#Clare Arni

[suchananewsblog]

The Nagarathar Way: Portrait of a community

The diary is dog-eared and gravy-stained, fraying at the edges, its pages sepia. The old grandfather clock in the foyer stands sentinel over the Burma teak staircase that creaks with the weight of history.  A page from Umayal Palaniappan’s diary | Photo Credit: R RAVINDRAN Umayal Palaniappan leafs through the diary, strangely yearless, drawing attention to the recipes written in a neat hand, in…

[celtfather]

Women of Summer #665

Women are an important part of Celtic music. We celebrate their contributions this week on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast # 665. Subscribe now!

Charlene Adzima, Telenn Tri, Runa, The BorderCollies, Fialla, Natalie Padilla, Adria Jackson, Bettina Solas, Fig for a Kiss, Keltricity, Louise Bichan, Clare Cunningham, Maggie’s Wake

GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX

The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items for Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free.

VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2024

This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create next year's Best Celtic music of 2024 episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now!

You can follow our playlist on Spotify to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks. It also makes it easier for you to add these artists to your own playlists. You can also check out our Irish & Celtic Music Videos.

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

0:06 - Charlene Adzima “Smash the Brisket/Hunter's House/Maids of Mitchelstown” from The Initiation

Charlene Adzima: fiddle, vocals

4:27 - WELCOME

5:51 - Telenn Tri “Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window” from The Cat's Meow

Christine Morphett: Harp and fiddle

8:30 - Runa “Until Morning” from When The Light Gets In

Shannon Lambert - Ryan: vocals, bodhran

13:03 - The BorderCollies “The Sweetness of Mary  -  Clumsy Lover” from To the Hills and Back

Caeri Thompson: vocals

Lisa McCann: bodhran, shruti, vocals

Suzanne Ramos: fiddle

16:33 - Fialla “Fear A' Bhàta” from Home & Away

Katie: Vocals, Guitar, Bodhrán, Irish Stepdancing

21:06 - FEEDBACK

24:50 - Adria Jackson “Eriskay Lullaby” from Troubadour

Adria Jackson: harp, vocals

27:20 - Natalie Padilla “Prairie Flax” from Montana Wildflower Natalie Padilla: fiddle

30:56 - Bettina Solas “Lonely Maiden” from Ruminations and Wanderings

Bettina Solas: autoharp, vocals

34:16 - Fig for a Kiss “Beare Island” from Wherever You Go

Addyson Teal: Vocals, Fiddle

40:23 - THANKS

42:08 - Keltricity “The Plooman” from Live at Terra Firma Radio

Laurel Fuson: Accordion, Piano

Caroline Yeager: vocals, Violin, Piano

46:41 - Louise Bichan “Arnie's” from The Lost Summer Louise Bichan: fiddle, photography

52:43 - Clare Cunningham “Wind in my sails” from ON MY WAY (AR MO BHEALACH)

Clare Cunningham: guitar, vocals

56:37 - CLOSING

57:32 - Maggie’s Wake “Shaken & Stirred” from Maggie’s Wake

Tara Dunphy: tin whistle, flute, fiddle, guitar, banjo and lead vocals

Lindsay Schindler: fiddle and vocals

1:00:58 - CREDITS

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You’ll find links to all of the artists played in this episode.

Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you’ll get 7 weekly news items about what’s happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage.

Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor.

Finally, remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment.

Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/.

WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. If you love Celtic music, you are in the right place.

We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast.

You can make a musician smile. Just find a way to support the music you love. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their communities on Patreon.

You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com.

If you are a Celtic musician or in a Celtic band, then please submit your band to be played on the podcast. Send an email to follow@bestcelticmusic

Plastic Free July. Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single - use plastics?

THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!

You are amazing. It is because of your generosity that you get to hear so much great Celtic music each and every week.

Your kindness pays for our engineer, graphic designer, Celtic Music Magazine editor, promotion of the podcast, and allows me to buy the music I play here. It also pays for my time creating the show each and every week.

As a patron, you get ad - free and music - only episodes before regular listeners, vote in the Celtic Top 20, stand - alone stories, you get a private feed to listen to the show or you can listen through the Patreon app.  All that for as little as $1 per episode.

A special thanks to our Celtic Legends: Marti Meyers, Brenda, Karen DM Harris, Emma Bartholomew, Dan mcDade, Carol Baril, Miranda Nelson, Nancie Barnett, Kevin Long, Gary R Hook, Lynda MacNeil, Kelly Garrod, Annie Lorkowski, Shawn Cali

HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Go to our Patreon page.

Decide how much you want to pledge every week, $1, $5, $25. Make sure to cap how much you want to spend per month.

Keep listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to celebrate Celtic culture through music.

You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast on Patreon at SongHenge.com.

TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We get to know a region through its culture, history, and legends. This fall, I’m taking a group to taste Scottish whisky. We’ll visit at least three of the Scottish whisky regions. Taste a variety of whiskeys, then we will do some light hiking through the Scottish countryside.

You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/

#celticmusic #irishmusic #celticmusicpodcast

I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? Please email me. I’d love to see a  picture of what you're doing while listening or of a band that you saw recently.

Email me at follow@bestcelticmusic.

Steffen Röder emailed a photo from Munich, Germany: “Hi Marc! This St. Paddys I had to be in the hospital in which ill spend the next three weeks due to a chronik pain issue. I was able to sneak in a (light) pint tho and have my banjo with me. I sang some tunes at the nearby lake with noone but some frogs around and enjoyed the moment. I hope you had a good one too!  Greetz from Munich, Rusty!”

Gerald Guinn of The Secret Commonwealth emailed a St Pats photo: “Hi Marc! Glad you had good St. Pat's/Birthday!  The Secret Commonwealth did as well. We had shows on all three days of the weekend, culminating with our 31st anniversary St. Pat's show at Cedar Glade Brews, in the "city of our birth", Murfreesboro, TN (see attached pic) Now it's on to finishing up album #5! We hope to have it out in early summer. Best!”

Brenda Richardson sent a photo for St Patrick’s Day: “I walked with a group from the YMCA in the 5K St Patrick’s Day Race in Colorado Springs. We heard some Celtic music along our route!”

Michael Maloney emailed a St Patrick’s Day photo: “Morning Marc! Happy belated St. Patrick's Day and Birthday! I feel like I'm still recovering. I play solo at Hugh O'Neill's in Malden, and several shows with my bandmates, The Boston Harbor Bhoys (Waltham Sr. Center, Medford's Ford Tavern, Framingham Elks fundraiser, Quincy's Assembly, and Boston's Green Dragon).

So many songs, so many memories. I loved playing Hugh O'Neill's, where a table of young people requested The Saw Doctor's "N17" and ran out from their tables on the refrain each time to shout out "and the grass is green!".

To the Sr Center in Waltham where the ENTIRE room of 100 people got all the hand - claps right on "Wild Rover" by the 2nd refrain, and the beautiful emotions expressed from our rendition of Danny Boy.

To guests at the Framingham elks getting up to do all the dance moves to "The unicorn song", to seeing old fans from the South Shore of Boston that we haven't seen in 4 years requesting "Raglan Road", to jumping around The Green Dragon with my harmonica and tambourine leading hand claps on 'Finnegan's Wake" getting the whole bar clapping together.

Agh, it was all so wonderful, went through a range of song styles and eras in the Celtic music catalogue, and it was wonderful connecting with audiences from the 20's up to their 90's, who all appreciated the music and experience in their own ways.

It was one for the books! “

  Check out this episode!

[rocklandhistoryblog]

The new episode of Crossroads of Rockland History is streaming now!

Listen to the Podcast here:

_____

An excerpt of this interview aired on August 19, 2024 at 9:30am on WRCR Radio 1700AM.

Miriam Hoffman, Trustee of the Historical Society of the Nyacks (HSN) joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss the new exhibition at the HSN entitled “Nyack Jazz – The Golden Years of ‘The Office’ and its Forerunners.”

This exhibition focuses on the rich history of jazz in Nyack, beginning in the early 1900s, through the golden years of the bar called The Office in the 1970s, up to the vibrant revival of jazz today. This exhibition is fun for all jazz enthusiasts, jazz newcomers, and all those who find it fascinating that preschoolers discover their passion and are “hooked.”

Topics included musicians, their accomplishments, and Nyack’s music environment, which continues to nurture young talent. Some of the musicians discussed in this interview include: William Williams, Jack DePietro, Bill Evans, Arnie Lawrence, Eric Lawrence, Hildred Humphries, Bert Hughes, Sonny Oliver, Big Chief Russell Moore, Buddy Christian, Eddie Sauter, and others.

“NYACK JAZZ” is open every Saturday from 1 to 4 pm through September 28, 2024. Enter the HSN at 50 Piermont Avenue, Nyack, from the Nyack Library parking lot.

To learn more about the exhibition, visit: https://nyackhistory.org/nyackjazz

The Nyack Jazz Tribute Benefit Concert will take place on September 6, 2024 at the Nyack Center. Learn more and buy tickets here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6376046

Steve Bernstein, Erik Lawrence, Mark Patterson, David Budway, Don Falzone, Ben Perowsky and Jack DePietro will give a concert that includes jazz standards and jazz greats highlighted at our current Jazz exhibit.

Jack DePietro’s memoire is entitled: “My Life Behind Bars.” https://www.amazon.com/Life-Behind-Bars-memoir-DePietro/dp/B08XN7HXPK?dplnkId=963e9f59-8b59-46f3-a400-a5c5c4aa601e&nodl=1

Michael Houghton’s essay about Jazz in Nyack is entitled: “The Office: A Nyack Nightclub, 1975-1987.” It is available for purchase at the Historical Society of the Nyacks.

_____

Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the morning show on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as we explore, celebrate, and learn about our local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.

The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.

www.RocklandHistory.org

[vincekris]

Clare Arni

[standingatthefence]

Pushpamala N. and Clare Arni, The Ethnographic Series, 2000-2004, Sepia-toned gelatin prints

[tangledbea]

The Rise of Flynn Rider

Coming soon!

12 year-old Eugene Fitzherbert needs a plan. It's not that he doesn't love his time in the orphanage that raised him - Miss Clare and the boys are his family. As is his best friend, Arnie, with whom he's often in cahoots, acting out passages from his favorite Flynnigan Rider books, or pretending they're Lance Archer, the iconic thief who takes from the rich to give to the poor. But Eugene knows that most orphans his age set off to make their own way, and the orphanage already doesn't have the means to support them all. Besides, he wants to see the world with Arnie, and maybe, just maybe find his parents someday. So when a traveling circus comes to the kingdom promising a life of adventure, brotherhood, and riches, Eugene jumps at the chance to join them. He even convinces Arnie to come too. But soon it becomes clear that there's more to this ragtag crew that meets the eye, and they may have a dubious plot in the works. It'll take new heroes-namely, Flynn Rider and Lance Strongbow, to save the day.

[rosecolouredash]

Querencia CH. 2

Previous Chapters // PROLOGUE ONE

Summary: A prince and his sword reunited with his knight best friend.

Warnings: Insinuated violence and death.

Notes: I’ve been heavily inspired to write as of late so another chapter it is! This was the last full chapter within my Google docs (before I abandoned it.) I do have random dialogue and scenes written out (ie. Luke’s story in this all.) Now to fill in the blanks, haha

—

CHAPTER TWO

King of the Wastelands, Michael Clifford and his family of unruly bandits—plus one gryphon—were able to drive off the invaders that set fire to their fortress. In the process, they saved the ousted Prince Calum from the wrath of, who they discovered to be, the Easentis Army. Left with nothing but a burnt husk of a stronghold, they decided to join the prince on his quest to return to his homeland and to defeat the Empire—on the promise that they received a new homebase.

They allowed themselves a couple of days to recuperate from the battle before they journeyed North of Veodia, setting their course towards the capital city of Waiburne.

Michael and Calum walked side-by-side, at the center of a ring of bandits. The group chatted animatedly amongst themselves, around the two young men. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits.

“How’s it look up there, Dionne?”

From her place in the sky, on her beloved gryphon’s back, the russet-skinned girl surveyed their surroundings. They had made great progress—travelling past the silver sands of the Veodian wastelands into an area less barren and with paved, though rocky, paths. Dionne pushed the dark curls that had fallen in front of her eyes while flying.

“Nothing to see for another ten miles.”

Arnie the gryphon let out a squawk, in agreement with his rider.

“All right, thank you!”

Calum watched as Michael waved her off. 

Dionne and Arnie, flew ahead of their group to continue to scout.

“I don’t think she likes me much.”

Michael whipped his head towards his new royal friend. “What makes you say that?”

The prince pursed his lips, “she doesn’t seem comfortable around me.” Calum then let out a sigh. “She never speaks to me unless absolutely necessary and when she walks with us, she keeps her distance.” The frown on his face deepened. “Even the gryphon, gives me quite the glare.” 

Michael chuckled at the last comment. “That’s just Arnie for you. I’ve known him since he was a hatchling and he still gives me the side eye, sometimes.”

The bandit kept a watchful gaze on his oldest friend as she weaved through the clouds on her gryphon. “As for Dionne? Well...she’s not the biggest fan of you royal folk.” 

“But you’re a king too, aren’t you?” 

Michael let out a loud bellow. He grabbed the prince by his shoulder—successfully bringing him into a one arm hug. “They call me king—yes but I have no royal bloodlines to back it up.”

Calum looked towards the wild-haired man who continued with a soft smile. “Look, if it’s something you’re concerned with, you should ask. S’not my place to completely talk for her.”

The prince then shifted his gaze towards the sky. “I just—a number of people have already made sacrifices to keep me safe.” 

The bandit watched as Calum’s eyes seemed to cloud over.

“I wouldn’t want to hold anyone to the same fate if they were unwilling, which is rightfully so.”

Michael let what Calum said linger in the air before he offered some reassurance. “If it’ll help you sleep better at night, I did ask them if they wanted to do this.”

The leader of the bandits thought back to the night they met—when Calum had fallen asleep from exhaustion before Michael and the rest of his crew. 

“I gave them the option to back out and to stay in our wastelands but they all agreed. This is a cause we can’t not help with.”

A warm feeling enveloped Calum’s chest—he was grateful for his newfound allies. 

“Your dad—King David—he was a good man and from the little time I’ve spent with you, I can tell. You’re following in his footsteps.”

Calum smiled at the kind thought. He hoped so.

“It’s only right that you take back what’s yours and bring peace back to this kingdom.”

They continued to walk side-by-side, the bandit’s arm wrapped tightly around the prince.

“Michael?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.”

—

“So your main force is at Clare View Point?”

The travellers neared the aforementioned area. Calum nodded at Michael’s inquiry while they picked up their pace. When Dionne had flown ahead, she quickly returned with news that she found a group of knights under attack by the Empire. 

The prince could only hope they were Saerean knights. “They offered themselves as a decoy to cover my escape to safety but Lorian’s army must have seen through the ruse.”

From above, Dionne signaled for the men to slow down. They took her word and found cover behind a large rock. When Michael peered around it, he happened upon the battle that raged ahead. “That’s your main troop? They’re not looking so good.”

Calum too had a look, only to be saddened by how right Michael was. 

“I don’t believe it. It was quite sizable before…”

The bandit gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “They won’t be able to hold out for much longer so we need to devise a plan quick.”

Dionne had Arnie bring them back down to earth. She hopped off the gryphon, once they landed and she joined Michael and Calum. 

“The royal army is nearly sunk but I think I heard someone cry that the third cavalry was still putting up a fight.”

The prince let out a sigh of relief. “The third cavalry? That’s Ashton’s unit.”

For once, the gryphon rider regarded the prince but her face stayed neutral. “Well, whoever he is, his men are doing their best but they’re definitely short on numbers.”

“We might be able to help then, if we hustle.” Michael quipped.

He turned towards the rest of the group. “All right, everyone. Prepare for battle.”

—

“Sir, we’re surrounded.”

Ashton Irwin, leader of the third royal cavalry of Saere, gave Remy a tired smile. Or maybe it was Rome? He was usually very good at telling them apart but unfortunately, he was currently in a weakened state. 

The Abal twins watched from their stallions, in concern, as Ashton picked himself up from falling off his white mare. He used said horse—affectionately known as Margaret or simply Peggy—and his giant lance to steady himself. When Ashton was suddenly flanked by the twin knights, he looked ahead to find the woman that caused him such pain to begin with.

“We’ve got you now.” 

A rich velvet covered her body—cascading to the ground in the colour of fine wine. She approached the knights but stopped when the boys on their horses took a step forward—in warning. 

“You can’t hold out forever.” Her hands began to glow—sparks of electricity crackling around her nimble fingers. “So, if you surrender now, I might just spare your lives.”

The head knight paid no mind to her threat. She could have sworn she heard him giggle too. “Surely you joke, witch. A royal knight never surrenders.”

He gave her a charming smile though winced at the sudden pain of his face, likely from being electrocuted moments prior. 

“I say, I’ll give you one last chance to withdraw.” Both Remy and Rome smirked at their captain’s offer—if Sir Ashton wanted to fight to the bitter end, so would they.

“Well, aren’t we brave? May lady luck see you through because you’re going to need it.” She made a grand gesture when turning around so her full skirt kicked up dirt into their faces. She looked towards her troops when her body started to dissipate. From the hem of her dress to the tips of her long, blonde hair—she fell away like smoke.

“Finish them.”

—

“Boss, it looks like the enemy can use magick.” Michael regarded the comment as they neared the battlefront. 

“We’ll just have to keep our guard up then.” the bandit king replied, cracking his knuckles.

Calum looked over his allies, unsheathing Zephir from its scabbard. “Don’t worry about the magick.” The wind suddenly whirled around the prince and his sword. “I’ve got your back.”

Michael smirked as he felt something in the air shift. He should have known—the legendary spellblade was not named in farce.

They entered the fight, Michael bringing out his Chasm to deal damage onto the Empire’s troops. 

Dionne and Arnie made waste of Easentis’ men—the gryphon grabbing onto them with his talons and tossing them out and away from the fight. The rest of the bandits helped to defeat many of the soldiers but what was most surprising was the prince himself.

Calum, ever quick on his feet, moved with his sword around the battlefield with ease. He slashed down enemy after enemy—sometimes casting a harsh wind to knock them away.

Eventually, they ploughed through the troops enough to find three knights and their horses at the center of it all.

“Who are you?” One of the young knights questioned. Remy had dismounted from his horse and held onto his captain, who did not have the strength to keep himself up.

“What do you mean, who are we?” One of the bandits responded.

“We’re here to help.”

Rome looked at his twin and then back at the bandits. “Help? You’re allies?”

The King of the Wastelands stepped forward. “I’m Michael, the leader of these knuckleheads.”

Dionne scoffed at the statement.

Grinning at her, he turned his attention back to the knights and continued. “Which one of you is Ashton?”

“I am he.” The royal knight, with some help from Remy, approached the group. “Brave bandit, what is it that you ask of me?”

Michael stepped aside so that Calum came into view.

“Ash!” The prince rushed to his best friend—looking him over. Though he was concerned with the minor burns that littered the knight’s skin, Calum thanked the gods that Ashton was, at least, alive.

“Cal, you’re safe.” Ashton engulfed the royal in a tight hug that was immediately reciprocated.

When he pulled away, Calum frowned. “What happened? When I left?”

The head knight recounted that Lorian’s Court Magician, Estelle appeared soon after they let Calum run away. She caused a storm that decimated the royal army—quickly and violently. Ashton let out a shaky breath, thinking back to the horror of it all. “My ranks have been thinned, considerably. Remy and Rome are the last of our unit.” 

Calum regarded the brunet twins as they bowed their heads, in respect to their prince. These boys were young—barely the age of adulthood. They had much life to live. How fair was it that they must go through this war because of him?

“Don’t feel bad.” Ashton was versed in reading his best friend like a book. He recognized the expression that settled on Calum’s face. The prince was tenderhearted—so much so that the knight believed he would likely be as benevolent a king as his father before him.

“You are the throne’s true heir. The kingdom’s last hope.” Ashton nodded to himself and the twins. “The royal cavalry will fight alongside you—” Then he gestured towards the bandits, “—all of you, until the very end.”

The twins eagerly agreed, both responding simultaneously, “we are at your command, your highness.”

Calum thanked the twin knights. 

He took a moment to gaze upon their group. From the bandits to the lady gryphon rider. From his best friend to his newfound friend from the wastelands. Calum then grinned as he remembered his conversation with Michael, earlier that day, so he addressed his allies with absolute determination.

“To defeat the Empire that took our homes and our families. To bring peace to our kingdom of Saere. I, Prince Calum, hereby form with you, the Royal Liberation Army.”

—

Tagged: @irwinkitten @calpops @rosecoloredash @lilbabycalum @gorgeouslygrace @rainingcalum @cashton-dolan @lockthisheartinchains @americanhorrorstudies @lovableah @cals-eyebrows @quintodosuniversos

[100hands]

Acedge is hosting my conversation with the BASE Group (Clare Arni, Navnath Kanade, Edgar Demello, Prem Chandavarkar & Sanjay Mohe) on the 29th of April at 12pm. Recording of the conversation HERE.

Poster designed by Anoop Bhat.

[geirthad]

ASSESSMENT 2 - FINAL

CONCEPT STATEMENT 

Humans have always been intrinsically connected to culture through the customs, family and friends surrounding them. However, complexities occur when culture is influenced by two or more seemingly different ways of living – many cultures can reside in a person’s life. The constructed binary of the Eastern and Western culture, in particular, can be interrogated to be seen as a continuum of variety of influences that can shape a person’s experience.

Humans have always been intrinsically connected to culture through the customs, family and friends surrounding them. However, complexities occur when culture is influenced by many seemingly different ways of living – two or more cultures can reside in a person’s life. The constructed binary of the Eastern and Western culture, in particular, can be interrogated to be seen as a continuum of influences that can shape a person’s experience.

I began my research by studying collage artists such as Barbara Kruger and Paula De Prado, who use images and text/drawing techniques to create meaning and provoke the reader by engaging an emotional response. I also researched the experience of children of immigrants and how they feel their cultures combine within their experience and lifestyle by reading (Marijke Everts). A particular quote struck me - “I have often struggled with my two identities, feeling incomplete, and always lacking both.” (Marijke Everts) – inspiring my work to highlight this in-betweenness.

To continue my search to document this in-between, I began by attempting to read different texts on post colonialism and responses in art and design, such as Homi Bhabha’s ‘The Location of Culture’ which brought up how there are ways in which culture can be interrogated like through mimicry. Next, I visited the AGNSW and studied the Fearless exhibition that provided inspiration in terms of female South Asian artists who had produced art that investigated their perception of nationalism and shifting borders by interrogating their personal connection to diverse cultures and geographies. Another exhibition at the AGNSW housed a sculpture that provided a sensory experience through smell by using spices which attracted the viewer to consider the balance achieved by the weight, tension and gravity. And finally, a colleague held a one-night event titled ‘Diaspora’ that highlighted the POC community that has been displaced by diaspora through performance and video, which challenged the idea of “artist” to empower people of colour to reconsider their narrative.

Through this research, I began drawing upon my dichotomous Australian and Sri Lankan background to explore the constructed binary of Eastern and Western culture. Then being guided by the topics each week, I embarked on numerous experiments with different mediums that I hadn’t used before to really push the boundaries of my practice. I began with ink, but as I’ve always been interested in creating textures that people can see I decided to try using impasto. I tried numerous ways of mixing acrylic and ink with impasto medium, but I found that most interesting way to use it was as a type of glue. I then began investigating the idea of changing value by interrogating the use of materials that had cultural importance to one culture but not so much to the other. The process of experimenting with ideas and mediums allowed my work to transform and change forms many times, into what it is today.

The final body of work consists of two square canvases covered in impasto and dusted with two different powders. The both the grey and yellow powder – turmeric - is traditionally used in Hindu ceremonies as a general well-wishing by applying it on the forehead. By dusting the powders onto the terrain of the impasto, it conveys how only certain parts of culture can stick to another culture, as the powder only stuck to the parts of the impasto terrain that stuck out. By creating an abstract piece of work, I attempt to leave a lot of it up to interpretation, as this issue is complex and will allow for others to apply their own personal meaning to it.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Everts, M. A Space Between Cultures. Identity in Contemporary Art (website), 2014, http://africanah.org/space-cultures-identity-contemporary-art/, (accessed 9 August 2018)

Ernesto Neto Just like drops in time, nothing 2002, installation view, Spacemakers and roomshakers exhibition at Art Gallery of New South Wales

Pushpamala N. and Clare Arni, Native women of South India: manners and customs, 'The native types: a series of photographs illustrating the scenery and the mode of life of the women of South India', pgs. 25-45, Bangalore, 2004, 25-45 (colour illus.), Fearless exhibition at Art Gallery of New South Wales

Graves, B., Homi K. Bhabha: an Overview, (website), 1998, http://www.postcolonialweb.org/poldiscourse/bhabha/bhabha1.html (accessed 4 September 2018)

[nofatclips]

Flight From The City by Jóhann Jóhannsson from the album Orphée - Directed and produced by Clare Langan

[phgq]

Arnis bags 8 more SEA Games golds as PH keeps lead

#PHnews: Arnis bags 8 more SEA Games golds as PH keeps lead

MANILA – Arnis, the country’s national martial arts, pulled out another blistering performance after winning eight more gold medals to push the Philippines ahead in the medal tally of the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The arnis team now have a total of 12 gold medals after Jesfer Huquire (male-bantamweight/55kg and less), Elmer Manlapas (M-featherweight/+55kg and less), Carloyd Tejada (M-welterweight/+65kg & above), Sheena del Monte (Female-bantamweight (50 kg and less) Ashley Monville Ross (F-lightweight /55kg and less), Jedah Mae Soriano (F-featherweight/+50 kg less 55 kg), and Abegael Abad (F-welterweight/60kg and above) in padded stick competition, and Jezebel Morcillo in female’s live stick bantamweight class.

With their gold haul, the arnis players have surpassed the 10 gold medals won by their counterparts in dancesports competition on Sunday.

The host Philippines now has a total of 67 medals – 37 gold, 18 silver and 12 bronze medals after two days of competition.

The Philippines also imposed its might in triathlon after mixed relay event on Monday at the Subic Bay Boardwalk in Subic, Zambales.

The powerhouse squad composed of women’s triathlon gold medalist Kim Mangrobang, trailed by Fernando Casares, 2017 silver medalist Claire Adorna and men’s triathlon gold medalist Rambo Chicano, bagged the Philippines’ 37th gold medal in the biennial meet.

The Philippines clocked one hour, 33 minutes, and 47 seconds, followed by silver medalist Singapore with 1:37:58, and bronze finisher Indonesia with 1:38:57.

Entering last, Chicano, who ran an extra two kilometers, admitted that he needed to push himself as he felt an amount of tension to sustain the huge gap done by his teammates.

“Sakin medyo may pressure pero okay naman kasi malaki ‘yung agwat noong turn ko na (I felt the pressure but it’s okay because we have big lead when it was my turn),” he said.

Olympian Hidilyn Diaz finally bagged her first SEA Games gold medal after three attempts in weightlifting competition at the newly-renovated Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Diaz added her breakthrough SEA Games gold to her growing collection of medals that also include gold in the Asian Games and a bronze in the world championship.

Basketball and mountain bike made Monday more special after completing a sweep of the 3x3 and downhill events, respectively, while pencak silat and duathlon also added a gold each.

The quartet of CJ Perez, Mo Tautuaa, Chris Newsome, and Jason Perkins sparked Gilas Pilipinas to the inaugural men’s 3x3 gold by whipping Indonesia in the finals 21-9, capping its unbeaten campaign. The women’s side of Afril Bernadino, Jack Animam, Janine Pontejos, and Clare Castro got back at elimination round tormentor Thailand to win the gold 17-13.

Cyclists John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira scored a twin kill in the mountain bike downhill that set the tone earlier for another gold rush for the Filipinos.

Edmar Tacuel delivered the first gold for pencak silat with a win in the men’s seni tunggal singles event, while Monica Torres topped the women’s duathlon individual event.

Still trailing the Philippines in the medal tally is 2021 SEA Games host Vietnam with 15 golds, 20 silvers and 16 bronzes and Malaysia with 10-2-7 output going into the third day of competition where 45 golds, 45 silvers and 66 bronze medals are at stake. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Arnis bags 8 more SEA Games golds as PH keeps lead." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1087712 (accessed December 03, 2019 at 05:54AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Arnis bags 8 more SEA Games golds as PH keeps lead." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1087712 (archived).

[licollyfrelot]

Tess of the D’Urbervilles

Tess of the D’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented by  Thomas Hardy (Macmillan, 1974) (Cyhoeddwyd gyntaf 1891)

Ma na spoilers yn y post yma, ond chi di cal dros gan mlynedd i ddarllen y nofel, felly dwi ddim yn ymddiheuro! Ac os nagych chi’n bothered i’w ddarllen (dylech chi fod) gwyliwch y fersiwn BBC o 2008 gyda Gemma Arterton fel Tess (gwyliwch e ta beth ma’n grêt). Ges i’r awydd i ddarllen y nofel eto yn ddiweddar, wedi i mi glywed rhifyn o bodlediad y rhaglen In Our Time sydd ar Radio 4 yn ei thrafod. Ro’n i wedi ei darllen flynyddoedd yn ôl (ar wyliau yn Sbaen, ddim yn siwr os yw’n holiday read chwaith), a’i hastudio yn y coleg, felly dwi’n nabod y nofel yn dda, ond wedi clywed y drafodaeth ddifyr amdani, penderfynais roi spin arall arni.

Tess druan. Gallen i adel hi fyna mewn gwirionedd. Wrth gwrs dyma nofel gan Thomas Hardy, felly does na ddim disgwyl unrhywbeth joli. Dyma hanes Tess Durbeyfield: merch hardd, ddiniwed, sy’n byw yn ddigon tlawd mewn pentref gwledig yn Wessex. Mae ei thad yn darganfod ei fod yn perthyn i hen deulu bonedd yn yr ardal, y D’Urbervilles. Mae’n penderfynu anfon ei ferch hyna at y D’Urbervilles i ddweud eu bod yn perthyn (’claim kin’) a chael cefnogaeth ariannol ganddynt. Yr hyn nad yw’n gwybod yw fod y D’Urbervilles y mae Tess yn mynd atynt wedi cymryd yr enw er mwyn ceisio cael mwy o barch i’w teulu ‘arian newydd’, ac nad oes unrhywun o’r D’Urbervilles gwreiddiol ar ôl. Wedi i Tess fynd yno, mae Alec D’Urberville, y mab, yn cymryd mantais ohoni mewn rhyw fodd. Mae hi’n dychwelyd adref ac yn geni babi, sy’n marw. Mewn rhai blynyddoedd aiff hi i weithio mewn fferm laeth, lle mae’n cwrdd ag Angel Clare, mab i glerigwr lleol. Mae’r ddau yn cwympo mewn cariad, ac yn priodi. Ar noson y briodas y mae Tess yn cyfaddef wrth Angel am yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn ei gorffennol, ac nid yw’n medru ymdopi â’r newyddion. Mae’r ddau yn aros yn briod ond yn gwahanu, ac mae Angel yn mynd i Brasil. Tra’i fod i ffwrdd, mae Tess yn cwrdd eto ag Alec D’Urberville, sydd yn ei dilyn a’i phoenydio tan iddi gytuno i fyw gydag ef. Dychwela Angel yn rhy hwyr, ac unwaith i Tess ei weld mae hi’n lladd Alec ac yn rhedeg i ffwrdd gydag Angel. Mae’r ddau yn cuddio rhag yr heddlu ond maent yn cael eu dal yn y diwedd, ac fe gaiff Tess ei chrogi. Mi ddweda i eto: Tess druan.

Y nofel arall gan Hardy a astudiais i yn y coleg oedd The Mayor of Casterbridge, sydd hefyd yn laugh a minute. Yn honno mae camgymeriadau a wnaeth y Maer yn y gorffennol yn dod nôl i’w boeni, ac mae’n colli ei barch a’i safle yn y gymdeithas. Mae’n nofel llawn digwyddiadau anffodus a lot o anlwc i’r prif gymeriad, ond i mi, mae Tess yn effeithio’n fwy ar rhywun, gan ei bod hi, fel merch, yn ddibwer yn wyneb yr hyn sy’n peri gofid iddi. Grymoedd allanol sy’n effeithio ar fywyd Tess, yn fwy na’i dewisiadau personol: ei theulu sy’n ei hannog i fynd i ffeindio eu tylwyth bonedd y D’Urbervilles; Alec D’Urberville sy’n cymryd mantais o ddiniweidrwydd y ferch ifanc; cymdeithas sy’n ei gwrthod; salwch ei theulu sy’n ei gyrru hi’n ôl at Alec yn y pen draw. Efallai mai’r unig beth sydd yn ei phŵer hi mewn gwirionedd yw ei dewis i ddatgelu wrth Angel Clare, ei gŵr newydd, am Alec a’r babi. Mae hi’n gwneud hynny gan gredu ei bod hi’n gwneud y peth iawn, er mwyn peidio cadw unrhyw gyfrinachau rhag ei gŵr newydd, ac mae’n bosib dadlau mai ymateb Angel sy’n peri’r loes, yn hytrach na gweithredoedd Tess. Ond mwy am hynny yn y man.

‘The Incident in the Chase’, fel mae’n cael ei gyfeirio ato, yw’r trobwynt yn y nofel, yr hyn sy’n newid cwrs bywyd Tess. Ac yn ddiddorol, dy’n ni fel darllenwyr ddim yn siwr beth yn union sydd wedi digwydd. Fel y trafodwyd ar y rhaglen radio, mae nifer o brif ddigwyddiadau’r nofel yn digwydd ‘offstage’, fel petai, ac nid yw’r darllenydd yn cael bod yn bresennol. Yn yr achos yma, yr hyn a welwn yw Tess yn cael ei chludo i’r coed gan Alec, sy’n ei ‘hachub’ o anghydfod gyda menywod lleol. Maent yn stopio mewn coedlan ac mae Tess yn cwympo i gysgu. Dyna ddiwedd y bennod, a’r ail adran yn y nofel. Ar ddechrau Part the Third, mae dros naw mis wedi mynd heibio a Tess yn gweithio ar y tir a bwydo’r babi yn ystod ei hamser cinio. Felly beth a ddigwyddodd? Ai ei threisio wnaeth Alec? A wnaeth e ei pherswadio, a hithau’n hanner cysgu? Yn fy marn i, ni wnaeth Tess roi caniatâd - sydd yn golygu mai ei threisio a wnaeth Alec. Mae’r ffaith fod Hardy yn ei chyflwyno yn y teitl fel ‘a pure woman’ yn awgrymu i mi mai dyna oedd yn ei feddwl yntau hefyd. 

Dy’n ni ddim chwaith yn cael clywed adroddiad Tess o’r digwyddiad hwn pan mae hi o’r diwedd, ar noson ei phriodas, yn dweud y cyfan wrth Angel Clare. Gwnaeth yr adran yma fi yn grac y tro hyn, a ‘double standard’ cymdeithas yn amlwg iawn wrth i mi ddarllen yr olygfa hon. Mae Tess yn daer dros gyfaddef ei ‘phechodau’, fel mae hi’n eu gweld nhw, ac Angel yn gwneud yr un peth. Mae’n dweud wrthi am ei 48 awr o feddwdod a charu menyw brofiadol (read: putain probs). Mae Tess mor hapus, “for it is the same” ac yn dweud wrtho beth ddigwyddodd iddi hi. Dyw e ddim yr un peth i Angel. Mae ei ymateb e mor ingol: ei foesau a disgwyliadau cymdeithas yn ei ddallu. Mae’n sefyllfa mor annheg, fod yn rhaid iddi hi fod yn ‘bur’ er nad yw e. Fe, a’i ymateb, sy’n gyfrifol am yr hyn sy’n digwydd i Tess wedyn, ac mae hyn, i mi, yn ei wneud bron yr un mor niweidiol i Tess ag y mae Alec D’Urberville.

Golygfa arall ‘off-camera’ yw pan mae hi’n trywannu Alec tua diwedd y nofel, wedi iddi gwrdd unwaith eto ag Angel a sylweddoli ei fod yn dal yn ei charu. Cawn hanes y digwyddiad o safbwynt y fenyw sy’n gosod yr ystafell iddyn nhw, wrth iddi wrando yn fusneslyd ar eu ffrae o’r stafell fyw. Mae hi’n clywed pethau’n tawelu, a Tess yn gadael yn weddol frysiog o’r tŷ. Yn y man, sylwa’r fenyw ar ddropiau o hylif cynnes yn cwympo o’r to, ac wrth edrych i fyny, staen goch fawr yn lledu. Golygfa anhygoel. 

Mae na rhyw deimlad ‘mis mel’ iawn i’r adran ola, pan mae Angel a Tess gyda’i gilydd, ond chwerwfelys iawn yw’r adran hon hefyd. Dyma’r hyn allen nhw wedi ei gael, dyma allai eu bywyd nhw fod wedi bod, ac fe wyddai’r ddau nad oes modd i’r hyn sydd ganddyn nhw nawr bara am hir. Ond eto, mae na rhyw deimlad pe bai Angel wedi gallu derbyn cefndir Tess, wedi’r cyfaddefiad noson y briodas, y byddai D’Urberville wedi dod nol mewn rhyw fodd - mae’r cysylltiad anochel hwnnw rhwng y ddau gymeriad yn gryf drwy gydol y nofel. Y digwyddiad ola nad y’n ni’n cael ei weld yw digwyddiad ola’r llyfr, sef anocheledd olaf Tess. Gwelwn hyn drwy lygaid Angel a chwaer Tess, Liza-Lu, sy’n eistedd ar ochr bryn yn edrych am y faner ddu a godir wedi’r crogi. 

Er fod hon yn nofel eitha depressing, (dwi ddim hyd yn oed wedi sôn am yr adran sy’n cyfeirio at ddiwrnod marwolaeth pawb, sy’n cuddio ymysg holl dyddiau eraill y flwyddyn, yn pasio heibio heb i ni sylweddoli ei bwysigrwydd - o ie), dwi wrth fy modd â hi. Mae Tess yn gymeriad mor arbennig, yn rhywun sy’n dal i fynd ac yn dal i gredu mewn gwerth glendid a phurdeb er gwaethaf yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd iddi. Mae popeth y mae hi’n ei wneud yn cael ei wneud oherwydd ei chariad hi at eraill. Mae hi’n rhoi ei bywyd, mewn nifer o ffyrdd, er mwyn eraill. Ond ie, Tess druan.

[thenextartmovement]

I ❤️ Museums

The museum for this week is the Harvard Art Museum! Thanks to the progress of technology, many museums have digitized their collections and put them on their websites, which really benefit people who are not living around. The Harvard Art Museum has a great online collection. You can choose the work type, place, period, culture, or medium to select what artworks you would like to look at. Click the link to play with their online collection and find your favorite pieces.

The following photographs are the pieces that I personally loved when I was browsing their online collections.

Untitled from the Popular Series from the photo-performance project "Native Women of South India: Manners and Customs," Bangalore Pushpamala N., Indian (Bangalore, India born 1956) / Clare Arni, Scottish (Scotland, United Kingdom born 1962) Photo from museum’s website

Strongly contrasting and bright colors in this photograph really caught my eyes. Additionally, the reflection on her sunglasses was an interesting thing that made me spend more time on it. Pushpamala was trained to be a sculptor and shifted to a photographer in the late 90s. This photograph is from a photo-performance project titled “Native Women of South India: Manners and Customs”, which collaborated with Clare Arni, a Scottish photographer. The artists used historical resources, newspaper photos, film stills, and other familiar images to recreate the personalities of South Indian women, trying to raise questions about modern India. You can click the link to see more photographs of this project.

Chinese Body Shan-Shui (landscape) 黃岩 Huang Yan, Chinese Photo from museum’s website

This photograph shows a non-permanent shan-shui tattoo on the human body and manifests the integration of ancient art and contemporary art. Shan-shui, which means mountain and water, is a common theme of Chinese painting since the 5th century. It depicts the beautiful landscape in China and has been considered an important part of Chinese culture. By painting shan-shui on the human body, the medium which would seldom be used in ancient times, Huang Yan shows his respect to his country’s traditional art culture while creating a contemporary artwork. Click the link to see other photographs of shan-shui tattoos on the human body.

Resources: “Native Women of South India: Manners and Customs”, Asia Art Archive. https://aaa.org.hk/en/collection/search/library/native-women-of-south-india-manners-and-customs Ethan Cohen https://www.ecfa.com/huang-yan

- Regina Huang

[sheeks99]

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Huma Bhabha , Shìlpa Gupta, Reena Saini Kallot , Nalini Malini , Pushpamala N + Clare Arni , Shazia Sikandar , Dayanita Singh , Adeela Suleman and Zarina. Fearless Contemporary Arts South Asian in Sydney 2018 (at Art Gallery of New South Wales)

[standingatthefence]

Pushpamala N. and Clare Arni,The Ethnographic Series: 2000-2004 Sepia-toned Gelatin print

[peliculasromanticaslatinas]

Aaron (Clare en la novela) y Arnie no se muestran en la película, ni ninguno de su familia que se mencionan en la novela.