and then helping us to achieve it in form. The hand work....coiling( which is my green thumb) , slab work pinching stick technique.....learning these had interesting anecdotes to them all......so much laughter resounding all around. It's such a positive happy place to be in. With all the laughter and casualness about the place ma'am is also a perfectionist and a tough task master. Shoddiness has no place here. So there is an order to the class.
The wheel, is an amazing experience, I don't think I can put it into words what it meant for me to be on it. I feel every one has their own take on it for me, I feel the clay has a mind of its own and asks for your complete surrender to it rewarding you with a soulful experience it's like a dance of souls in tandem ,complementing each other to culminate into a work of art which has a soul of its own and yet is a part of you. I have lost myself to it and also found myself on the wheel. The working on the wheel for me was an experience that I might not do justice to, explaining with words it's something that you have to experience for yourself. It teaches you the finer meaning of life that we might lose sight of ,in the hum drum of every day living. No matter what is going on with you, the clay on the wheel needs you to surrender to it, center yourself and then it would surrender to you. So the wheel experience is like the wheel of life.
I feel we all understand life in hindsight so when I look back.....I think it was destiny that brought me to her as this experience has completely changed my outlook to life a lot of it was possible because of the person that Meena ma'am is. For me. It's an association that would not end here it's a lifelong bond. And along with the learning, I've also met some amazing people who have made the experience all the more enriching.
So if you are looking for a soulful experience find her surrender yourself completely and expect the unexpected. It's an unforgettable and incomparable experience . This is what I have taken from it.
Thank you ma'am for allowing me to be a part of your journey and for giving a part of your soul to me. I am truly blessed.
Much love and regards.
Seerat.
P.s: this would not be complete without me mentioning ,what I would absolutely love, to hear from ma'am everyday.........the way she said 'Hari Om', be it in disbelief or surprised or scandalized or when I would give up in frustration.....no judging from her side.....only this one word and the way she said it, sounded the same yet different ,every time. I will forever relate these two words to ma'am. And would also miss the ever ready endless hugs that I was blessed with every single day of my time there.
Going back by an year & a half still reminds me of Meena Mam's inpirational quote on her website "Teacher turned potter at 50" which was the biggest driving force for me to decide on learning pottery with her. Her charming personality & motivational conversation in the first meeting made me strong enough to get on to a beginner's journey to pottery. And since then it has never stopped & hope it continues for many more years to come....
Walking into her studio with her unbeatable energy & positivity around has always helped me in bringing back my creative instinct. Each session with her ends in giving a sense of immense happiness & amazes me when I see my creativity in the form of a final piece. And when Meena Mam's appreciation gets added to all this , one gets that lovely feeling of great pride & achievement. Be it the hand work or the wheel , its not just the joy of learning each technique but also the fun of playing with clay !! Pottery has so much learning attached to it - be it the patience or the concentration & with Meena Mam's personal attention , learning each & every step makes it much more exciting !! At her studio , there is so much more to pottery I have always looked forward to....interactions with students from varied professions , chai & snacks time with lots of chit-chat , FM music & some lovely long lunch sessions with never ending conversations :-):-)
Learning with Meena Mam at her studio has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. God has been great enough in giving me an opportunity to connect with such a magical soul. Her unconditional love & inspiration have been strong enough to create a special bond with her which is much beyond then just a student-teacher relationship. Thanks so much Mam for giving me the strength to live life the happier way :-):-)
Best Regards,
Purvi.
Pottery started for me as a childhood fascination when I had, at the back of my mind in some corner, a bleak fancy of dipping my hands into this soil of creativity but had the least idea of experiencing it one day.
But since I started, I wait for weekends so eagerly to reach the studio as soon as I can and get my whole self drenched in the clay. This whole experience of working with clay is a lot more than just learning the technique. When I hold the raw clay in my hand, I experience a surge of feelings to put all my thoughts into it. As I pass down the imagination lane while curving the clay and feeling its softness and its moistness, I experience a whole lot of introspection that soothes the anxieties inside me. Every stroke you make is like a reflection of your personal-self which gets etched onto the clay.
Those almost 3 hours spent at the studio make you feel accomplished for the whole day. You complete a piece and take it back home with a feeling of satisfaction. And the best part is that you keep going back and reflecting at your piece until you feel that its picture has now got ingrained into your memory just to come back again find it a lot more beautiful with a new eye.
My tale of pottery has been splendid because the ambience that Meena Aunty provides in her presence is unmatched. The louder she laughs, the more amusingly you work on your piece. All those pieces adorning the studio space speak a story of creativity of their creators who despite not being present there explain all the intricacies of their works.
This beautiful voyage is something which will always find its ode through many more new faces to come.
It is an experience in itself to work with Meena Vohra Ma’am. She has such charismatic personality and a very gentle human being. She inspires one to live life to the fullest and enjoy every second of life. She believes that one should not compromise with life at any stage.
Her work in pottery is very creative and she is always willing to explore more forms and patterns. In her studio one can admire her love for Bollywood classics and her never-ending enthusiasm. Her eye for detailing is also something, which I admire a lot.
Her unfailing child-like appetite of what's next, her strong will inspire me to become a better person and work harder day by day.
Thank you Ma’am….
Always need your blessings.
Sugandha
Sugandha Jain is an architect pursuing M.Des from IIT Bombay
Dear Aunty
Thank you for giving an opportunity to share my feedback. A beginner that I am.
Your collection of work on pottery, skill and design sensibility is an inspiration.
Learning pottery has been a joyous experience from the start. I certainly haven’t given up hope to pursue this craft. I loved ‘play with clay’ as you so aptly put it- and that has been my approach as well. It was therefore such a wonderful feeling to be able to accomplish complete pieces with hand pottery- something I wasn’t really expecting.
As I write- my mind is recreating the wonderful memory of– making hollow ball Halloween pumpkin, abstract angel slab, coiling, pinching, stick method asymmetrical vase with holes..
And then I compare that with the experience on the wheel – never realized the power of subtle play of fingers and palms-& a concentrated mind to mold the clay...not to mention strength of calves and knees.
I remember starting sessions with a reasonable ball of clay and then reducing it to miniatures – not by design – but by centrifugal play. Hours on wheel – with surprise tea, snacks and goodies rolling in and me struggling to raise the shape properly- then you come along and make it seem as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
It isn’t. Its serious work. But so much fun. It’s also therapeutic.
My enduring learning however has been beyond pottery- a line you said that got stuck with me to ponder – on ensuring the clay is centered and as long as its centered it will hold on. So true. Thank you.
Warm regards
Kanika
P.S- attaching the picture of the work that I enjoyed working on the most
Pottery for me is a form of meditation and as I reflect back at the days of learning, I feel the meditative quality was a gift from my teacher, the amazing Aunty Meena. The lessons were far beyond the mechanical concepts. They were sessions of learning a in life. The sharing over tea and loving food, were nurturing and caring. The long chats about anything and everything, and the lovely songs on the radio... The memory is a wonderful resource even today.
I think art is essential in our lives. For me pottery was just an attempt to learn some form of art with no clue of what it really is. During the beautiful and magical process of exploring pottery I realized that the feeling of creating something so beautiful with my own hands and imagination is amazing. Squishing clay is so much fun but more than that it always helps me to connect with myself, the connection that was getting lost in the programmed lives that we lead these days.
Few times on the wheel though, it is completely a blissful experience. There's something special about working with clay, it gives a very soothing and calming effect I believe. Soft clay in my hands is a sense of immense happiness and joy. It gives me the freedom and ability to express and articulate my emotions.
Life is made of the surroundings that we create for ourselves, beautiful or ugly, and turns out what we make it. Clay, in a very similar way is responsive to what we create. It responds beautifully to our moods and energies.
Clay has a lot to offer and each one of us have a lot to learn about life and clay.
Vanushri Rawat
S/W Engineer@Amdocs
Age : 26
"Am I crea+tive or the work makes me creative?"
Every summer vacation, I look for doing something creative to add on to my talents, Recently, I was amazed to see the wonderful pottery work done by one of my family contacts. I came to know through her that she was learning pottery work at Studio78, a renowned Institute for Pottery Course at Noida being run by Mrs. Meena Vohra.
Subsequently, I surfed on the internet and read her interesting profile with an eye-catchy caption “Teacher turned Potter”. Being a teacher myself, I got so inspired by her work that I took no time to make up my mind to join her course during this summer vacation.
I have just finished this unique and interesting course. It was a practical course where we were given hands on exercises on pinching, coiling, slab work, wheel work, hollow ball, etc. The way Mrs. Vohra molded the clay appeared perfectly magical whereas we, as learners, found it pretty tough to mold the clay on the wheel in the first few classes. However, with her enormous patience and teaching expertise, she made me feel confident and learn the skillful art.
What I most enjoy about pottery, is that there is always so much more to learn and discover. Every class is a discovery and it is a never-ending adventurous journey for all students.
I owe my sincere thanks and gratitude to Mrs. Meena Vohra for instilling confidence in me not only to learn this unique and skillful art but also to have inspired me to pursue this art to come out with marvelous exhibits that my family and I can be proud of.
Deepa Jain, a Science Teacher
Well i still remember my first day at class....d room on the terrace....old hindi songs playing in the background.....d very energy of the studio is so beautiful and peaceful....everytime i think of pottery....i remember her words.....it not just about the art but how the art heals you....i dint realize the importance of these words that time.....but the day i got on the wheel....the feel of the wet clay against your hands.....d smooth circular motion of the wheel....its just so calming...so spiritually fulfilling....:-)
Pottery with meena maam was always more than just a two hour class....her interest and inclination towards each of her student is so commendable......her ideas,techniques about the art is so enriching......cing her on the wheel was an experience in itself.....we were a group of 4-5 working girls and the 6 months we spent together were so memorable....eating,chatting,sharing,learning from each other.....
The bond each of us have with Meena Maam is for life and goes much beyond the pottery classes....she has a beautiful soul and am grateful to her for the time and the love she shared with all of us..
Love you maam
Tanvi
I am 40 plus in a job which is not really close to my heart which had become a routine. I consider my self an aesthetic appreciating the finer things of life but over the last two decades felt that creativity has been sucked out from me. I was living my life doing things which I am supposed to do rather than doing things which I want to do. I would surf the net daily for a little dose of excitement..and on one such day I came across Mrs Meena Vohra and her pottery classes. What struck me immediately was the fact that here was a lady who begun something when people think of ending and was doing her thing as she wanted with great passion and creativity unlike the rut I was in. Reading about her awoke my repressed deep seated desire for creative expression and making little pieces out of clay was to be my creative outlet. Meeting her did not dampen the initial euphoria but only heightened it as I was inspired by her warmth,charming personality and her gentle way of guiding her students, who came from all walks of life, through the steps to making pottery but greater still allowing them the expression that their mundane lives denied - cause that was the profile of the majority of her students - working professionals stuck in the daily grind of office routine who were looking for an outlet for their passion. I have not been a very good student by any yardstick missing more classes then attending but this avenue of expression made me realize that there is more to life than 'doing well'. In the last few months since I have known her I have done things for pure pleasure like river rafting and skydiving just to experience the thrill of life ....thanks Mrs Meena Vohra for the pottery classes but greater still for the realization that it is never too late and you can do whatever you want to do irrespective of where you are in your life.
Colonel Agendra Mukul
Director
Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence
Hi Meena auntie,
Its been a pleasure and a very enrichening experience knowing you. Your positivity and zest for life has always been inspiring for me in more ways than one. I got to know you in the pottery classes held by you....it was a very humbling experience to play and create with clay. Whenever i would fumble i remember your firm yet gentle hands centering the clay for me.
Its been a decade but the memory is so vivid.
Meena auntie you have an amazing ability to connect with people all age groups. While iam writing about you iam missing you so much. Infact the pottery created by you is so very special....everyone who comes home doesn't forget to pay a rich compliment.
Loads of love and best wishes....
Ritu
In the past forty years I tried my hand in various fields in a desire for achieving satisfaction. and this satisfaction I achieved after I started working on the pottery wheel. Mrs. Meena Vohra whom I came into contact with after a net search played a key role in my conquest for satisfaction.
For me pottery has become a pristine form of meditation. your feelings, thoughts and emotions to the clay which has surrendered in your hands in turn letting you free and in peace for the time which tends to speed up with the speed of the pottery wheel.
Am grateful to Mrs. Vohra, who instilled the faith in me of being capable of imbibing this art. Your guidance and love for the pottery has motivated me. Not only are you a great and talented mentor but also a wonderful human for whom I have the deepest regards.
I've been a bookworm all my life and I don't have much of a creative side. So for me, choosing pottery as a hobby was pure luck!
I will always remember the day I stumbled across Ms. Vohra's website. Her artworks stole my heart and in an instant I knew I had to learn pottery. I'm glad that I made that decision!
They say that a great teacher is someone who inspires you. So far, I haven't met many people that have actually inspired me, but Ms. Vohra is one of those truly great people who spark the flame within and give a new meaning to your life! I learned so much from her. I'm truly grateful to her to the core of my being!
My time with her has been an adventurous journey. I'm also grateful to all the people I've met so far at her studio, such marvelous souls! Without them, my journey wouldn't have been complete. But the best thing about it was the pleasure of making a beautiful piece of art, to create something unique, every time. It gave me a sense of self satisfaction and at the same time it taught me to value imperfections in things and the people around me. It gave me focus and peace of mind and also the joy of spinning the wheel! Pottery actually brings out my inner child! - Aishwarya Singh
