Creating
a full color art calendar. . . Organizing a fair trade crafts fair. Who knew
that our journey to India
would inspire these new ventures??? A year ago, Libana was busily preparing for
our major life adventure to North India. Departure
was in a little over 2 months and we were immersed in learning Gujarati songs
and dances, emailing strangers a half a world away in a attempt to make
connections and plan an itinerary, and figuring out what instruments to take
with us--really not knowing what was going to happen. Now, a year later, we
reflect often on "what happened". . .
The
holiday season is almost upon us here in the US,
and THIS fall we were busily occupied in creating ways to honor the strong connections
we made in India last fall,
and to share the work and creations of women we met almost a year ago! Round
and round the Earth is turning....
Our new
2012 Women of India beautiful wall art calendar is finding
a home on many kitchen, office and classroom walls around the country for the
upcoming new year. Having taken over 7000 amazing photos during our trip, it
was clear that some of our images crossed that amorphous line that separates art from a documenting snapshot. Our new calendar was created by culling favorite portraits of women in India:
some women we met at Barefoot
College and at SEWA and
other women we encountered anonymously on the street. We attempted to
portray a spectrum of life experience from a Barefoot solar engineer to an
older woman selling spices on a street corner, from a kirtan wallah to an
artisan from a SEWA collective. To our eyes, all these women are beautifully vibrant
and colorful and full of spirit. We wanted to commune with each of them
throughout the coming year--with their eyes, their smiles, their focus, their
determination and their strength. And we hope you do too!!! You can order one
by going to: http://www.libana.com/travels.htm A portion
of the proceeds will be donated to Barefoot
College, SEWA, and the Tibet Hope
Center in support of their transformational work that changes society for the better!
Ten
days ago we held a very wonderful and successful (on so many levels) Artisans of
India Marketplace (or a Mela, as it would be called in India!). The idea was sparked last
February during the days we spent visiting with the amazing organization of
SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association, based in Ahmedabad). We were sitting
in a small room near Ganesh Pur witnessing many women gathered on the floor sewing,
cutting, talking, learning. The women of this artisan collective were showing
us their traditional cutwork applique technique process. They shared some of
the designs they were working on developing as well as some of the gorgeous
finished pieces. Wall hangings. Decorative cushion covers. They create daily
together --preserving a time-honored tradition while developing new designs for
an ever-expanding Fair Trade global market. After immersing in the artwork of
these women and others we had visited with on the previous day, we realized
that we could share this beauty with our friends back home and also help
support the artistry and programs that are helping these women and their
families continue to improve the quality of their lives.
Months later, it was so satisfying to see the beautiful work of these talented women on the walls and
display tables at my Studio in Somerville,
MA at our Mela! It was also
amazing to see the people who were there shopping admiring their work,
bountifully purchasing it for their own homes and holiday gifts. So many
“shoppers” thanked us for doing this event, and for the broader musical mission
of Libana— knowing that their purchases were making a difference in the lives
of these creative women that we had the honor of meeting in India as a
result of being the creative women we are. . .
And so
the circle goes round. Libana sings and dances our way to North
India and communes with women artisans in the process, and those connections
spark an idea. The artwork created by those women makes its way to the US and inspires
and moves those who see it. And the energy returns to India. Everyone benefits.
Sisters in creativity and vision across the planet.
Connections
abide.
