Expression of love through Sweets, Desserts (Hindi word-Mithai): Valentine Day!

Valentine Day and Sweets(Mithai)

Photo Credit- Kate Bernot http://chicago.seriouseats.com/ 

Valentine day is on 14th February and being in America for many years, like Americans, I picture chocolates, flowers and love during this time. Chocolates of different shapes, especially heart shaped chocolates are sold and gifted to loved one and friends. See the love symbol of cupid and painted words with love birds over assorted Valentine Chocolates.

Kisses- Credit www.sugarpressure.co

The retail, food and service industry capitalize on this day to increase the sales of their products and services, especially Chocolates takes the lead role. To support the needs of the retailers, manufacturers held sweets and snacks expo in America. Chocolate and Candy manufacturers display their products creatively. See the photo taken from this expo, where the Candy Giant Hersey's Kisses are floating in the air, very dramatic!


I started thinking about various sweet food items, their beauty, glamor and the associations with memorable and happy events. All my sensory memory came to surface. Sweets are the major players on most memorable events and occasions. People from all countries celebrate many happy social activities around sweets-making, displaying, eating and sharing or gifting the sweets.Sometimes, we may not notice them but they are present during cultural festivities.

With my  girl friends, I go to this Cocola Bakery located in mixed-use shopping development "Santana Raw" in San Jose, CA. and can never resist trying out one of these elegantly displayed pastries. This coffee and pastry break with a friend after shopping or window shopping designers' clothes is perfect and makes me forget how much I spent and puts me in  happy, relaxing, enjoyable time. Look at the different types of pastries displayed, I can go every week and not get tired of them.

Pastry Display at Cafe, Santana Raw

I remember growing up in India during Diwali and visiting many relatives' weddings, various types of sweet dishes were served. All young men would contest on eating maximum numbers of Laddu ( Sweet wheat flour ball with saturated butter and sugar). I remember many interesting stories associated with the sweets. Indians have not marketed their sweets in America for sure. Americans think of Indian sweets as Gulab Jamun, Ras Malai, Kheer or Carrot Halwa, but Indian sweets is as diverse and complex as India, her people, culture and languages. The sweets reflect influence of Persians, Moguls and European colonists who entered India throughout history.

The sweet dishes vary based on the combination of  numerous ingredients, a wide range of food preparation styles, and its' culinary presentation. India is known for its spices and those spices are used in sweets too. Just thinking about all of them, I feel exhaustion!
I will have to write another post about them, but see the photos of the shops selling these sweets below.

Typical Display of Indian Sweets  under the Counter

Sweets Display in Ajmer, India- Photo Credit- American Tourist

Photo Credit- Kate Bernot http://chicago.seriouseats.com

 So tempted and thought occurred to me--
 The chocolates fused with Indian spices.....and there... they are available!

Came across this photo of  exotic truffles sprinkled with Indian Curry, Ginger, Wasabi and Hungarian paprika nestled in amethyst jewel tone box. I just love this international ingredients mixed with the American chocolate! I have to order it from Chicago!
Have some sweets and Happy Valentine Day!

Paintings of Suburbanization

I am posting another two painting in the series of Urbanization/Suburbanization. These paintings are flowing without boundaries and have dream like quality. You can see that transparent Saree (a 6 yard piece of cloth) flying through the landscape. One day, it is going to tell an interesting story. Be ready!

Gandhi Topi - A simple Fabric Structure

When I was talking to my friend about Fabric Architecture and fabric form, he pointed me about Gandhi Topi. I was amazed to realize the simplicity of the form, structure and material of the famous Gandhian Topi. Gandhi Topi (Cap) is a white colored cap made out of Khadi (Hand woven cloth, either cotton, wool or silk). Anna Hazare with his Gandhian Topi has brought Gandhi Topi in to fashion world.
Mahatma Gandhi, who brought freedom to India would have got an award for his design of this Cap. In designing this national headgear, he considered many factors- The Topi is simple, elegant, affordable, light and portable. Also the pure white color stood out against many colorful turbans and cloths. If it got dirty, it would show on the white color right away and that way it is worn clean. It is so easy to make, just search on youtube videos.

Anna Hazare

Photo Credit- http://www.flickr.com/photos/9374338@N02/867598775/in/photostream/

 

http://www.ndtv.com/article/lifestyle/capping-fashion-making-statement-with-gandhi-topi-128666

Paintings after Visual Analysis

Changes in Paintings after critical examination-

I asked one of my artist friends to review my paintings and made few changes in the paintings. I am posting the same paintings and you can see the changes. I integrated three elements and colors in the first painting. In the second painting, I repeated the architectural wall two times making the urban element dominant. I think the colors are flowing well across the canvas. What do you think?

Painting-1

Painting-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paintings inspired by urbanization

Attempt to express urbanization through paintings

I made an attempt to express urbanization through paintings. Also, I included flying Saree. The colors are shifted in the photos. They still need to evolve, somehow look incomplete. I have to paint few more to get satisfactory results.
Two Paintings below-

 

Subterranean River by Stephen Blumberg

Is it co-incidence or what ?  Some unified similar incidences are occurring around me. My son is playing a piece named "Subterranean River" in California Youth Symphony Orchestra today at Flint Center in Cupertino.  I attended a lecture on Sounds of river last week and I am going to listen to this piece by Stephen Blumberg on Sounds of River.

As he describes it in his words- "Early in the process of composing this music I heard in it evocations of moving water, sometimes tranquil, sometimes rushing, even torrential. There was also a sense of underground spaces – dank, dark, cavernous, resonant, and echoing. In one passage the music slows to almost complete stillness and it suggested to my imagination a timeless, voluminous space, cathedral-like, with crystals and hanging stalactites above nearly motionless, pooling water. The various sections of the piece have tempo and character indications – tranquil, calm; murky, menacing; turbulent, rushing – that suggest different types of motion associated with the changing speed and flow of an underground river. I determined the title, Subterranean River, and as the piece progressed the music flowed through a changing succession of scenes and spaces, experienced through an imagined voyage."

I am looking forward to this symphony today. For more, go here

Subterranean River for orchestra was commissioned by the California Youth Symphony and is dedicated to Music Director and Conductor Maestro Leo Eylar.

"A Sound Map of Rivers" and The "Bubble"

Creative Visions
Not having many active projects to work on, I have been fabricating my own projects and in the process, creative juices are flowing in my brain. May be due to this creative thinking, I keep stumbling upon creative people and artists who want to change the world with their vision. I have to share these two individuals vision.

Annea Lockwood, a composer, gave a lecture last night and shared her work with the audience. Born in New Zealand, studied in London and Holland, now living in America, Annea is fascinated by river sounds and creates a Sound Map of rivers. She has recorded the sounds of the Hudson, the Danube, and the Housatonic at various sites and interviewed people describing their association with rivers. She interweaves the river sounds with the words of people and makes installations. I heard few samples of sounds of water flowing river with changing energies. Very fascinating idea of "seeing into things" in imaginative way. For more, check out here.

Another visionary person is Richard Koshalek, director of the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC. He believes that museums today have to curate the public spaces and educational programs along with exhibitions.  His words: "If we can develop an educational program that's national and global in outlook, we can have an impact on cultural policy in the U.S.".  With this vision in mind, he is working with New York based Design firm, diller scofidio + renfro to design and construct a 145 tall inflatable cylindrical bubble in the existing building of Hirshhorn Museum.

Photo Credit- Smithsonian............................Photo Credit Hubpages

The "Bubble” is a pneumatic structure enclosed only by a thin translucent membrane that fits into the central open area of the building and oozes out the top and beneath its mass. The translucent interior courtyard will host global eductional events twice a year. Look at the renderings of the proposed space below.

Photo Credit - diller scofidio + renfro

Photo Credit - diller scofidio + renfro

I really admire the vision of both these individuals. The final piece or product or structure is the result of  a series of processes and collaborations. Annea's ambition of just recording various river sounds and Ricard Koshalek's vision incorporating ongoing global education exchange in the existing building are definitely noteworthy in my mind.