So here's my reply to them.

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Posted by Lauren on July 31, 2003 at 09:09:01:

In reply to: Apparently we are not artists... steaming mad... posted by Lauren on July 31, 2003 at 08:04:45:

Hi,
I wrote to you about having a booth doing henna at the arts event. I
seem to have deleted your reply, but I did want to respond to it. I
think you have the wrong idea about what I do.
It is true that some people use henna as a fake tattoo at carnivals
and other venues. On the other hand, some people use standard
watercolors to do face painting at the same events. Please don't
judge the entire medium by its lowest common denominator examples.
Henna as an art form goes back documentably to around 2100 BC in
modern-day Turkey. It quickly spread to the Levant, northern and
central Africa, Italy, Arabia, Greece, and even southern Spain,
Malayssia, and Indonesia. It was used as a bridal tradition and at
celebrations by people of all religions which existed in the area it
could grow, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism,
and Greek, Roman, and Cretan religions.Originally, mostly women used
it, but in medieval to 19th-century Persia the art on both men and
women reached its highest levels. The use of patterned henna in
India is much more recent, within the last fwe hundred years, and
it's taken in the cultural iconography of the people who used it
while becoming an integral part of that culture. You can identify
where a design is from by the pattern. Indian is dense floral and
vine work, preferably bright red. Egyptian and Sudanese art is
boldly floral, sometimes with words written in it. Persian art is
extremely delicate and features knotwork similar to that found in
Celtic works. Moroccan work is entirely linear and is usually heated
to give a color as close to black as possible.
Basically, henna is an artistic tradition with at least 4000 years of
rich cultural background. I don't do the fake tattoo stuff. Part of
the reason I want to be at an art festival is to raise awareness of
henna as an art form, which it truly is. I would have a professional
booth with photographs of my work available for sale, and possibly
other hennaed items such as lamps and drums. I am starting to do
henna designs on paper, and that would be available also. I would
have display books with examples of various classical henna styles
which a buyer could choose from, then get an original piece of art
done for them. Nothing here would be cheesy or unprofessional, and
we'd be educating people as they come by.
Another reason I want to start changing people's minds about henna is
that with the "fake tattoo" mindset comes the idea that henna can be
in multiple colors, especially black. The stuff commonly used
called "black henna" is actually concentrated chemcial hair dye, and
it's causing nasty chemcial burns, permanent bubbling scars, bladder
cancer and damage to other internal organs, even death in some cases,
at resorts and beaches all over the world. there are also lasting
ide effects, such as sensitivity to other chemicals and dyes, which
can make life miserable. For more information, go here:
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/index.html. Even if I don't sell
anything, if I can help people avoid this poisonous stuff, it will be
worth the trip.
I would be glad to talk to you more about henna, "black henna", or
the festival. Please email me back with any questions, or call (my
phone number). I hope you will change your mind about allowing henna
art at your event.
Lauren Grover

I should note that I spellchecked the email, so any errors in this
didn't get through. It's a lot, but I think it explains what we do a
little more. I'll let you know what happens.
Lauren

Follow Ups

I think that's a very even-tempered and fair response! (n/t) Rachael 09:16:25 7/31/2003 (2)
- It might have worked- she's forwarding it to the head of the arts council for decision! n/t Lauren 09:37:53 7/31/2003 (1)
  - Re: It might have worked- she's forwarding it to the head of the arts council for decision! n/t theadora 19:52:33 7/31/2003 (0)

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Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: Hi, : I wrote to you about having a booth doing henna at the arts event. I : seem to have deleted your reply, but I did want to respond to it. I : think you have the wrong idea about what I do. : It is true that some people use henna as a fake tattoo at carnivals : and other venues. On the other hand, some people use standard : watercolors to do face painting at the same events. Please don't : judge the entire medium by its lowest common denominator examples. : Henna as an art form goes back documentably to around 2100 BC in : modern-day Turkey. It quickly spread to the Levant, northern and : central Africa, Italy, Arabia, Greece, and even southern Spain, : Malayssia, and Indonesia. It was used as a bridal tradition and at : celebrations by people of all religions which existed in the area it : could grow, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, : and Greek, Roman, and Cretan religions.Originally, mostly women used : it, but in medieval to 19th-century Persia the art on both men and : women reached its highest levels. The use of patterned henna in : India is much more recent, within the last fwe hundred years, and : it's taken in the cultural iconography of the people who used it : while becoming an integral part of that culture. You can identify : where a design is from by the pattern. Indian is dense floral and : vine work, preferably bright red. Egyptian and Sudanese art is : boldly floral, sometimes with words written in it. Persian art is : extremely delicate and features knotwork similar to that found in : Celtic works. Moroccan work is entirely linear and is usually heated : to give a color as close to black as possible. : Basically, henna is an artistic tradition with at least 4000 years of : rich cultural background. I don't do the fake tattoo stuff. Part of : the reason I want to be at an art festival is to raise awareness of : henna as an art form, which it truly is. I would have a professional : booth with photographs of my work available for sale, and possibly : other hennaed items such as lamps and drums. I am starting to do : henna designs on paper, and that would be available also. I would : have display books with examples of various classical henna styles : which a buyer could choose from, then get an original piece of art : done for them. Nothing here would be cheesy or unprofessional, and : we'd be educating people as they come by. : Another reason I want to start changing people's minds about henna is : that with the "fake tattoo" mindset comes the idea that henna can be : in multiple colors, especially black. The stuff commonly used : called "black henna" is actually concentrated chemcial hair dye, and : it's causing nasty chemcial burns, permanent bubbling scars, bladder : cancer and damage to other internal organs, even death in some cases, : at resorts and beaches all over the world. there are also lasting : ide effects, such as sensitivity to other chemicals and dyes, which : can make life miserable. For more information, go here: : http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/index.html. Even if I don't sell : anything, if I can help people avoid this poisonous stuff, it will be : worth the trip. : I would be glad to talk to you more about henna, "black henna", or : the festival. Please email me back with any questions, or call (my : phone number). I hope you will change your mind about allowing henna : art at your event. : Lauren Grover : : I should note that I spellchecked the email, so any errors in this : didn't get through. It's a lot, but I think it explains what we do a : little more. I'll let you know what happens. : Lauren
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