JERSEY CITY , NJ (TIP): This Thanksgiving week, Let’s Share a Meal (LSM), a nonprofit organization led by the Sikh community, once again exemplified its mission of spreading love and compassion through the act of selfless service. With over 700 volunteers from New Jersey and beyond, Let’s Share Meals prepared and delivered fresh vegetarian meals to more than 10,000 individuals across 80 locations in five U.S. states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, volunteers from all walks of life, including American citizens, came together to cook, package, and distribute meals at homeless shelters, senior citizen residences, and soup kitchens. This Thanksgiving initiative is just one example of the broader work LSM has been doing for the past 12 years, reaching millions across the United States and beyond.
Onkar Singh, one of the key organizers of the event, highlighted the spiritual inspiration behind this initiative: “Let’s Share a Meal was inspired by the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, who established the concept of Langar, or community kitchen. This tradition is built on the values of selfless service and equality — feeding the hungry without discrimination, regardless of their race, religion, or background.”
Onkar Singh, one of the key organizers of the event explained that “Let’s Share a Meal was inspired by the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, who established the concept of Langar, or community kitchen.
Singh continued, emphasizing the importance of “Oneness” in Sikh teachings: “We are trying to teach our children the core values of our religion, which include peace, harmony, and Oneness. Oneness is not just for Sikhs, but for all of humanity. The world is one community, and nobody should be hungry or unequal. We are proud that over 700 volunteers, including many from the broader American community, have come together to support this cause.”
The Thanksgiving initiative represents a major milestone for Let’s Share a Meal, which has served over 1 million meals across the U.S. since its inception. According to Harleen Kaur, a long-time volunteer, “I have been part of this incredible effort for over 15 years, and I am so grateful to see how it has grown. Every year, more and more people — volunteers and donors alike — come together to make this possible.”
The meals prepared by the volunteers include a variety of fresh vegetarian dishes, and the organization’s drive has grown significantly in recent years. From serving just 1,500 meals in its first year, LSM now distributes more than 20,000 meals annually. The organization’s efforts continue to expand, with plans to reach even more people in need in the coming years.
LSM’s Reach Expands Beyond U.S. Borders
The success of the Thanksgiving meal drive has helped the organization extend its impact beyond the U.S. to countries like India, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where similar efforts are underway. The initiative’s expansion is a testament to the universal appeal of selfless service and the Sikh community’s commitment to spreading compassion worldwide.
“Our Langar serves as a beacon of hope and unity, emphasizing humanity and equality across all boundaries,” Singh added. “It is a reminder that we are all human beings, and we should treat each other with care and respect, regardless of caste, creed, or gender. This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.”
Let’s Share a Meal is not only about feeding the hungry but about spreading the message of unity, equality, and compassion. Through their efforts, the Sikh community continues to leave an inspiring mark on the world, showing that when people come together with love and purpose, they can make a profound difference in the lives of others.
Congressman Rob Menendez is speaking on the occasion.The honorees with Congressman Rob Menendez at right. (Photos : Mohammed Jaffer-Snapsindia)
JERSEY CITY (TIP): Jersey City hosted a celebration of India’s 77th Independence Day. Congressman Rob Menendez was the chief guest. Congressman spoke of the friendly relations between the oldest and the largest democracy of the world and thanked the Indian American community to strengthening the relations between the U.S. and India. He appreciated the enormous contribution of the Indian American community to the growth of America. On the occasion, a few Indian Americans were honored for their services to community.
Krish at work. (Photograph : Jay Mandal-on assignment)
Krish Sengupta is all set for his solo art exhibition in New York City in January 2022. The artist’s work can be seen at On The Fringe, aka 72 Warren at Tribeca from January 13th to January 16th.
On Thursday, January 13, the show is open from 5 PM to 11 PM. On Friday, Saturday, Sunday, January 14, 15and 16, the show is open from Noon to 9 PM.
Photographs: Jay Mandal-on assignment
Krish’s Retrospective Showcase of work done in the New York area over the years will have 30 paintings at the exhibition.
The time though is a little difficult on account of surging Covid cases, but Krish expects art lovers to brave the onslaught and turn up to see his work. Like any exhibition of paintings, Krish will be offering some paintings for outright sale. The occasion offers an opportunity to collectors of art pieces to add to their collection.
Krish is an India born artist, now based in Jersey City, NJ. Since arriving in the USA in the summer of 2009, he has actively cultivated his art in Chicago, New York and New Jersey. Largely self-taught, he has honed his skills at eminent artist workshops in these cities, namely those of Layne Jackson, Tom Robinson, Raul Sebasco and Joe Velez.
His focus is mostly on figurative work, exploring form and motion in his drawings and paintings. He had his first solo exhibition in the USA in Feb 2013, and has shown at the National Arts Club, New York City in 2015 & 2016, amongst many others. In Jan 2022, Krish will be hosted for his first solo exhibition in NYC – “New York Showcase” – by a prominent gallery in Tribeca, Manhattan.
It is always interesting to look into the mind of the artist. As The Indian Panorama requested Krish for an interview, he suggested that we republish an interview which was recently published at artistcloseup.com
In accordance with the artist’s desire, we are publishing the referenced interview, as it was originally published.Placement of photographs of paintings is, of course, the original work of The Indian Panorama.
Q. What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My name is Krish, which is also the word with which I sign my paintings. Must add, I do use just ‘K’ as a signature in many works too. My art journey truly started in my childhood years, and quite clearly it is in midstream now. Mine has been a slow journey, especially as paint and draw on the side of my main work career, which is as an executive in financial services.
Over the years, I have even kept art aside for long periods of time to cater to education and career priorities. However, upon arriving in Chicago in the summer of 2009, I resumed painting and drawing, after a gap of 15 years, with a renewed passion and have never looked back since. As I reflect, I realize that the long hiatus was needed.”
Q. Which artists influence you most?
“I entered the Chicago art scene through two institutions, namely – the studios of Layne Jackson and Tom Robinson, both eminent American artists with valued art careers in their names. Both them and the artists around me in those studio sessions were my biggest inspirations at that time, which spurred me to my point of no return.
That aside, I do draw inspiration heavily from the works of the Great Masters, from museums around the world and, of course, books. Impressionism as an art style is clearly my favorite and go-to style, and thus the impressionists among the Great Masters have remained my idols forever, and no one more than the great master, Pierre-Auguste Renoir.”
Q. Where else do you draw inspiration from?
“Figurative art inspires me the most. In fact, with the internet, I feel almost ‘over-inspired’ by all the marvelous figurative work that we see every day. Life drawing has been a huge influence in shaping my continuing desire to depict form & figure at its artistic best. The best is yet to come but the journey is itself no less of a reward for me.”
Q.What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I mostly dwell on the theme of ‘Form and Figure’, emphasizing the aspects of pose, grace and motion in my work, to capture a stellar moment in time – visually and artistically – that the viewer would be drawn to. The key message in this theme, for me, is always to make that beautiful, graceful moment timeless, and for the viewer to cherish and take back an impression of it.
While most of it is conveyed through human form and figure, I do enjoy the theme of horses and certain other animals that also have an abundance of beauty and grace. I have captured the poise and motion of horses in my series ‘Spirit of the Horse’ and am looking forward to creating a series on dolphins in the months ahead.”
Q.How would you describe your work?
“My style of art is realistic with shades of impressionism. In my oil work, I like large, bold brush strokes, texture and a near realistic finish – although I always aspire to be more impressionistic. One day I will be! In my charcoal work, I like to be as smudgy and dirty as possible, and sometimes leave them with an unfinished look. However, as I always say, my art is constantly evolving and I am still trying to find my signature style, and until I get there, everything I create is an experiment.
Aside from the rendition style, I would also describe my art as singular pieces of beauty which are meant to adorn walls with images that would capture attention. It would, in the least, demand a closer look or a second look before one can really walk away.”
“I have this strong belief that all of us have an appreciation of art, maybe in different ways; thus, I am always really eager to capture attention to my work through visuals that most can relate to, before the viewer moves on to the next piece.”
What is your creative process like?
“Nowadays, as I am becoming more aware of proportion, I try to start with a charcoal stick or graphite to create my marks, around sizing; however, essentially I believe in the technique of alla prima for my painting – including portraits done from life or photographs. Sometimes I do my underpainting in acrylic and then finish with oil. I love blurry unclear depiction for my backgrounds and peripherals. I am more careful about values than color, and for that very reason, I love creating monochromes, which led me to create the series ‘#monochromesbykrish’ & ‘#charcoalsbykrish’, that is worth a search on Instagram. My pencil works and charcoal works give me the opportunity to continuously dwell on the concept of values, and perhaps they also keep me connected to my basic love for drawing.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“A visual artist ‘talks’ with pictures, images and visual impressions that they create for viewers to dwell upon and form impressions in their minds, which is significantly quicker yet longer lasting than any other art form, be it performing arts or literature. This single component of the power of a visual artwork to influence the viewer’s mind, also casts an enormous responsibility on artists in society. Which, therefore, needs them to perform a role of positive influencers in society vs negative – always!”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you’d like to share?
“Yes. They are quite a few.
Drawing Attention II, Chicago – June 2011
Full Spectrum Art Show, Chicago – June 2011
Drawing Attention III, Chicago – June 2012
Naked July Art Show, Chicago – July 2012
Art & Friends, Solo Art Show, Chicago – Feb 2013
Drawing Attention IV, Chicago – June 2013
Renaissance Art Show, New York – June 2014
National Arts Club Annual Show, New York – 2014
National Arts Club Annual Show, New York – 2015
Artists Studio Walk Show, Hoboken – 2016
RAW Invitational Pop Up Art Show, Jersey City – Dec 2017
Artist of the Month – July & August – Hudson Gallery Jersey City – 2019
Solas Studio Summer Show, New York City – 2021”
Krish is currently based in Jersey City. Instagram: @8akrish
JERSEY CITY, NJ (TIP): Two children were killed in a blaze that burned through a New Jersey home late Wednesday, February 10, officials said. An 8-month-old and 11-year-old were killed when flames broke out shortly before midnight at a home on Martin Luther King Drive near Union St. in Jersey City, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday, February 11. When emergency responders arrived at the scene, the mother desperately told them her two children were still inside, ABC 7 News reported.
The bodies of the two kids were found on the second floor after the flames were put out, the news outlet reported. Three police officers suffered smoke inhalation due to the fire. “It was crazy. I came outside with no clothes on, I had to get dressed outside… I’m just shocked,” resident Randy Williams told CBS 2 News. He said he saw the flames were on the roof and the first floor. “The whole house was on fire, the whole house was burning,” he added. The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is investigating the blaze, authorities said.
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