Young creator to host fourth ‘Sip and Paint’ July 28

DISHA Henry is glad she had an opportunity to see the importance of art in everyday life; how it touches people, uplifts, and can be used to address taboo topics that people may not readily want to discuss. As such, she has decided that she will organise events that can bring people together every year.
For four years now, she has been hosting the ‘Sip and Paint’ event, which has been getting a good response to date. The latest Hawaiian-themed event is billed for Sunday, July 28 at the Tiki Bar on Waterloo Street, where a trained artist will be on board to guide participants through.

The 24-year-old grew up in Tiger Bay, an area with some amount of stigma attached to it. However, Disha’s parents always ensured that she took up any educational opportunity that was available to her.
So when School of the Nations moved into the community and began offering free classes to children in the neighbourhood, Disha was surely on board. A pupil of St. Margaret’s Primary at the time, she attended ‘Nations’ Baha’i classes, their computer classes, every opportunity that was offered!

“They gave me a scholarship because they saw that I had potential,” Disha told Pepperpot Magazine. “I attended Nations for eight years and that gave me the opportunity to see life outside of Tiger Bay.”
From there, she received a scholarship to attend an art school in Canada for two years. “They’re still doing that for the children in Tiger Bay. The owners of Nations, The O’Toole family, are very good people,” Disha expressed.

Thanks to her training, natural abilities, and love for art, Disha developed a keen eye for art, such as physical art, drawing, painting, music, and the like. “I am able to put them together in a way that is appealing to the senses of others and I am very good at coming up with innovate ways to bring people together,” Disha, now a creative and events curator said.
For the past four years, she has been hosting a ‘Sip and Paint’ event. The idea was birthed during COVID when she was somewhat stuck in Bermuda and had nothing to do. As soon as the curfew was relaxed a little, a friend of a friend hosted a sip-and-paint party. “It was like a house thing and it was a simple sit down and the happiness you get from bonding with persons over things like these. I thought I would take this back home because I never had seen it done before.”

When she returned to Guyana, she got right to it, planning it with friends. “I said I would do 30 spots and I made a post on social media and within the first few hours, half of those spots were sold. The event ended up being 65 persons.”
Since then, Disha has also been doing private events like birthday parties, bridal and baby showers. This year, she wants to complete six themed events and is trying to collaborate with local businesses.
She wants to offer unique events and experiences to the public. “People complain that there is not a lot to do in Guyana; nothing outside of the party scene; go to the movies and the mall, which is very mundane and then there’s a show here and there. So I told myself I will make events that are new.”|

Commenting on her upcoming Sip and Paint event, she said: “These events provide an alternative to people looking for something to do outside of the party scene. This is very tranquil, quiet; I usually host it on Sundays so this is something nice to unwind on the weekends, outside of the partying and the drinking and the loud music; nothing is wrong with that but some people are looking for alternatives.”
Disha already has her ideas about the new and exciting events she wants to introduce. One more thing she shared is a drive-through cinema experience. With a venue already in mind and other details sorted, she is hoping this will become a reality by Christmas.