On any school day, you’ll find 8th-grader Oishani Das in classes at Salisbury Middle School, where she is in her third and final year as a standout student in the NeXgen STEM Program. But this weekend you’ll find her showcasing one of her other talents at the Maryland Folk Festival, where she will be one of the demonstrators in the Maryland Traditions Folklife Area, and the youngest at just 13.
Look for Oishani and Oishani’s Creative World of paper quilling Saturday from 12-9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12-6 p.m. The Maryland Traditions Folklife Area is on Circle Avenue between Unity Square and the Paul S. Sarbanes Branch of the Wicomico Public Library.
“She is very excited about this remarkable honor,” said her mother, Archita Das. “The festival will provide her with a wonderful platform to highlight her creativity and inspire others through her intricate paper quilling work.”
Oishani (also called Rai by parents Archita and Kausik Das) started her own business when she was just 9 years old. An aunty encouraged Rai to share her artwork with everyone and told the family about the 3rd Friday events where she could showcase and sell what she made. She participates only in July and August when she has a break from school and her other interests: Indian classical singing and karate.
“I can honestly say, from the bottom of my heart, that Oishani truly puts her heart and soul into her passion. Since the day she started learning quilling, she has spent almost 90% of her summertime creating quilling art,” her mother said.
Those who knew her as a student at Delmar Elementary and North Salisbury Elementary are delighted to hear of her success, and her current school is not surprised by her selection to this Maryland Folk Festival folklife showcase. Oishani already embodies the school system’s tagline of “Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow.”
“It is a joy to celebrate Oishani Das, one of NeXgen STEM Academy’s outstanding 8th grade students,” said Dr. Chad Pavlekovich, one of her teachers. “Oishani brings brilliance and creativity into everything she does. Her academic work for the past 2+ years has been consistently stellar, but what sets her apart is the attention to detail with her academic work and her imaginative spirit that breathes life into her projects.
“Oishani’s work and success within the NeXgen STEM Program is a reflection of her thoughtful approach and growing leadership skills, qualities that she has increasingly developed throughout her time in the program. Her outgoing nature draws others to her, and her ability to lead with kindness and confidence inspires her classmates. Beyond the classroom, she is already pursuing her own passions and finding success,” Dr. Pavlekovich said. “Oishani personifies the best of what NeXgen strives to nurture—scholars who are prepared not only to learn but to lead.”
More information about this weekend’s festival is available on the Maryland Folk Festival website (https://mdfolkfest.com/). Here’s what is posted about Oishani: https://mdfolkfest.com/acts/oishanis-creative-world/:
Ms. Oishani Das is a young artist and performer whose passion for creativity began at the age of eight, when she first explored quilling and paper art. That same year, she launched her own online tutorial platform to share her skills and inspire others. A familiar presence in the Salisbury, MD arts community, Oishani regularly showcases her handmade creations at the city’s 3rd Friday local artist events and hosts stalls at the annual Salisbury Holi Festival. In addition to her visual art, Oishani is a dedicated student of Indian classical vocal music. She performs regularly at the Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC, as well as at cultural events and venues throughout the region. Her unique blend of visual and performing arts reflects a deep commitment to artistic expression and her Indian cultural heritage.