Playing for the Maharaja

 "Playing for the Maharaja"

Color Pencil. Jaisalmer, India

©2020 Melissa Enderle

It is the day of the Gangaur festival in this ancient city of Jaisalmer. I'm doubly giddy about the festival celebrating our goddess of love and marriage this year since my granddaughter is in the procession of other eligible young females eager for love. She looks so beautiful and grown-up in her new dress and jewelry. Plus I'm one of the musicians selected to perform. Both me and my trusty kamaycha instrument are a bit worn but we both will sing out our best today. I've already performed some songs that beseech the goddess Gauri to bless these young women with prosperous marriages. Behold! The Maharaja has arrived! I quickly switch to a song singing the praises of His Highness. May he and his family live a long, prosperous life! The Golden City of Jaisalmer loves you!

See more of my artwork from India and other places on my website.

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Remembering our Savior

A blessed Christmas to all! Remembering the birth of our Savior on this Christmas Day.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

- Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

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Nativities Around the World

A few of the Nativity scenes on display in Mesa. Merry CHRISTmas!

Bali

France

Japan

Philippines

Scotland

Tibet

Zulu (South Africa)

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Artwork Stories: Male Fan Dancer, South Korea (Watercolor)

In anticipation of an art exhibition, I wrote a short story about each painting, as if written by the person in the painting. These are all real people, and the stories are based on experience, observation, and representative/factual information typical of someone from that region/profession. Some of these paintings are still available, so if you are interested in purchasing one, please contact me.

As a young boy, I loved to hear the stories told by my grandfather. Now I am a pansori singer. Accompanied by a drummer who strikes a rhythmic pattern on his buk, I sing narratives based on popular tales. Performing on this festive Chuseok harvest festival, my excitement is apparent in my dynamics and the way I manipulate the fan with crisp, fluid movements.

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Lanterns of China and Seoul

When walking through the Chinese Lights display at the Boerner Gardens, I couldn't help but compare them to the Lanterns I had seen in South Korea. I went through some of my MANY photos of the lantern festivals I had seen in South Korea, and paired them up here with ones similar at Boerner Botanical Gardens.

Chinese Dragon, Boerner

Korean Dragon, Seoul

Fish, Boerner

Fish, Seoul

Pandas, Boerner

Pandas, Seoul

Flute Player in Lotus Flower, Boerner

Amongst the Lotuses, Seoul

Which do you like better - the Chinese sculptures at Boerner, or the Korean ones in Seoul?

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Chinese-themed Lanterns at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Although all of the 1,000 silk lanterns at Boerner Botanical Gardens were created by Chinese artists from Sichuan Tianyu, there definitely were some displays that felt more Chinese in theme. 

The warm hues of the Chinese Palace lanterns contrasted beautifully against the sapphire night sky.

The fan was one of my favorites, portraying elegant peacocks, flowers, and butterflies.

Detail of the fan

The Chinese zodiac lanterns were a crowd favorite. People posed in front of the zodiac animal from their birth year. I even had my photo taken in front of mine.

The display also had several Chinese figures, such as the operatic performers below.

A bit of China in Wisconsin!

The China Lights display can be seen at the Boerner Botanical Gardens through the end of October. 

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China Lights in Wisconsin

When living in Seoul, South Korea, I eagerly looked forward to the Lantern festivals which took place at the Cheonggycheon stream as well as the parade of the Lotus Lantern Festival. I loved seeing how illuminated sculptures formed from wire frames and hanji paper could display such elegant beauty. 

Upon hearing that the Boerner Botanical Gardens was having a China Lights Festival, I knew I must attend. Despite the rain, my friends and I traveled from Madison to Hales Corners (near Milwaukee); by the time we arrived, the rain had just stopped. In compensation for the cancellation of some opening events and muddy pathways, we were allowed to hold onto our tickets and return another time. Being hardy paid off! 

When we began to walk through the gardens, it was still rather light outside. It enabled us to see the natural flowers and landscaping, but the colors of the silk-covered displays were not as dynamic.

Soon, the night darkness arrived, enabling the China lights to shine forth in glory. 

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Fire Monkeys, Olbrich Gardens

One of the most popular artist installations within the GLEAM exhibition at the Olbrich Gardens, "The Fire Monkeys" is the creation by local artists Laurie Rossbach & Jennika Bastian. According to the Chinese (and Korean) zodiac, it is the year of the Monkey. 

The installation hearkened me back to the beautiful lanterns I saw while in Korea, in the Lotus Lantern Parade, at the Jogyesa Buddhist Temple, and at Seoul's annual fall Lantern exhibit.  The Fire Monkeys were also created out of paper (in Korea it was called hanji paper), wire, and paint. 

While walking around the gardens at night, I heard the yelping monkey sounds well before I arrived at the willow tree. Each of the monkey sculptures glowed as if on fire, which is one of the four purified elements within Buddhism.

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Dakar Meets Madison

Looking at the women sitting in front of me, and I was harkened back to weddings or gatherings in Mali (see photo below). Nope, these boubou-clad women were attending the African Festival in Madison.  

Dancing and drumming at a Malian wedding

An easy walk from my condo, I first took a peek at the booths - some clothing, jewelry, bags, handicrafts, and face painting.  With plenty of higher-quality pieces from Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Tunisia already in my apartment, I wasn't even tempted. I did hit the one tent serving Senegalese food. I was happy to see Chicken Mafé, Senegalese variation of one of my favorite Malian dishes known as Tige Dege. To round it off, I had an ice-cold drink made from the hyssop plant.

Mafé meal at African Fest

While I enjoyed my chicken Mafé meal, I looked around me. Similar clothing as I had remembered, but the iPhones and iPads were not part of my West African memories. The "technology" that Malians carried around in 2000 mostly consisted of battery-operated radios. No selfies in sight then.

Of course with most any Wisconsin event, there was ice cream available (note that the neighborhood Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream was one of the sponsors).

As the sun went further down the horizon, the clouds began to glow in various colors. In the distance, the dome of the capitol was framed with warm colors. What a beautiful evening for a concert, celebrating the music and dance from diverse places of the African continent.

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Madison Art Fair on the Square

Mostly blue skies welcomed visitors to Madison's Art Fair on the Square, held July 9-10. Yesterday I went to the annual juried event, set around the beautiful capitol square. Around 500 artists set up booths, exhibiting photographs, ceramics, weavings, jewelry, sculptures, and more. It was enjoyable viewing the varying styles, and I was particularly drawn to the international booths such as Mexican retablo, Chinese embroidery, and Peruvian weavings. 

Visitors to the visually stimulating event could also enjoy plenty of snacks/drinks (including some Wisconsin specialties and free chocolate chip cookies) and listen to live performances. Based on the large crowds I saw on Saturday and the pleasant weather, I wouldn't be surprised if attendance was over the normal 200,000.

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Rainbows All Around Me

Reflection of the lanterns and a large Buddha statue through the window of the temple

Jogyesa Temple is a magical place in early May. This is when the place is all decked out for Buddha's birthday. In addition to the large hanji lantern sculptures and flowers, the courtyard is bathed with a rainbow canopy of lanterns. Some are arranged in striped rows of colors, while others help spell some words in hangeul. Tags dangle from the lanterns, bearing the name of donors. Such color to behold!

Rainbow canopy through the big tree

Lanterns framing a central pagoda

Canopy with hangeul lettering

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Lanterns for Buddha

I love the variety of lanterns that line the temples and streets during Buddha's Birthday. Many are made from hanji rice paper. Some of the lotus lanterns below are decorated with silk or tissue paper petals. While pretty during the day, the full beauty may be appreciated when illuminated at night. 

The entrance gate to Jogyesa Temple

On the street near Jogyesa

On the street near Jogyesa, suspended from bamboo poles

A display of children's lantern submissions, next to Jogyesa Temple

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Bathing Baby Buddha

As part of the Buddha's Birthday festivities at Jogyesa Temple, a floral well was erected. In the middle of it was a golden baby Buddha.

Devotees took a special ladle and poured fragrant water over the baby Buddha to bathe it. 

Typically they would pour water over the small figure three times, signifying the washing away of evil thoughts, then cultivation of good ideas, and a desire to save all living beings. 

Nestled amongst the flowers was a coffee cup. The hanbok-clad devotee was a bit embarrassed when she saw that I had noticed the "addition" to the display. Perhaps Buddha would have liked a sip of this oh-so-popular drink of Korea.

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