Indian Maritime Foundation

The Society of Indian Marine Artists (SIMA) was formed in 2001, following the workshops conducted by Mr Robert King, Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, UK, who was invited to India by the Indian Maritime Foundation (IMF). The workshops were conducted by Mr King at Mumbai in association with the JJ School of Arts, and at Pune in association with the Nag Foundation. The response to the two workshops by participating artists was immense and spontaneous, and SIMA was born as a sister organization to IMF.

Over the years since it was formed in 2001, SIMA members have taken part in several workshops at locations near the sea and water-bodies around Pune, such as at Mumbai with the Indian Navy, NDA Khadakwasla, Alibag, Alandi, Lonavala and so on. Several Exhibitions have also been held annually to showcase the seascapes painted by SIMA artists, at Balgandharva Kala Dalan, Empress Gardens, Art 2Day Gallery, etc.

Membership of SIMA is open to all who are interested in marine art. Entrance Fee Rs 300. Renewal of membership annually in April – Rs 150. In 2010 there were about 85 members.

OYSTER is the bi-annual news-letter of SIMA. The latest issue, Volume 14, No 2, was published in August 2012

Oyster Vol. 15 No. 1
16 Aug 2012 - 15 Feb 2013
Oyster Vol. 14 No. 2
15 Feb 2012 - 15 Aug 2012
Oyster Vol. 13 No. 2
15 Aug 2011 - 15 Feb 2012
Oyster Vol. 11 No. 2
15 Aug 2010 - 15 Feb 2011
Oyster Vol. 11 No. 2
15 Aug 2009 - 15 Feb 2010

Membership of SIMA is open to all who are interested in marine art. Entrance Fee Rs 300. Renewal of membership annually in April – Rs 150. In 2010 there were about 85 members.

OYSTER is the bi-annual news-letter of SIMA. The latest issue, Volume 14, No 2, was published in August 2012

Oyster Vol. 14 No. 2
15 Feb 2012 - 15 Aug 2012
Oyster Vol. 13 No. 2
15 Aug 2011 - 15 Feb 2012
Oyster Vol. 11 No. 2
15 Aug 2010 - 15 Feb 2011
Oyster Vol. 11 No. 2
15 Aug 2009 - 15 Feb 2010

Since SIMA was established in May 2001, several workshops and exhibitions have been conducted as follows-
1	12 Nov 2010	Junior SIMA Exhibition on-the-spot painting competition and Maritime Quiz Empress Garden Chief Guest - Mrs Mumtaz Peerbhoy 120 children participated, maximum to date

2	25-26 Feb 2010	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes New Art Gallery, Pune. Chief Guest - Mrs. Barbara Flucht

3	25-26 Apr 2009	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes Balgandharva Kala Dalan Chief Guest – Mrs Ritu Malhotra

4	28-29 Jun 2008	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes Balgandharva Kala Dalan Chief Guest – Mrs Suman Kirloskar 40 Artists, 105 paintings

5	24-25 Nov 2007	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes EmpressGarden Chief Guest – Mr Ravi Chopra – MD Piaggio Vehicles Ltd. 23 Artists, 64 paintings

6	28-29 Apr 2007	Half-Yearly Exhibition of Seascapes Balgandharva Kala Dalan Chief Guest – Mrs Surabhi Nag 28 artists, 75 paintings

7	Nov 2006	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes EmpressGarden, Chief Guest – RAdm CS Patham, Dep Com, NDA Artists 35, 85 paintings

8	Apr 2006	Half Yearly Exhibition of Seascapes Art 2 Day Gallery Chief Guest – Mr Rajan Khinvasara, 31 artists, 54 paintings.

9	Nov 2005	Anuual Exhibition of Seascapes Empress Garden, Chief Guest - Dr AV Umranikar, Gynaecologist Emeritus 30 Artists, 84 paintings.

10	Nov 2004	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes, Balgandharva Kala Dalan Chief Guest - Mr Firoz Poonawalla.

11	Nov 2003	Annual Exhibition of Seascapes Balgandharva Kala Dalan Chief Guest – RAdm Kaushiva, Dep Com NDA.

12	Feb 2002	Exhibition of Seascapes, Kalaghoda Festival, A and N Building Mumbai Chief Guest – VADM V Pasricha, FOCINC, WNC

13	Nov 2001	SIMA Exhibition Balgandharva Kala Dalan

Since SIMA was established in May 2001, several workshops and exhibitions have been conducted as follows -
1	10 Oct 2010	SIMA Workshop at Peacock Bay NDA Kharakvasla, Pune

2	22 Feb 2009	SIMA Workshop at WAI

3	1 Feb 2009	Demonstration by Mr Mohan Khare Bundgarden

4	Feb 2008	INS Shivaji Lonavala Lake

5	Jan 2007	Peacock Bay NDA, Pune

6	3 Sept 2005	Mandwa Jetty Alibag

7	Jun 2005	Ghats of Indryani River Alandi

8	Mar 2005	INS Kunjali Mumbai

9	Dec 2003	Hillary Thorpe, Isle of Wight, UK, Empress Garden Pune,

10	Feb 2003	Peacock Bay NDA, Pune

11	Sept 2002	INS Vikrant Naval Dockyard, Mumbai

12	10 Feb 2002	Oyster Island Colaba, Mumbai

13	Sept 2001	Peacock Bay NDA, Pune

14	May 2001	Robert King, London UK, Gateway of India, Mumbai and Empress Garden , Pune

Junior SIMA was formed in 2006 to encourage school children to learn to paint seascapes, thereby getting them to become sea-minded, the prime objective of the IMF. Presently there are over 50 members. Mrs Anuradha Thakur, herself an art teacher for school children, is the Secretary of Junior SIMA. The aim is to increase the membership of Junior SIMA substantially in the future through exhibitions, workshops, painting competitions, demonstrations, etc.

85 School children participated in an exhibition of seascapes, and an on-the-spot painting competition at Empress Garden on Sunday, 20 Nov 2011.

The theme of the competition was "Life on a beach" and "Life in the oceans". The participants took part in 3 categories age-wise.

Prizes were awarded and all participants received a certificate. An ocean quiz was conducted and there was a demonstration by Mr. Satish Sarawate, a senior artist on how to paint a seascape. There were refreshments for children and their parents. A fun morning conducted by SIMA every year by junior SIMA secretary, Anuradha Thakur and Ekta Agarwal assisted by SIMA managing committee members.

In November 2008 Junior SIMA organised an Exhibition of Seascapes and a painting competition at the Empress Garden. 100 school children participated. Since then Junior SIMA Exhibitions have been regulary organized at the Empress Garden each year in November. The last one was held in November 2010.