The roots seem a tangled mess–it’s difficult to believe they’re part of a living, breathing organism. Everywhere you look, there’s only water and mangrove trees–no real shore to speak of.
Behind the oars: In the mangrove forest of Pichavaram, India.
Tamil Nadu
Home is where you are
Home is a curious word, isn’t it? What happens as our definition of home expands? What if home can be many things? Maybe where you grew up, and where your family lives now or you live, and even where you spent three months, three weeks, or three days.
Spectrum of India: The country and its colors.
“I am as curious about color as one would be visiting a new country, because I have never concentrated so closely on color expression. Up to now I have waited at the gates of the temple.” — Henri Matisse All I needed was a quote about color. Doesn’t sound too ambitious, does it? It’s a … Read More
The halfway point: Getting to know my terra incognita.
“A kind of India happens everywhere, that’s the truth too; everywhere is terrible and wonder-filled and overwhelming if you open your sense to the actual pulsating beat.” — Salmon Rushdie “So what do you think of India so far?” It’s a question I’m starting to get a lot lately–from family, friends, even people I meet … Read More
Softstone carving as subversion: An unlikely rebellion in southern India.
“Learning is always rebellion… Every bit of new truth discovered is revolutionary to what was believed before.” — Margaret Lee Runbeck On a rainy Saturday morning outside Chennai, Tamil Nadu–India’s southernmost state–huge groups of students were arriving at DakshinaChitra. But one bus brought nine young women there for a different reason than a simple school … Read More
A crackin’ Diwali…community-style.
Diwali was supposed to be quiet. Well, obviously not that quiet given the extraordinary amount of fireworks that are set off, but quiet enough. “It’s a family holiday,” my friend Nambi told me as I headed towards the southern city of Chennai to spend the festival with his family. “Most of the celebrations take place … Read More