Company Affair

The Indian made carpets, inspired by Persian artisans, suit all climates, budgets, and personal tastes.  These traditions have evolved, over the the years and through the collaborations of the artists in India.  The quality of the materials used and the care of those using the materials are known throughout the world.  Many cities in countries as far away as Canada, the United States and throughout Europe, value and covet these fine pieces of work, of art on the floor.  The carpets that are in many large company buildings such, as the five star Jaipur hotels to the Sarah Lee corporate offices in downtown Chicago, are made of the finest silk, wool and cotton.  The ‘mats’ are practical in use, and beautiful to the optical palette.  When the weavers began they were heavily influenced by their mentors from Persia.  However, distinctive designs were introduced by those from Turkey, Morocco, France and Afghanistan.  And later, the designs became wholly Indian, influenced by the previous artists, but built and expanded upon by those in Jaipur, Delhi and Goa.

Different regions produced different styles.  In such cities as Darjeeling and Sikkim, carpets are made from the finest of wool, intense in color.  The wool greatly varies, with worsted wool being used for the finest quality carpets.  While the traditionally desired wool, are the yarns that have aged like wine, there are ways now that that process is chemically sped up.  Traditional weavers however, will not work with such treated wool, as they state that there is just no substitute for the wool that is naturally aged.  Dragons, the lotus, and Snow Lions are the motifs.  These are combined with traditional Buddhist images and iconography such as the Pisces-like two twin fish, and the yin-yang symbol.  The designs from areas differ, as do the techniques.  These from this region tend to be very Chinese in tradition and symbolism.  These patterns always remain in style, and have done so for the last three thousand years.  Carpets from India are found throughout the world, and are works of art and tradition, so representative of the country and their ways.

The Fairbridge Festival happens every year in Pinjarra, Australia located just outside capital city of Perth.  The Folk Music festival took place last week, over two days and those attending had the option of staying in Pinjarra or Perth hotels, Australia is so beautiful this time of year however, that most camp out on the grounds surrounding.  The enthusiasm and the momentum inspired by the music gets more intense with every passing year, this has been the fourteenth year of the event.  The concerts happen at the site in which the Farm School of Fairbridge was constructed in 1912.  It was a school, but also served as an orphanage for the children who had previously been living on the streets in the country of Great Britain.  The school-orphanage was operating up until the 1960’s.

The school was one of many aspects of a Child Migration Plan.  There has been some controversy over the years as the children were promised and often given better and more healthy ways of life, but they were generally taken off the streets literally, put on the boats and shipped away to Australia.  There is a documentary on the subject, ‘The Leaving of Liverpool’ which looks at some of the stories that did not turn out with happy endings.  However, thousands of children grew up at the Fairbridge School and have fond memories.

The buildings that were used during the school’s operation to house the children, are now the buildings that provide accommodations to the musicians and their crews during the festival, and some of them are used as venues for some of the shows.  The grounds are wide open and spacious, providing the more thousands in attendance every year a comfortable and peaceful festival.

The festival organizers admit that only recently has there been just a bit of profit generated from the festival, and it has been saved to create better shows in the future.  As it stands, many of those artists wishing to play are turned away because the festival just simply has not been able to afford them, as the cost to just get them there is outrageous.  However this festival is now ranking up among the best of Australia, and will continue to grow and obtain the ability to have more internationally known acts participate.

Throughout history, there has been support for the arts.  But as cliche states and does prove itself true, ‘it’s a man’s world’.  Not so for three women in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.  RivaBlumenfeld, Margaret Mathews Berrenson and Laura Greengold have brought their years of experience, of knowledge and their passion to the world of the arts.

Riva Blumenfeld was an instructor at the Brooklyn museum.  She now teaches at various museums in New York City, the MoMA and the Guggenheim to name a few.  She received her MA in art history and continues to support the arts and to educate the public.  She began teaching with various groups in schools and in adult education programs, and has come back to that part of her life again.  For the last twenty-five years she has owned and directed galleries in SoHo and many on the upper east side.  She is also now, a dealer and a publisher.  Promoting many art festivals nationwide, as well as those just outside some restaurants, galleries, and luxury hotels, New York City artists, and those living in the surrounding neighborhoods have gained support and encouragement and venues to show their works.  She had been the president of the NY division of Art Table, and is a currently still a member.  Art Table is an organization dedicated to world of art, composed of professional women who support the arts.  She has become a vital voice, providing her own perspective and promoting the contemporary artists, bringing knowledge of the techniques used, the meaning behind, and the personality of the artists creating and working today.

A critic, an independent curator, and a manager of the arts for more than 25 years, Margaret Mathews Bereson brings that expertise to the city and to the people seeking that knowledge and spirit.  She has experience with contemporary photographers and painters, and has been a curator for many museums, including the Met and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Berenson serves as a city advisor concerning matters of development and fund raising for those institutions and non-profit organizations that may not otherwise have a voice.  She is a lecturer and a writer and has been the editor and served on the board for many magazines and galleries.  She is currently teaching throughout the city and is considered a specialist in her field.

Laura Greengold is also a well known writer and lecturer.  She graduated from The Art Institute in Chicago, and the received her masters degree from Yale.  She serves to guide people through the various exhibitions and shows that run throughout the city.  She works out of the Met and MoMA , and is currently working at Pratt Art Institute as a professor, as she is an accomplished artist as well as historian.  Her books are well received and she shows her own work regularly throughout Manhattan and internationally.  These three women dedicate their lives to art, and to the education and instruction of the public, not just on the ‘how-to’s’, but on the ‘why’ and the ‘necessity’ as well.

The Singapore International Piano Festival was conceived and developed by Goh Yew Lin, a stockbroker, music critic, and piano enthusiast. It was developed under the wing of Singapore Symphony Co Ltd., which is the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s parent company. In 2004 Chang Tou Liang took over as Artistic Director. Liang was a well known physician and music reviewer. He remained true to the original intention of the festival and also desired to expand it. He is a progressive piano enthusiast and seeks to find new and innovative ways of expressing angles and motives in the music.

The Piano Festival has a unique thematic approach to their program, and in 2009 will focus on Bach. The program is titled Bach to the Future, which in itself emphasizes the festivals progressive approach. The program will also include several pieces that have not before been performed in Singapore. These include Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated, Robin Holloway’s Gilded Goldbergs and Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues. Piano is extremely popular in Singapore and subscribers account for one third of the audience. Local audiences do not make up the entire attendance, however, the festival has a huge following from out of the country and draws a great deal of visitors. There are plenty of fine restaurants in the area, and guests fill the reservation capacity of many of best hotels in Singapore.

By 1998 the Festival had branched out and began performing in neighboring cities and towns. They take the program along Southeast Asia but have gone as far Hong Kong. In that same year, the festival had been recognized in the International Piano Quarterly as being “well organized, friendly and with a policy of low prices.” This will be the festival’s 15th season and it remains to be Asia’s only perennial piano festival.

The population of Singapore’s middle class has becoming accustomed to their economic security, and thus, spending more money on the enjoyment of life. Some choose to do so, in any number of the discos, or clubs or pubs which are increasing in number and variety. For just as this younger generation is growing and spending more, so is the number of popular new nights spots and restaurants growing. Hot spots are taking on a bit more of a groovy tone, as in some of the new cigar bars, or pool halls. And as is also true in the more metropolitan cities in the United States, wine bars are becoming increasingly more popular.

One famous street in Singapore offers up a variety of night time entertainment is Orchard Road. During the daytime this is a popular market place. But at night, the pulse and heartbeat changes a bit. There are many bars, karaoke clubs, and discos, however the Orchard Road has much to offer on the sidewalks of the street. There are many open-air markets during the night time, and they are vibrant with the performances of the street musicians, the Chinese Opera Shows, puppet shows and Singapore Symphony Orchestra. This city is like a carnival, of sights and sounds, and flavors when the sun sets.

The residents also value their down time during the day, the time to pamper and to tend to the physical body and bring serenity to the mind. Singapore best spas offer services that include massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture and detoxification. Sometimes necessary after a night out on the town. Many spas are in garden settings, which serve a few purposes. For not only are these setting instrumental in the entire experience many of the ingredients used for aromatherapy and the detox face and body masks are taken straight from these gardens. Most of the spas combine the various treatments, or exercise such as Pilates or yoga, with the natural world. Many days are spent integrating walks through the parks or gardens with classes, massage, and the healthy cuisine of the vegetarian restaurants. So all in all, whether it be day or night, there is a variety of ways to relieve stress and unwind for the citizens of the city, and for the tourists visiting for just that reason.

There are two ways to celebrate Easter next week in Lake District, England. One is the world renown beer festival. A week long festival at the Lakes hotel, the Watermill, provides the joy, food and fun of celebration with a location like non-other in England. Exquisite countryside surrounds many lakes providing relaxing day hikes, and more extensive trails for those more experienced and wanting a bit more than relaxation. Beers offered during the festival are created on the spot at the micro-brewery. The brewery proudly includes just the finest of ingredients in their ales, stouts and lagers. Beginning today, April 10th the celebrations kicks off, featuring any one of the twenty four beers available on tap, and live music to last throughout the week. Many specials will be offered up by the chefs, as well as featured new brews. And for those who can not leave man’s best friend at home, the Windmill accepts canine patrons as well. The main bar is open to dogs, and the dogs generally get served before their human companions. The dogs are provided with comfortable beds for relaxing, fresh water and specialty biscuits while their masters are provided with comfortable bar stools, mugs of cellar cooled beer and the various treats created in the kitchen.

Not far away in Cumbria, the site of famous children’s book writer Beatrix Potter sits, Hill Top. This is the location of the largest Easter Egg hunt in all of Northern England. The hunt spans over 2,500 miles of the countryside that so inspired the stories of Jemima Puddleduck and Peter Rabbit, hence the title of the “Great Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt”. Ms. Potter, also a well known environmentalist left her endowment for the protection of the countryside that thousands of egg-hunters will be wandering from April 8th, and on throughout the week until all the eggs are located. There will be prizes for those collecting the most eggs, special dinners and parties and activities for the whole family throughout the week. The one of a kind eggs will be placed in relatively easy places to locate and for those a bit frustrated, maps of the locations will made available, which keep track of those eggs yet to be discovered. So whether it’s beer or bunnies, there is something for everyone to enjoy this week in Cambridge.

One island just a quarter of a mile off the coast of mainland Singapore, is the island of Sentosa, apply named as the word means tranquility and peace in the Malay language. This name change was requested by the people of the island in 1972, as the translation for the name previously, was the Island of Death from Behind. Quite easy to understand the locals desire for the name change. An expressway built in 1992 links the island to the mainland and makes travel between the two extremely convenient. More than seventy percent of Sentosa is made up of the secondary rain-forest, and many local Singaporeans travel to the island for the resorts and the beaches, and the, well peace and tranquility. The government and many private corporations have invested millions of dollars in the development of the island over the years, creating what has become a very desirable tourist destination for international travelers. There are many attractions that make this island perfect for family get-aways, as well as miles of white sand beaches and local flora and fauna which make out-door exploring and hiking an experience like no other. The resorts and Singapore luxury hotels are among the most extravagant in the country.

One of the more recent attractions to come to the island is the Universal Studios Theme Park, which offers a look into and tours and rides surrounding, some of the top that Hollywood, California has to offer in the entertainment industry. Families can spend days in this one park experiencing the many sites and exhibits. Another site very popular, a bit less congested, is the Tiger Sky Tower. This incredible lookout was opened in 2004 and provides the opportunity to view the mainland, the entire island of Sentosa, and the many islands surrounding. When the weather is clear it is also possible to see Indonesia as well as Malaysia from this tower over 130 meters over sea level. Over 50 species of butterflies are housed in the Butterfly Park, providing another very peaceful destination. More than fifteen thousand butterflies are on exhibit in an outdoor garden and conservatory. And for those with a little Jacques Cousteau in their soul, there is the Underwater World. The oceanarium opened on the western side of the island in 1991. The park is completely underground, or under water as it is, with a tunnel surrounded by glass windows that stretches over 80 meters. Visitors are also able to submerge themselves waist deep, and swim with the dolphins. Many spectacular opportunities are on this island, and they are all very much alive, with no ‘death coming from behind’.