Folk Art Chronicles

Archive for the ‘Worldview’ Category

If college textbooks had been published in magazine form, there is no doubt I would have been an A+ student.  I do love books of all kind but something about the sight of a magazine just makes my heart beat a little faster. What mysteries and new ideas are waiting inside these delicious little packages that entice me to explore further? Such time and effort are lavished on the magazine form; who made the rule that says scholarly topics must be treated in boring, drab, colorless style lacking in beauty and sense of design. After all, knowledge is beautiful; why put it in an unattractive package? Of course you shouldn’t need to be enticed to learn, but why not absorb beauty, intrigue and good design sense while you are already engaged?

So what wonderful treasures did I find irresistible on the news stand this month? I have barely begun to read them yet but some of the things that caught my eye:

American Style, which deals with art, craft, and design issues, has a terrific discussion about “Who are (art) Collectors?” and “What makes them tick?”  I love this magazine because it always shows the interesting ways that art collectors integrate their collections into their environments.

The front cover of Antiques shows a beautiful eclectic collection of folk art and the editor’s letter begins the issue by discussing the definition of folk art. And again, we see how collectors find innovative ways to live with their treasures.

Even the ads in these two publications are gorgeous!

I bought Time magazine for its tribute to Ted Kennedy, but tucked near the back is a thought provoking article about the cultural symbolism of Michelle Obama’s hairstyles to African American women.

Afar turns out to be the premier issue of a new magazine published in San Francisco and promises “Experimental travel connects you with the authentic essence of a place and its people, deepening your understanding of the world, its cultures, and yourself.” The article that caught my eye is “On the road in Morocco” focusing on the culture of the indigenous Berber people.

How could I not purchase Steppe focusing on Central Asia, an area that has captivated my interest since learning as a child about the Silk Road and Marco Polo. Silk ikats, yurts, Buddhism, Islam, Babur’s Gardens, the magic of towns like Bukhara, Samarkand:  ahhhh!

In our ongoing mission to build bridges between different parts of our local community; between different cultures; and between traditional and contemporary arts, I will collaborate again this year with Artworks Downtown to present our biannual exhibition for Dia de los Muertos, “Rooted in Tradition, Relevant Today”. Because this lively, vibrant traditional celebration from Mexico has parallels in many other cultures, contemporary artists have found fertile territory to explore in their own lives and work.

We are looking for local artists who would like to create an altar installation for the show which will run from October 8 until November 20, 2009. Installations can be very personal or can explore more general themes. The opening reception and party will be on October 9th.

The deadline to apply is coming upon us very quickly, the first week in September. If you are interested, please call me at the FolkArt Gallery (415-925-9096) or Artworks Downtown (415-451-8119).

Altars in family homes in rural Mexico follow traditional constraints and are always for specific people. They use candles, flowers, special foods and drink, incense, photographs and evocative objects referring to a specific person. Urban and community altars are less constrained, usually exuberant, fantastical and refer to more general community themes. They are composed of a wider range of objects including paintings, drawing sculptural objects, poetry and drawings and other mixed media memorializations.

Our traditional annual altar at the FolkArt Gallery will be available for viewing on October 1st and will include some wonderful new one-of-a-kind catrinas that we are just now unpacking from Michoacan, Mexico. Read the rest of this entry »

There has been a fair amount of discussion lately about viewing the world through the lens of our own individual life experiences and whether this is or is not preferable to being “objective”. Or even if there is such a state as “objectivity”. I worry more about the people who claim that they can be totally objective all the time than about those who acknowledge and own their particular “lens” which are built upon our backgrounds, our geography and our personal temperaments. It’s definitely something to be aware of and sometimes, something to celebrate—the uniqueness that each of us can bring to the table. And, as long as we extend the same respect for the experience of others, it’s part of what makes the world such a fascinating place. It’s also what makes the world such a contentious place and the cause of most of the problems between people.

In this light, there are a variety of blogs and news sources that are very helpful

Events are best viewed through the filters of many points of view and today’s technology makes it so much easier to learn about each other outside of the established information and media sources we have always relied upon. The truth is discerned less from the grand events and pronouncements of governments and institutions than from small ordinary experiences of citizens in their daily lives. In this light, there are a variety of blogs that I greatly enjoy for the personal insights they give into other cultures. Of particular interest are several from the traditional cultures of Muslim countries often in the news here in the States.

Saudi Jeans is written by Ahmed Al-Omran, a young university student in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. His blog aims to provide news, commentary, and personal views on political and social issues in Saudi Arabia, with a special focus on freedom of expression, human rights and women’s rights. His commentary provides a window into daily life and the concerns of Saudi youth not found in mainstream media.

Susie’s Big Adventure is another of my favorites. Susie is an American woman, married to a Saudi man who wanted to move back to his country after spending 30 years with her in the states. She comments on the realities of living in a strict Muslim country and an even stricter male-dominated society through the eyes of an American.

Afaque and Tazeen are young people writing about their lives and thoughts from different cities in Pakistan. Afaque calls his blog Muddleheaded and Tazeen has named hers A Reluctant Mind.

These are young people who will influence the futures of their countries and the greater world. You will also find other interesting young people in their countries by checking out whose blogs they personally follow. It’s a great way to develop a network of information and contacts around the world.