We are women of the Maithil culture from Janakpur and surrounding villages who come to the center to make paintings and crafts. Many of us learned from our mothers and grandmothers to paint the walls of our houses, make rice paste designs (aripana) on the ground for rituals, and to make clay objects and other offerings for the occasions of marriage, festivals and other rituals. Many of us have been working together as artists for nearly 30 years. Our artwork originates in the traditions of our culture, with each artist developing her own style, technique and vision.