Monthly Archives: January 2010

Love for Haiti

Posted on by
1

My heart goes out to the Haitian community. The earthquake that hit their homeland was devastating news, and I encourage individuals who can provide support to do so in any way possible. Before seeing the horrific stories on television and the Internet, my image of Haiti has always been through its vibrant art forms. During my few trips to the Dominican Republic, I visited local markets that sold paintings produced by Haitian immigrants and fell in love with their unique style. When I look at the Haitian painting that now hangs in my office, I am reminded of the people’s beauty and strength and know good will come from this catastrophic event.

As we learn more about the situation in the upcoming days, I want you to have the following Haitian paintings in your mind so you can also visualize and hope for a stronger nation. To learn more about Haitian artwork and local exhibits across the United States, visit the Haitian Art Society website.

Russian Landscapes

Posted on by
Reply

Today I visited a local art center to see an exhibit by Timkov Nikolai Efimovich, a Russian Impressionist landscape painter of the 20th century. Timkov worked at a time when the Russian government established Soviet Socialist Realism as the only authorized style of art. However, he produced landscape art as a way to avoid these restrictions and used French Impressionist style in his works.

Ok…I recognize that I am not an art expert (I still draw stick people), and landscape paintings sound quite boring.  However, I found myself appreciative and emotionally connected to Timkov’s paintings. At times, I felt I could walk straight into his Russian scenes. Timkov used vivid colors and lots of textures. His paintings reminded me of the countryside in anywhere USA; however, the images of monasteries immediately took me back to Russia. Throughout the exhibit, I learned about Russian artists, government influence and small town living. For example, Timkov’s landscapes told the story of city living Russians vacationing in dachas (small cottages in the county) to garden and relax. These scenes reminded me of my annual retreat to Woodbury, PA , where there are rolling hills and lots of cows. (Side note: every year Mrs. Over, my friend Becky’s mom, takes us to several greenhouses owned by Mennonites. I’ll write about this adventure in the spring.)

Through this exhibit, I learned about Russian history and its artists. I concluded that landscape paintings provide you with insights on a country’s terrain and a glimpse of its people’s lifestyle.

Friends with Benefits

Posted on by
Reply

I am fortunate to have a diverse group of friends who share their cultures with me in many ways.

EAT - My friends, and even better their mothers, whip up flavorful and authentic home cooked meals, including Indian, Japanese, Cuban, Indonesian, Spanish, Korean, Jewish, Puerto Rican and Chinese. Through them I discovered how to eat certain foods with my hands and improved my chopstick skills. When they prepare dishes, I ask a lot of questions to learn about nutritional value, native spices and sometimes “secret” recipes.

CELEBRATE - My friendships included invitations to special religious events such as a Jewish Passover dinner and a Shabbat service. In addition, I attended various weddings that incorporated traditions from Ghana, Australia, Puerto Rico and Cuba. This fall I look forward to my friend’s wedding that will include Indian customs.

CONVERSE - With my Latino friends, I practice Spanish and learn new terms. Other friends teach me greetings in their native language and a few words I would never use around my mother.  (Sorry, Mom!)

DANCE - As a youth, I learned an Indian stick dance that is very entertaining and easy to do once you learn the basic steps. Also, my passion for Latin music definitely came from my Puerto Rican friends in college who spent countless hours teaching me how to dance salsa and merengue. Thanks to them, the rhythm of the music feels natural, and I am never intimidated by these dances.

All in all, when my friends share their culture and traditions, I am able to experience the world up close and personal. Through these friendships, my life is enriched, and for that, I am truly grateful.