Saturday, March 25, 2006

Detail of Katesar Sewing Project Mural


When I first saw Prashant walking down the hall of the UrbanSpace building at 401 Richmond Street West, he was slowly unwrapping himself from a bundled shawl against the cold of the last days of Canadian winter. Underneath he was wearing a brightly stitched long vest. Every seam and detail embroidered in bright primary colours. My mind connected to Ray Bradbury's "The Illustrated Man" but this was the "Stitched Man", I was seeing.

Why?


It was a legacy of Prash's work with two of WLC's sewing projects--projects that combine literacy education with teaching women sewing skills useful for cottage industry endeavours. Prash has been helping the women in the projects create some new designs for placemats and other goods that WLC will help sell in Canada at fair value to sustain their project.

While working in the project, not only did Prash's wardrobe become progressively more covered in bright embroidery but he also took time to bedeck the walls of the sewing project with some whimsical murals depicting the beehive of activity within.

Friends and well-wishers at the Hotel Ganges View art show

The Artist on Display at the Hotel Ganges View

Entrance to the Hotel Ganges View

A painting of the entrance of a hotel in which there is an art exhibit in which hangs the painting of the entrance of the hotel in which there is an art exhibit in . . . . and so on . . . . and on


A small warm flame in the City of Light

Art Show -- De-constructed Sketchbook

Farewell to Varanasi


Dr. Pravin Rana, the Director of the WLC children's programs in Varanasi kindly sent along some photos of Prashant's art show and final farewell as he headed off to GOA and then back to Canada. He began with this beautiful photograph that speaks volumes about the measure of life in the City of Light. Another sunrise spreads across the water of the Ganges as day breaks. (Thanks, Pravin!)

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Sarah

Hermit

Travelling back to Toronto

A long stop over at the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, where I whiled away my time in the Rijk's museum and meditation centre.

Monday, March 13, 2006