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21

Apr

In Home Lockdown, What Sustains You?

by Joyce McGreevy on April 21, 2020

A couple preparing for Seder in their kitchen to share with friends online keep a cultural tradition during the pandemic lockdown. (Image © Jamison and Wendy Clifford Reeves)

Jamison and Wendy Reeves cook supper (above) to share
Passover Seder online with friends (below).

Friends sharing Seder online while maintaining social distance keep a cultural tradition during a global health crisis. (Image © Jamison and Wendy Clifford Reeves0

Both images ©  Jamison Reeves and Wendy Clifford Reeves

Keeping Cultural Traditions
Despite Social Distance

Recently in Bulgaria, Hristina Bareva’s mother  celebrated an important cultural tradition—her Name Day. “Name days are a big thing in Bulgaria,” says Hristina.  So big that “you don’t need permission to visit [the honoree’s] home. It’s socially accepted that you are welcome.”

Palm Sunday is designated for anyone who’s named for a tree or flower. That includes Hristina’s mother, Margarita, after the daisy. In any other year, Margarita would have spent the day offering visitors homemade cakes.

But 2020 is unlike any other year.

A woman eating cake alone during lockdown in Bulgaria due to a pandemic thinks about the cultural traditions that she usually associates with food. (Image © Hristina Bareva)

Eating cake alone is not festive, says Hristina. “I’m used to associating
food with people and togetherness.”
© Margarita Bareva

Instead, Hristina and her mother paid a socially distant visit to her brother Dimitar, his wife Lily, and their baby. “We left them food in containers and talked through the door,  not going inside,” says Hristina. “This was our family time. They called us and said they loved the cake!”

Oh, I see: Cultural traditions that gather us together can also sustain us in times of separation.

A collage shows a man enjoying cake while social distancing on Name Day, a cultural tradition in Bulgaria. (Image © Hristina Bareva)

Separated by a glass door, Dimitar enjoys a family visit.
© Hristina Bareva

Back to Our Roots

Sheltering solo in California, Michael Nackley stays connected to his  heritage through an online community that shares Lebanese recipes and stories.

Lebanese Okra Stew based on an online group recipe inspires a man to honor his cultural traditions even while sheltering in place during a pandemic. (Image © Michael Nackley)

When his group posted about Lebanese Okra Stew,
Michael cooked up a taste of home.
© Michael Nackley

For Quinnie Lin in Los Angeles,  staying connected to family tradition includes little things, like “beating eggs with chopsticks, because that’s how I learned from my grandma.”

A young woman with a red bowl and chopsticks feels connected to the cultural traditions of her grandmother. (Image © Quinnie Lin)

Quinnie says an Irish friend “left me that big red bowl when he moved.
It makes me very happy.”
© Quinnie Lin

Adapting Traditions to Lockdown

Most cultural activities take us out into the world. From  the timeless tradition of exploring other cultures through travel to such everyday customs as “meetings and greetings” during our daily rounds, we’re wired for sociability.

Baristas and customers in an Italian cafe and bakery evoke memories of life before lockdown impacted Italy's cultural traditions. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Italy, sociability is a traditional “ingredient” of everyone’s morning pastry . . .
© Joyce McGreevy

Italian bread pastries, riccioline, show how home baking keeps families under lockdown in Italy connected to cherished cultural traditions. (Image © Silvia Malago)

. . . but for now, Silvia Malago savors  tradition by baking riccioline at home.
© Silvia Malago

By contrast, lockdown requires us to adapt the customary to the necessary. For travelers like John and Trisha Jones, connecting across cultures now means taking a “world tour” from their kitchen in Scotland: “A traditional Glasgow soup of lentils,” one night and Spanish paella the next. Next, Turkish green bean stew.  “The only thing missing is raki.”

A man in Scotland who loves travel stays connected to cultural traditions by exploring the world from home during a global pandemic. (Image © Trisha Jones)

Under lockdown in Scotland, traditional “fun in the sun” travel means
a trip to the front step.
© Trisha Jones

Honoring Ancestors

In Salinas, California, the Roddy family cherish their cultural heritage. “Our ancestors came from all corners of the world. They are Irish, Italian, Spanish Basque, Indigenous Mexican-Aztec, and Sephardic Jewish,” says Michael. “The dishes we prepare reflect them all.”

His wife, Maria, who’s writing books centered on food,  savors rituals that accompany cooking. These include honoring the ancestors with world music ranging from Italian opera to boleros, romantic Mexican ballads beloved by her parents.

Above all, they love cooking with their adult children. But how to do so while maintaining separation? For this family of artists, creativity provided the answer.

‘The other day we all had old tortillas in the fridge,” says Michael, “and that inspired us to make a breakfast dish called chilaquiles, with tortillas, onions, veggies, eggs, salsa, and crumbled cheese.”

With cameras ready, the Roddy family headed to the kitchen . . .

A table set with chilaquiles in Salinas, California evokes one family’s way of connecting to cultural traditions whilei in lockdown during a pandemic. (Image © Maria Elizabeth M. Roddy)

. . .in Salinas . . .
© Maria Elizabeth M. Roddy

Homemade chilaquiles in Los Angeles, California suggests one way a family under lockdown in a pandemic preserves a cultural tradition. (Image © James Roddy)

. . .and Los Angeles . . .
© James Roddy

A breakfast of chilaquiles in Oakland, California symbolizes a family’s way of connecting to cultural traditions, even during lockdown in a pandemic. (Image © Elizabeth A. Roddy)s

. . . and Oakland! 
© Elizabeth A. Roddy

A Tradition of Hunting and Gathering

On New Zealand’s Stewart Island,  maintaining the ecological balance depends in part on hunting. With a population of 400, the island has one market, and currently all cargo transport between the mainland is limited to essentials.

“My husband hunts for whitetail [deer],” says Jess Kany, editor of the Stewart Island News. “I cut the meat into steaks to vacuum pack in marinade. The no-steak bits we turn into stew meat and mince.”

A view of Stewart Island through a window reminds the writer of the cultural tradition of shared sacrifice that sustains a community during lockdown. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Under lockdown, one Stewart Islander posts to his neighbors:
“We are still traveling. Yesterday we visited the kitchen.”
© Joyce McGreevy

Foraging  has deep roots across world cultures, and manifests in similar ways in completely different environments.

In rural Ireland, one can safely gather wild garlic while sheltering in place. Pour hot broth over chopped leaves for a fortifying soup.

Meanwhile, from Ojai, California, Julie Lovejoy’s foraging yields a moment of zen:

“Today I harvested stinging nettle for the very first time. From separating the leaves from the stems (gloved of course) and letting them steam into a soup base of onion, potato, and butter, to ladling out the deep green soup, the slow, meditative process was made deeper by the absence of people or cars. The only sounds were  the constant hammering of rain on my hood as I worked, the slow chop of potatoes, and the scrape of the spoon against the bowl.”

A collage about nettle soup reflects how ancient cultural tradtions are helping us weather the current pandemic under lockdown. (Image © Julie Lovejoy) (Image © Julie Lovejoy)

A tradition of cooking nettles began in ancient Tibet, where it was
the sole food (and soul food) of the monk Milarepa.
© Julie Lovejoy

In urban cultures, “gathering ” takes on new meaning now that restaurants have closed. Diners used to gathering in groups are now gathering donations, ideas, and patience to save lives and preserve culinary traditions.  Chefs and residents are gathering resources to turn restaurants into kitchens for healthcare workers and stadiums into food banks for families.

In Chicago, Jennifer Kleiman and wife Belia Rodriguez hope that people ordering delivery tip generously. “Every bit helps. We do a mix of cooking at home and ordering in from our favorite neighborhood places to make sure we’re supporting as much as our waistlines allow.”

A warm spell revived another culinary tradition: dining al fresco. “We thought it would be nice to eat on our front porch and get some fresh air, so we picked up burgers and beers.”

What beer?

“La Fin du Monde,” Jennifer quips.

A woman eating takeout reminds the writer that urban culture has changed under lockdown but cultural traditions like community spirit have not. (Image © Jenn Kleiman)

On call for her “techspertise,” Belia Rodriguez savors some downtime.
© Jennifer Kleiman

A Culture of Caring

Fortunately, the world isn’t ending, just pausing. But for essential workers, breaks are few.

In New Zealand,  Kiwis value the cultural tradition of “doing your bit” for the community. That’s why Dave Aukuso and fiancée Laura Foote waited  till almost sunset to enjoy Easter breakfast. Dave had just completed another overnight shift at an Auckland supermarket.

A couple in New Zealand value the Kiwi cultural tradition of helping one's community during an emergency. (Image © Laura Foote)

Traditional mealtimes take a hit when Dave works 17 hours straight.
© Laura Foote

“They’ve changed operational procedures in the supermarket, which need close moderating,” says Laura.  “Only one person per shop per family. Limited numbers in store. Keeping distance. And then there’s arguments, accidents, the whole works. He loves it, though.”

A man and woman in protective masks volunteering at a food bank exemplify Texans’ cultural tradition of helping one's community during a crisis. (Image © Kathryn Rogers)

Michael Niebergal and Kathryn Rogers volunteer at the Central Texas Food Bank.
Melanie Haupt’s handmade masks helped raise more donations.
© Kathryn Rogers

Cultural Traditions in Challenging Times

Tradition sometimes seems like the opposite of change. But people worldwide are proving that cultural traditions can help us rise to the challenges of change.  From holidays to daily rituals,  cherished customs to community values, the cultural traditions that we sustain are now sustaining our belief in better times to come.

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

 

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Worldwide Sites

13

Apr

Virtual Traveler— A Journey of Note

by Meredith Mullins on April 13, 2020

The New York Philharmonic pays tribute to front-line healthcare workers. (Watch below.)
(Courtesy of New York Philharmonic/YouTube)

The Healing Power of Music and the Performing Arts

Much of the world has been “sheltering in place” for a while now. Some of us have lost count of the days, and, in fact, might not even be sure what day of the week it is.

Our exotic travel consists of taking the garbage out or exploring a closet that we haven’t visited for years.

As a result of this change in our daily life, we are becoming expert virtual travelers—happily wandering the rabbit hole of the Internet.

The arts find a way to build community in times of struggle.
© Meredith Mullins (in collaboration with Opera Fuoco)

The good news is that artists and arts organizations are providing a rich offering of music and theatre when we most need it. (See also last week’s OIC for the opportunities offered in visual arts.)

More importantly, the arts seem to be bringing us closer together (metaphorically speaking, of course) in a time when the spirit of community has never been more important.

Music Gives a Soul to the Universe (Plato)

The power of music, whether at home or in the concert halls of the world, is a universal force. In these “stay-at-home” times, distance has not stopped the music. The virtual traveler is invited to just sit back and open ears, eyes, and heart.

The virtual traveler can be transported from the comfort of home.
© iStock/Martin DM

Musicians and orchestras around the world are performing . . . from their homes. The virtual performances show how much music means to the musicians . . . and how much it can mean to us, the audience—a message straight to the soul.

Bolero was a popular choice among orchestras, as the New York Philharmonic (watch below) and the National Orchestra of France (watch here) both chose this dramatic Ravel piece for their first virtual performance (a good steady rhythm to keep everyone in sync).

The New York Philharmonic dedicated their performance to the front-line healthcare workers who are risking their lives every day.

If video does not display, watch it here.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra reminded us that spring is here, even if we can’t breathe it in, with Copland’s Appalachian Spring (watch it here).

The Norwegian Arctic Orchestra paid tribute to their native son, Edvard Grieg, with a Praeludium from the Holberg Suite (watch it here).

A rare look at each musician’s part in the whole
© iStock/bizou_n

And the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra brings it home with Hang on Sloopy, the official rock song of Ohio (watch it here). Let’s all hang on.

With all of these virtual orchestras, it is a rare privilege to see the musicians highlighted as individuals. We better understand how they play their instruments and how each instrument’s part is interwoven into the whole.

Music is a unique art, where much can be layered in each moment. This new form of performance helps us to feel that special quality.

Virtual Voices

Choirs and choruses around the world are reinventing their way of performing during this time when physical concerts are not possible.

The Camden Voices, a choir from the U.K., found a new way to stay in touch with a virtual performance of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors. Their celestial harmony and song lyrics like “Show me your smile” and “Just call me up cause I will always be there” are particularly meaningful in these times of isolation and stress.

If video does not display, watch it here.

We are also serenaded by singers around the world, who have taken advantage of YouTube and Instagram to provide a song a day to keep our spirits up or a live mini-concert from home.

For example, listen to Rufus Wainwright (watch his quarantunes here) or Keith Urban (watch here). And if you’re a New Yorker missing one of the iconic Washington Square Park street musicians, know that Colin Huggins, a regular in that park, has moved his mobile piano indoors to continue to provide his music (watch him here).

For that often-needed humor, creative musicians and YouTube masters are offering some lockdown parodies.

If video doesn’t display, watch it here.

If video does not display, watch it here.

The Digital Stage

The Kennedy Center is streaming performances from the archives on the corona-safe digital stages of YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Don’t miss:

If video does not display, watch it here.

Lincoln Center’s online offerings include concerts, pop-up classrooms, dance, songs, puppetry, and paper weaving.

The center is also sharing a selection of master classes from female filmmakers, including Agnès Varda, Ava DuVernay, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Greta Gerwig and more.

The Magic of Performing Arts During Corona

For the virtual traveler in search of culture, here is a sampling of organizations providing solace for the soul.

If video does not display, watch it here.

A Grand Finale

As with any good musical composition, we end this collection of culture with a flourish. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) is a perfect way to lift the spirits. The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra finds a way to reach our souls from a socially acceptable distance . . . and somehow gives us strength.

For me, it was as if the whole planet lent voice to that final chorus.  Oh, I see. In these tumultuous times, the virtual traveler can seek solace, connection, and inspiration through arts and culture.

We will get through this together . . . with a little help from our friends.

If video does not display, watch it here. 

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

 

Art of Travel/The World's Music/Worldwide Sites

06

Apr

Virtual Traveler— See What You Can See

by Meredith Mullins on April 6, 2020

Yes, you can SEE music. Take a ride in the video below.
© DoodleChaos

At Home with Art and Culture

If you find you’re still in your pajamas at three in the afternoon, or if you have started your own bar crawl by putting a glass of wine in every room of your home, or if you have finished all of Netflix, or you have cleaned every closet … twice, STOP!

It’s time to become a virtual traveler and explore the world’s art and culture in the comfort of your home. The physical doors of arts venues are shuttered during this time of “sheltering in place,” but artistic organizations and artists are rising to the challenge.

Start by SEEING Beethoven’s 5th by Doodle Chaos, where animated line riders show you the beauty of fearless flying, flipping, and falling in rhythm, including the power of pauses between notes.

 

If video does not display, watch it here.

And keep going—it’s easy! Now, more than ever, the Internet brings the arts to you.

An at-home re-creation of “The Absinthe Drinker” (original on the left)
Can you name the painter?
© Erick Paraiso/John Pichel

Old Masters . . . and New

At this important moment in history, organizations are responding quickly to fill the arts community void by adding creative ideas for arts engagement to their other online opportunities.

To keep your artistic spirit alive and well, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles launched an artistic challenge that has inspired people around the world. Based on a Dutch project (Between Art and Quarantine), the museum asks you recreate an artwork from the Getty collection using whatever you can find in your confined world at home. Take a look at the Getty twitter feed or the Dutch Instagram site.

The J. Paul Getty Museum challenges you to recreate work by the masters
(for example, Van Gogh’s Irises) with things you find at home.
(Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Trust and Cara Jo O’Connell)

In addition, the Getty is providing access to art books, online exhibits, podcasts, and videos. Discover the current exhibits of Michelangelo, the Bauhaus, and Ancient Palmyra.

Virtual Visits to Museums

Although virtual museum tours were around long before the corona crisis (note that Google Arts and Culture has put more than 2,500 museum and gallery collections online), the well-known museums in the U.S. are all offering additional online culture to be enjoyed while observing your “stay-at-home” mandate. Here is a sampling.

New York’s Museum of Modern Art has temporarily closed its doors,
but has expanded its online opportunities.
© iStock/rarrarorro

New York Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art in New York presents a new virtual art experience each week, such as exhibit openings and home movies. Take a look at the schedule, which includes upcoming exhibits of Félix Fénéon, Donald Judd, and Dorothea Lange.

You can also participate in online art projects, such as coloring the tracings of Louise Lawler. Download the drawings here, and then post your finished work on social media with the tag #DrawingwithMoMA.

#DrawingwithMoma
© Meredith Mullins

New York Metropolitan Museum

New York’s Metropolitan Museum offers a range of its publications free online for a limited time, as well as a digital digest that includes videos, articles, concerts, and art-making activities for the whole family.

Washington’s National Gallery of Art: Silent for the moment
© Meredith Mullins

National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.)

The National Gallery of Art has virtual tours and video introductions to the current exhibits (Degas and the Opera, Raphael, and Early European Open-Air Painting), as well as a tour of the highlights of its collection. The museum also provides lessons and activities for home study for all ages, including special resources for kids.

Time for art projects at home, inspired by the great art museums
© iStock/Pokec

National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.)

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. offers seven online exhibitions. Don’t forget to visit the popular portraits of Michelle Obama, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Eleanor Roosevelt, as you virtually tour the “First Ladies Exhibit.”

Jacqueline Kennedy from the National Portrait Gallery “First Ladies” Exhibit
© Estate of Yousuf Karsh

Digital art workshops are also offered free of charge, as are coloring pages of some of the famous portraits in the collection for your own artistic expression.

You’ll find virtual tours, videos, and interviews at many other museums in the U.S., including the Museum of Fine Arts (Houston), Boston Museum of Fine Arts (featuring Ancient Nubia and Gender Bending Fashion), High Museum of Art (Atlanta), Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago (featuring El Greco), and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The new meditation: coloring. Try your hand at coloring a drawing of Frida Kahlo.
(Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery)

Oh I See: The Times Are Changing

In these tumultuous times, seeking solace, connection, and inspiration through arts and culture is a natural path. Unlike the current toilet paper shortage, there will always be more than enough opportunity for the virtual traveler to see the best that the world has to offer in this expanded community of visual arts.

Let the journey begin.

Stay tuned next week at OIC Moments to discover what the virtual traveler might find in the world of music and the performing arts.

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

 

Art of Travel/The World's Art & Design/USA/Worldwide Sites

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