WINTER

 

This week the Camellias finished blooming...

What a spectacular time it has been, hundreds of gorgeous pink blooms and carpets of pink petals decorating our courtyard for several months.

Winter has come, and the roses are budding again...

I finished my new dress, and wore it to a concert at City Hall last Sunday.  In fact, it was so cool I took a coat!

Presented by Brisbane Chorale and Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, 'A Sea Symphony' by English composer Vaughan Williams was the highlight.  I have not heard it before, and enjoyed the powerful choral work, selections from Walt Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass'  in four thrilling movements: A Song for all Seas, all Ships; On the Beach at night alone; Scherzo - The Waves; and The Explorers.  All very exciting and evocative.

The program included Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4' and the gorgeous 'The Lark Ascending' also by Vaughan Williams.

We had coffee with our friends, and had a wonderful afternoon.

Untitled 1999, Sonabai, [1930-2007] India. (Camellia Cottage photo)

Would you like to hear a true story?

A lady called Sonabai Rajawar was born in a village in Central India in 1930.  After marriage from 1953 to 1968 she was shut in their farmhouse with her baby, by her jealous husband.

She could tend to them but not leave.  She had no artistic training.

However, she dug clay from the courtyard, and made clay toys and figures for her son.  They are whimsical, colourful and beautiful.

During the hot Summers, she cooled the house by shaving strips of bamboo, and made grids covered in clay to catch the breeze.  Snakes, parrots and other figures were added, coloured by the use of herbs and spices from the kitchen and garden.  Eventually she transformed the whole house.  She enjoyed the effects of negative space.

Untitled,1999  Sonabai, [1930-2007]India (Camellia Cottage photo)

In 1983 Museum scouts came to the area seeking works for a new Folk Art museum at Bhopal.  They were shown Sonabai's work, and despite her protests pickaxed and took away some of it.  By then, her son had grown up.  Six months later Sonabai was given a solo exhibition and in 1985 awarded a President's Award in Delhi for her new art form.  In her isolation, without any outside influence, she had invented this beautiful Folk Art style.  

In 1986 she travelled to San Diego with her son to demonstrate how she made her work, and on her return to India was granted a Government salary to teach local artists her style.  Many of her pupils gained national and international recognition.  The style was named Surguji Style (her district was called Surguji).

Sonabai died in 2007.

Don't you love stories about women who survive and become successful against all the odds?  

I really enjoy her work and love showing it to people at our State Art Gallery.

Untitled 1999, Sonabai, [1930-2007] India (Camellia Cottage photo)

Out walking this week, two wild ducks share the footpath..

We have been spending a few days caring for grandkids during the current School holidays.  They are such a delight.  I have been drawing birds for them to paint with watercolours and we all have had a wonderful time.

Have an excellent week

XXXX