Mar

The Yin and Yang of Crossing Cultures

by Sheron Long on March 28, 2013

Yin-yang symbol representing a concept learned by crossing cultures

Yin and yang are always on the plate of life.

Embracing Different Cultures

Often the first taste of another culture is through its food or music or fashion, something like “hello.” But people who find a way of crossing cultures—stepping inside the culture’s traditions, language, history, attitudes, and beliefs—are forever changed by the experience.

Sheron Long Comments

Crossing Cultures/Cultural Heritage & Traditions/The World's Art & Design/Vietnam

Mar

A Color-Saturated Cultural Tradition: Playing Holi

by Janine Boylan on March 25, 2013

A Young Boy Playing Holi, a Hindu Cultural Tradition

A young boy laughs with glee during Holi.
© Nitesh Chakravarti

Painting the Town Red (and Yellow and Green and Blue . . .)

Not long ago, richly-hued photos of people rejoicing during Holi, a Hindu tradition, caught my eye.

What is this crayon-colored holiday all about?

After some research, I learned that Holi is celebrated to welcome spring (this year it is celebrated on March 27). It is observed primarily in India and Nepal, but its popularity is growing world-wide. And it has been celebrated for centuries.

A centuries-old cultural tradition that I knew nothing about? There has to be an Oh, I See moment in this!

How Is Holi Celebrated?

In most areas, Holi lasts two days. On the first day, people gather around a public bonfire, lit near midnight, to sing and dance. They smear the ashes on their faces as a protection against evil.

This tradition is linked to Hindu mythology. One legend tells this story:

Once, a harsh, egotistical king demanded that everyone worship him. But the king’s son, Prahlad, refused and prayed to Lord Vishnu instead.
The evil king attempted to murder his son numerous times, but Lord Vishnu protected Prahlad. Finally, the evil king conspired with his sister, Holika. Knowing she was immune to fire, the king asked his sister to enter a bonfire with Prahlad in her lap.
Holika tricked her nephew to enter the flames with her. But, unknown to even her, Holika’s immunity worked only when she entered fire alone, so she was consumed in the flames. Prahlad’s unceasing prayers to Lord Vishnu protected him from the fire.

The word Holi comes from Holika and is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. The bonfires on the first night of the Holi holiday celebrate Prahlad’s escape from the flames.

And Day Two?

On the second day of Holi, people throw dry colored powder, or gulal, on one another. They also spray one another with colored water, or rang. These flying colors are why people call Holi, “The Festival of Colors.”

People Playing Holi, a Hindu Cultural Tradition

Bright powder fills the air during “The Festival of Colors.”
© Nitesh Chakravarti

This color-throwing tradition is rooted in another Hindu story.

As a youngster, the deity Krishna wailed how unjust it was that he had dark skin while his playmate Radha had fair skin. To soothe him, his mother suggested that Krishna color Radha’s face any color he desired. The mischievous god smeared color all over Radha’s face, making her look like him.

Now part of the Holi celebration is to joyfully drench others in color, as Krishna did to Radha.

A Crowd Playing Holi, a Hindu Cultural Tradition

Gulal, colored powder, engulfs a crowd.
© Nitesh Chakravarti

A Holiday for Everyone

Holi has another tradition: people who usually are separated for social reason— young and old, men and women, rich and poor—all come together to dance and play and have fun.

Around the World

As people move and carry their rich cultural traditions to their new homes, they introduce others to celebrations like Holi.

This year large Holi celebrations are planned worldwide, including:

In Palo Alto, CA, Asha for Education has a large Holi celebration. Proceeds will benefit education in India.
In New York City, NYC Bhangra is helping organize a Holi festival. NYC Bhangra is an Indian dance organization with the goal of promoting a better understanding of Indian culture through education and performance.
Throughout Europe, Holi One offers Holi events throughout the spring. The events include music and dance and lots of color.

Oh, I see! Sharing in the riches of this colorful Hindu tradition gives people all over the world a vibrant way to celebrate the colors of spring!

VIA holifestival.org

Note: In the past decade, groups like Toxics Link have been raising awareness about the dangers lurking in the synthetic powders sold on the streets in India during Holi. These powders may contain toxins that cause eye problems, skin allergies, and even kidney failure. People encourage using natural-based colors during Holi. (The specific events listed above will have safe colors.) In addition, due to severe drought, groups are encouraging a dry Holi in India this year.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Janine Boylan Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/India

Mar

Creative Inspiration from 365 Superheroes

by Meredith Mullins on March 21, 2013

Mulch, overgrown and green, serves as creative inspiration for one of 365 superheroes.

Superhero #68, Mulch, takes on the world.
© Everett Downing

Getting Inspired . . . The Superhero Way

When I was eight, I thought I could fly. Turns out I couldn’t. (One of the more brutal “Oh, I see” Moments of my life.)

I jumped joyously from the top railing of our porch steps, waiting for my arms to become wings. But soon after liftoff, I found myself in a crumpled heap at the bottom of my launch pad.

I had been so sure. So sure I could fly. After all, I had role models like Superman, Peter Pan and Wendy, Captain Marvel, the Flying Nun, and Dumbo.

The creative inspiration was there. But, regrettably, superpowers don’t come easily.

Limelight, neon green flying superhero, serves as creative inspiration for 365 superheroes

Limelight—Superhero #162

Superpowers and Superheroes

We all wish for superpowers. Flight. Invisibility. X-Ray Vision. Extraordinary Strength. Mind Control. Ability to Time Travel. Healing Prowess.

And sometimes we just wish for superheroes to come along and save the day.

Maybe the key is this:

If we need them, they will come.

Civil Liberty—female superhero in red, white, and blue—serves as creative inspiration for 365 superheroes

Civil Liberty, Superhero #79, fights for justice.
© Everett Downing

Imagining the Supers

Superpowers and superheroes give us hope, especially in the face of overwhelming odds or even just the everyday problems of living life.

For Pixar Story Artist Everett Downing, the supers were the creative inspiration he needed.

He was ready for an artistic self-kick in the pants. He felt he was in a rut and needed to shake things up a bit.

So, he made a New Year’s Resolution to draw a superhero every day—a way to set his right brain free. 365 supers. He would let creativity and imagination (and his childhood love of weird and wild heroes) take over.

His only guideline was not to overthink. The drawing could not take more than an hour.

Whipper/Snapper, lobster claws and whips, creative inspiration for 365 superheroes

He found it easiest sometimes to be inspired by the name—one he had thought of or an offer from friends, fans, or family. A cool name like Vibe or Apex or a pun or word play like Arm and Hammer, Alpha Romeo, Giga-bite, Red Cross and Blue Shield.

Sometimes an origin story came first, like Pandorceress, and the character grew from the story he wove. (She found Pandora’s box and opened it. Then paid with her eyesight but was given dark wisdom in return.)

Think Tank, a tank with a brain, creative inspiration for 365 superheroes

From Impulse to LOL—Just Have Fun

Creating the whole cast of characters took him a bit longer than he expected, but he stayed with it. He just finished #365 last week, with his blog fans (365 Supers) and Facebook friends cheering him across the finish line.

“I won’t say it wasn’t tough,” he says. “I wanted to quit plenty of times. But getting encouragement from people can be extremely powerful.” When he got stuck, his supercommunity would give him a gentle push and remind him to “just have fun.”

Everett Downing, artist who drew 365 superheroes for creative inspiration

From Howler to Cacophony to Emoticon to Morph Fiend—these supers can do everything from “creating crushing decibles at will” to “morphing into whatever form suits the moment.”

Sometimes they are partners (Shock and Awesome, Ball and Chain, Whipper/Snapper), sometimes dread enemies, and sometimes even adversaries and lovers (Deal Breaker and Heart Breaker).

Auntie Matter, pink and black female superhero, creative inspiration for 365 superheroes

Oh, I See

These heroes (and villains) are full of power and creative inspiration. “Everyone wants to believe that we can be larger than life,” Everett says of the superhero phenomenon, “and that one person can make a big difference.”

But the real “Oh, I see” moment is that we don’t need to be a superhero to do right and might. We mortals may not be able to fly or have x-ray vision, but we can heal and help, find extraordinary strength, and champion causes with dogged determination (like Dober-Man and the Pincher) when we need to.

And we can give ourselves creative challenges (and meet them!) just to keep life interesting. That’s a superpower of the best kind.

Thank you, Everett Downing, for the creative inspiration . . . and a whole new world of superheroes.

Silent Knight, creative inspiration for 365 superheroes

Stay tuned for Everett’s next projects on Mr. Scribbles’ Sketchblog. We just might see a reunion of this awe-inspiring cast of characters.

VIA National Public Radio and Wired Magazine