Fall in the National Zoo!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Fall festival of Indian Arts in DC: Alarmel Valli
Alarmel Valli, acclaimed Bharatanatyam artiste and proponent of the Pandanallur style tonight :
Friday October 23 at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U Street NW
Washington D C
More details on the website and post performance reviews later tonight or tomorrow morning!
:-)
October 24, 2009
Beautiful!
the programme ended past 10 pm...the Dakshina presentation always comes before the featured artiste. More on this later.
Alarmel Valli, performing after 10 years in DC was her elegant, sparkling and vivid self. As was expected, her training in the Pandanallur style of bharathanatyam, brings forth the exquisite aspects of abhinaya in her presentations.
The choreography and the understanding between the artist and her accompanists was seamless...the dancer and her musician/violinist were in a delicate rythm and tune during the entire session... even when Valli would end a piece, go off the stage and come back..the impromptu piece that Sigamani did flowed into her arrival in the music of her chellangai.
Seeing an artist on the stage it is easy to forget that some of them can also express themselves in words. Many artists who work in one medium and language and try to explain it through words in the English language, fall short..
not the case with Alarmel Valli.
For someone who hears Alarmel Valli for the first time, it is something like a 10 year old's excalmation, "she speaks as well as she dances!" Erudite, not preachy, with just the right amount of translation into English, never losing the beauty of the original language, Valli has a beautiful voice too!
In her performance yesterday, she focussed on her composition: The Forgotten Seed. She started off with Shiva Pancharatna Stotra which incorporated five rythmic variations, in cycles of 5, 4, 3, 7 and 9.
more later today evening....
October 24, 2009
Beautiful!
the programme ended past 10 pm...the Dakshina presentation always comes before the featured artiste. More on this later.
Alarmel Valli, performing after 10 years in DC was her elegant, sparkling and vivid self. As was expected, her training in the Pandanallur style of bharathanatyam, brings forth the exquisite aspects of abhinaya in her presentations.
The choreography and the understanding between the artist and her accompanists was seamless...the dancer and her musician/violinist were in a delicate rythm and tune during the entire session... even when Valli would end a piece, go off the stage and come back..the impromptu piece that Sigamani did flowed into her arrival in the music of her chellangai.
Seeing an artist on the stage it is easy to forget that some of them can also express themselves in words. Many artists who work in one medium and language and try to explain it through words in the English language, fall short..
not the case with Alarmel Valli.
For someone who hears Alarmel Valli for the first time, it is something like a 10 year old's excalmation, "she speaks as well as she dances!" Erudite, not preachy, with just the right amount of translation into English, never losing the beauty of the original language, Valli has a beautiful voice too!
In her performance yesterday, she focussed on her composition: The Forgotten Seed. She started off with Shiva Pancharatna Stotra which incorporated five rythmic variations, in cycles of 5, 4, 3, 7 and 9.
more later today evening....
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Emergencylambs, Palakkad, Kerala
My love for all kinds of banners and signboards found this gem in Palakkad town, Kerala.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
National Museum, New Delhi
Just got to my notes made during the Summer of 2009.Pictures left behind in India: awaiting their arrival through email or post!
Website:Not a very classy website, more in the lines of standard Indian textbooks and GOI websites announcing various vacancies.
Museum
The sculptures and the Harappan collections are the strongest in this museum.
Is it displayed well? Yes and No.
Looked after well? No.
People happily, randomly and specifically touch all sculptures as they please!
Small random signs advising not to touch, but advice not enforced!
Museum Shop upstairs: Disinterested keeper, random kitschy junk which has no rhyme or reason to be there. Some random portfolios thrown among crafty cards, covered in dust.
Reflects the worst kitschy-ness in Indian Art: jumble of Kashmir-Rajasthani-North Indian random crafts which is someone's idea of India!!!!
A few minutes away one will find better products on the pavements of Janpath and Connaught Place.
Forget it!
Museum-Counter Shop with half empty shelves behind: Good service.Not enough goods!
The museum was in a frenzy of closed galleries, renovation works, non-functioning fountains bare in blue plastic in the central courtyard for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The better portfolio collection carried only one portfolio: that of the 1982 Asiad Games! Pictures tomorrow!
Some good reproductions from the Harappan Collections but none available except for the exquisite Harappan seals-reproduction copies in plaster-of-paris. Then only some of them! Ok, not great.
some portfolios, slightly dusty book collections: Bought the Chola Bronzes and the Harappan Civilization book.
Museum Cafe: If the electricity is out, be prepared to stew on the top most floor. Attentive service, red checkered table cloths: why?
Don't we have enough fabrics or designers to come up with something unique?
Menu: Fair priced menu, for the location and good food. Not exceptional. The plate of Rava Idlis: 30/- came with 2 fat idlis sambhar and chutney.
Rs. 30/- for an cold coffee, Indian style: good!
Buffet was on with 4 covered containers. Did not check.
Server suggested Masala Dosa as being a 'good item'.
The elderly manager, a Sikh gentleman eating masala dosa but not forgetting to say 'thankyou for coming'!
Museum
The sculptures and the Harappan collections are the strongest in this museum.
Is it displayed well? Yes and No.
Looked after well? No.
People happily, randomly and specifically touch all sculptures as they please!
Small random signs advising not to touch, but advice not enforced!
Museum Shop upstairs: Disinterested keeper, random kitschy junk which has no rhyme or reason to be there. Some random portfolios thrown among crafty cards, covered in dust.
Reflects the worst kitschy-ness in Indian Art: jumble of Kashmir-Rajasthani-North Indian random crafts which is someone's idea of India!!!!
A few minutes away one will find better products on the pavements of Janpath and Connaught Place.
Forget it!
Museum-Counter Shop with half empty shelves behind: Good service.Not enough goods!
The museum was in a frenzy of closed galleries, renovation works, non-functioning fountains bare in blue plastic in the central courtyard for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The better portfolio collection carried only one portfolio: that of the 1982 Asiad Games! Pictures tomorrow!
Some good reproductions from the Harappan Collections but none available except for the exquisite Harappan seals-reproduction copies in plaster-of-paris. Then only some of them! Ok, not great.
some portfolios, slightly dusty book collections: Bought the Chola Bronzes and the Harappan Civilization book.
Museum Cafe: If the electricity is out, be prepared to stew on the top most floor. Attentive service, red checkered table cloths: why?
Don't we have enough fabrics or designers to come up with something unique?
Menu: Fair priced menu, for the location and good food. Not exceptional. The plate of Rava Idlis: 30/- came with 2 fat idlis sambhar and chutney.
Rs. 30/- for an cold coffee, Indian style: good!
Buffet was on with 4 covered containers. Did not check.
Server suggested Masala Dosa as being a 'good item'.
The elderly manager, a Sikh gentleman eating masala dosa but not forgetting to say 'thankyou for coming'!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Apple Picking in VA: Carter Mountain Orchard
Fresh Golden Delicious Apples
Jonagolds
Stayman's
And the best donuts ever:
Apple Cider donut
$2/-pack of 2
$5/-pack of 6
A right turn and straight up the gravelly road onto the top of Carter Mountain.
Hayrides
Pumpkins
Apples
Picked Sweet Potato bins
Miniature Squash varieties
Kids and apples in red wagons
and not in that order!
Walk across the building straight down
to the rows of Golden Delicious
to the rows of Golden Delicious
Further down the gravel road onto
Jonagolds
$1/pound for Pick-your-owns
Assorted varieties available at the Counters
Wine for Sale: $5/- a glass
Sampling and local varieties.
Hot Dog Stand
New Refreshments this year
include Chicken Sandwich
Long lines at the loo and the Apple Cider Donut Counters
A trip just to sample these donuts is highly suggested!
Traffic squeezes back down through the gravelly road, some coming up, some down
dust in the air
and pretty sunlight patterns through the foliage
Past the historic Michie Tavern.
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