Re: It might have worked- she's forwarding it to the head of the arts council for decision! n/t
Posted by theadora on July 31, 2003 at 19:52:33:
In reply to: It might have worked- she's forwarding it to the head of the arts council for decision! n/t posted by Lauren on July 31, 2003 at 09:37:53:
Thats great!Good letter.
I wonder if you could mention Catherines work getting the Phd in
henna. The fact that there are records in higher education -
Universities in Engald. Paintings of great rarity and value
thousands of years old.
I wonder why painting on skin is less valid then painting on canvas?
If you sent them a painting on canvas of your work theyd be stunned!
I think its partially due to it being non American in origin, a body
marking, predominantly women centered art. I dont care if people use
the word "art" for what I do with henna, but I dont certainly think
its sub or below anything youd find in any gallery wall or fair.
I hope they get the picture!!
: : : 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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