Turn Five » Arts & Culture

Folk Dancing Alive and Well in Austin

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:10:00 +0000

ho would have thought that Folk Dancing is a huge activity in Austin? But it is, The Austin International Folk Dancers (AIFD) meet pretty much every Saturday night at the Hancock Recreation Center , located at 811 E. 41st Street and it seems as if all of Austin is participating. If you’re planning a trip to Austin, put the AIFD down on your list of things to do, because everyone is welcome, including kids. All it will cost you is $5 per person. If it’s just you, that’s perfect because you don’t need a partner.

Don’t know what folk dancing is? Well, in many countries, dance and music has long been a major part of celebration. The various music and dance from the Bulgarian Men’s line dance, or a Scottish country set dance, to a Hungarian twirling couple dance reflects the cultural diversity of these countries. When coming to live a better life in America, immigrants brought their dances and music with them. When people found that doing other ethnic dances to be fun, then the modern folk dance was born, often overlapping folk with other recreational dancing.

The first Saturday of the month, the AIFD has a beginners’ hour, where they do a walk-through of the most popular dances including line dances, couples dances and mixers; after an hour the Folk dancing begins to all kinds of cool world music. The music will range from American to Scandinavia to Britain through central and eastern Europe and little further east. Folk Dancing is a great social event, a fun way to get exercise and a great place to listen to some of the best musicians in Austin. You really don’t want to miss out on this perfect way to meet some of the nicest people in Austin. If interested, there are several hotels in Austin near to Hancock Recreation, or most of the taxi drivers know exactly where to go, just mention The Austin International Folk Dancers.

Folk Dancing Alive and Well in Austin is a post from: Turn Five

Chingay in Singapore

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:11:35 +0000

The dream is always the same. I am standing on a corner of a street that I don’t recognize. There are no people, and no cars, but there is a strange sound from far off, a kind of muffled roar, the kind of stereotypical sound you hear in a dream sequence right before you hear a louder sound. The louder sound is the roar, only louder because it is not muffled. This is a crowd, crowd sounds in the street, in the empty street, and I understand that I am having a dream, but it doesn’t seem to matter too much to anyone else. The street is suddenly populated, and I can see that I’m in a parade.

The dream doesn’t return, and there isn’t any kind of hint about a Chinese restaurant at the beginning of an evening in Singapore. It would be a perfect place, however, to be right before Chingay, the big New Year’s festival in town. This is one of those big street parties that everyone always talks about. There are lots of floats, because that was really at the origins of the festival at the turn of the 20th century, with paper dragons, and lots of fireworks. The fireworks have been an on-again off-again part of the week, with concerns about the crowds.

Today, this celebration of Chinese New Year has all the makings of a waking dream. There are spectacular things to see, and some of them are as colorful as anything that animation can do. These are the big moments when people come together to make a metaphorical celebration of life, and the cycles of time, paying honor to the way the big wheel turns. We prepare for another year, shedding the skin of the last year and wondering about the future. Our metaphorical celebrations would have to be similar to dreams, because they come from the same place.

Chingay in Singapore is a post from: Turn Five

A First “Date” with Vincent Van Gogh in New York City

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:24:17 +0000

When I was wondering where to book a hotel in New York, a friend of mine suggested that I find one located close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, knowing that once I stepped into the museum, I would most likely be spending a lot of time there, and he was right. I thought it was funny when I was younger, and I did not really understand it when I would see people in movies, just standing in front of one painting for an extending period of time. I wondered just what they were looking at for so long.

But as I grew older, I became involved with painting, and as such, spent a lot of time flipping through art books at the paintings that were part of museum collections thousands of miles away. Famous paintings that I did not know if I would ever see in person. And that first time I walked into the Met, was my first time being in the same place as some of those paintings I had only before seen in photographs. I found myself in the room with the Impressionist paintings.

I did not have a map of the museum, and I was not really sure of just what work was housed there, and as I strolled along taking it all in, I caught sight of something that took my breath away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. There were a couple reasons my heart started pounding and hands started sweating. First, reproductions of this painting are everywhere, on everything from tee shirts to coffee mugs to computer mouse pads. Non of them do it justice. I had no idea that the colors were so…so there, so vivid, and that the paint was oh so thick. The paint was so thick that as I stood there looking at it, I noticed a hair from an oil paint brush.

And this is the second reason my heart was pounding…that hair was attached to the brush that was in Van Gogh’s hand as he laid that paint down. A man that today, some make jokes about his sanity, or alleged lack there of. A man that although he was starving, kept on painting. I must have stood there for an hour, just looking at the brush work, and wondering about the day he painted the piece. I didn’t realize it until a small girl tugged my jacket and handed me a Kleenex, that I had tears on my cheeks. I smiled and thanked her, I gestured towards Starry Night and said to her, “Amazing huh?”…and she said, “Truly it is.” She knew why I was staring at the one painting for so long, she was a NY little girl, and she had one-up on a little girl from a small town in the middle of nowhere.

A First “Date” with Vincent Van Gogh in New York City is a post from: Turn Five

Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe Theatre in London

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:42:11 +0000

Carley went to London as part of her school’s drama club. It was a special summer college credit trip that she had one a scholarship for and was incredibly excited to go. Aside from the long plane flight the moment the trip began it was filled with excitement and some unexpected thrilling encounters. It began at Heathrow Airport in London. Carley was standing in a long line and was exhausted when she noticed a small crowd of people gather in one area near what she assumed was an exit. Suddenly two people moved aside and she had clear view of Sir Elton John. She was sure it was him and just as she turned to get her friend June’s attention, he disappeared out of sight. June, of course, didn’t believe her so he asked the nearest airport assistant if it was him. He simply replied that he could not comment on anyone’s identity. June laughed and called her friend crazy. To this day Carley is certain that she saw Elton John there.

After making it through the airport the small group of students and their drama coach settled into their rooms in a quaint hotel London. Part of their trip included participating in a workshop with the Royal Shakespeare Company and this meant a trip out to Stratford-upon-Avon. This was incredibly exiting for the students as well as the drama coach and the day would include a tour of the Shakespeare’s house. Meanwhile, the following day, the day before they would attend the workshop, they planned to tour the Globe Theatre in London. This was a rebuilt version of the original Globe Theatre that Shakespeare built and worked it. It was made of some of the same materials and wood that his original theatre, called The Theatre, was made from. The group would be seeing a production of Romeo and Juliet and afterward they would discuss some of the themes of the play and approaches taken by the actors in performing in it. This was definitely and exciting and educational summer trip for Carley and her fellow students.

Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe Theatre in London is a post from: Turn Five

Indonesia’s Artist of Memory: J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:09:41 +0000

Indonesia offers many things to many people, and it’s always offering more. There is a sense of endless mystery here, and it’s one of the most fascinating places on earth to visit. It has long held a reputation for being a country that is vast and mysterious, holding exotic treasures and adventures, and while none of this is actually true, there are hints of the exotic here, and there are certainly adventures of a most contemporary kind. There is still a great sense of hospitality in the luxury hotels. Indonesia does have a flair for keeping the tradition of welcoming guests with a fantastic sense of graciousness, and it’s a pleasure to wake up to the splendor the accommodations hold. Beginning your day here is a wonderfully fortuitous event, and speaks well for the rest of your journey.

There are many different sides to Indonesia, and depending on where you go, there are a multitude of adventures to be had. In some of the larger cities, there is an enormously diverse cultural scene, creating some of the most interesting new works of art in the world. There are plenty of new works, and new artistic movements, to see here, and it’s an incredibly diverse place for artists. In Jakarta particularly, with its dense urban population, there is a sense of great excitement, restlessness, and frustration that’s leading toward new artistic directions, and it’s a very welcome thing to see. One of its promising artists is a young man who works in charcoal, by the name of J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra.
He lives and works in Bandung, and has had a number of recent shows that have been turning heads. His drawings could be said to be intense reflections on identity and self, and play with the notions of memory and history. They certainly do work with the notion of the self, and the way his drawings become photos in the act of disappearing are very profound and moving, and seem to be hitting on something quite revolutionary. Art that does what it is attempting to mean is a fascinating form, and a very difficult trick. His work is all this and more, where form meets function to investigate what it means to be a human being right here in this place, producing a pronounced melancholy that almost borders on sweetness.

Indonesia’s Artist of Memory: J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra is a post from: Turn Five

The Beloved Austin Museum of Art

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:33:26 +0000

There are two locations for the Austin Museum of Art, the original location at Laguna Gloria, and the downtown location. The museum as long been committed to the people and the communities of Austin, Texas, to bringing them all there is to learn and to see about nature, history and art for more than forty years. The museum was originally the residential home of Clara Driscoll, and she left it to the people of Austin in 1916 to ensure the continued appreciation and continual learning of and about art and culture.

The trustees of the museum began The Art School of the Museum at the beginning of the 1960’s, and that is when the plans were made for the construction and development of the downtown location of AMOA. This location offers lectures and classes on previously stated topics inside, more than four hundred drawing, painting, and sculpture classes each year, and the gardens outside offer a vast collection of sculptures, as well as lush and colorful landscaping. The Laguna Gloria location is beloved to the people of Austin, and the entire state of Texas for that matter. This is a place to find and to honor expressions of the creative side, as well as great place to celebrate special occasions, for the museum is open for gatherings and parties year round.

The downtown location also offers classes and exhibits, and stay true to the nature of “Keep Austin Weird“. Of the two, this is the main location for the larger exhibits and shows, and offers a vast array of educational seminars and programs for schools, adults and children. Located close to some of the best Austin hotels, many people book rooms and stay for extended periods of time to study or to check out the shows. More than twenty five thousands people a year attend the classes and workshops of the school, and the museum itself has remained throughout the years, dedication to Clara Driscoll’s original intentions.

The Beloved Austin Museum of Art is a post from: Turn Five

Thai Buddhas

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:17:08 +0000

Thailand is an enchanting place, with an atmosphere of elegance and relaxation that strikes the heart of every traveler here. There is a gracious, natural beauty everywhere that the eye can see, and always a sense that there is so much more than meets the eye. Mysterious and tropical, Thailand has an image in the tourist imagination that is often misleading, but the real Thailand is even more fascinating than the mythical one. There is an interesting mix of cultures and languages in the larger cities, making for many possibilities in rich urban adventures. There is a lot to see and do here, and for 5 star hotels, Thailand has some spectacular offerings.

Rich in comfort and luxury, our hotels offer you the chance to rejuvenate and refresh at the end of every day, so you can enjoy the adventures of the following day. Following an idea in the works of art than are on display in gallery windows can lead in many compelling directions, and that’s actually true for all of Thailand. One idea will lead to a thousand others, and it is endlessly revealing itself, and endlessly evolving. One way of showing an example here is to look at images of the Buddha in Thai art. Buddhism came here directly from contact with traders from India in the first century, and the first images were large, representational icons in the Gupta tradition. The next phase, in the 9th century, invokes the pantheon in the Mahayaha tradition, and there is more stylization in the figures.

Around the 13th century, the Theraveda tradition came to Thailand, and we see a greater abstraction in the figures, and more gold is in use. In the Ayutthaya period, beginning in the 14th century, gold and jewels become more prominent, and there is more stylization. The Ayutthaya Buddha figures are the more iconic styles that represent the Thai Buddha in the world at large. Looking at Buddhist art from around the world, we can see a great variation, and Thailand has very specific styles that each refer to different periods in the evolution of the tradition. It’s one way to begin to understand place, and every artifact can reveal a history that is worth further exploration.

Thai Buddhas is a post from: Turn Five

The Neidpath Castle of Peebles, Scotland

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:50:19 +0000

The Neidpath Castle located in Peebles, Scotland was most likely constructed for the Sheriff, Sir William de Haya. During 1686 it became the property of the Earl of March, who upgraded the surrounding grounds with orchards of trees and vast garden expanses. Until the middle of the sixteenth century the castle was name, Jedderfield. This was one of the few structures that managed to escape destruction by the armies and the attacks of Oliver Cromwall for a very long time.

When the firing of a cannon finally did the castle in, it was given up and surrendered. After the castle was purchased by the Duke of Queensbury partial repairs were made. However not long following the castle fell into disrepair and ruin. The trees were cut down and the gardens were neglected and became over grown. By the year of 1790 a section of the tower in the upper wings collapsed. Since that time period the many have traveled to the town, staying in the best of Peebles hotel, such as William Wordsworth, and Sir Walter Scott.

In modern days it has been a favorite movie shoot location, most recently the site for shots in Merlin, Joan of Arc and The Bruce. Neidpath is owned by a private family today. Usually the towers of castles throughout Scotland are square, but unusually, the towers of the Neidpath Castle are not so. Each wing of the castle is in the shape of a parallelogram, with rounded rather than square corners. Hand mortar was used during the construction of the castle, another rarity not found often in Scotland architecture.

It is presumed that the castle is constructed in the style of the Norman’s, very similar to the Tower of London. The mortar is so hard and dense, that during the seventeenth century, a stair way was carved out of one of the walls, which caused no damage to the rest of the structure. Amazing castles dot the landscape of Scotland, creating a mystical and dramatic view for travelers visiting the United Kingdom for the first time.

The Neidpath Castle of Peebles, Scotland is a post from: Turn Five

Singapore, the Beautiful Mix

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:09:29 +0000

Singapore is filled with people of various ethnic groups. The largest population in Singapore is that of the Malay. The religion most of the Malaysian people are a part of is the Muslim religion, although they are for the most part, less extreme than Muslims found in other countries throughout the Middle East. Traditionally, Malays have lived together in villages, that support and protect the family units. However, in modern times, with the tourism and business sector, such as the Singapore luxury hotelsand restaurants booming, many have moved into the city and have adjusted to the busy city life while keeping hold of their traditions.

The Malaysians and the Chinese have traded and interacted for hundreds of years. When the Chinese immigrated to Singapore, although they had the reputation in their homeland as being some of the finest businessmen in Asia, they worked in Singapore in some of the most grueling fields, such as the construction of the railroads or in the tin mines. Now however, the business world of Singapore is influenced by the acumen of the Chinese. Many Chinese retain their traditional religious practices of Buddhism and Taoism,and continue to have strong connections with their homeland of China.

East Indians had been trading with and traveling throughout Singapore for thousands of years before finally immigrating there in the late 1800’s. Many from South India moved to Singapore in search of job opportunities, and to escape the economic conditions of the country of India. Today more the ten percent of the Singaporean population contributing to the rich heritage and to beauty of the diversity of the city. The oldest residents in Singapore are the indigenous tribes. The dominant tribe remains to be the Dayak. As with many of the tribes, they make their home in the rain-forest and remain deeply connected to the forest and the natural world. The mix of ethnic groups and the support they offer to each and the acceptance they have of all those in the city, make Singapore a truly incredible destination and offer tourists the opportunities to experience a variety of activities, all on one island.

Singapore, the Beautiful Mix is a post from: Turn Five

The Goddess Durga of Udaipur, India

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:27:59 +0000

There are many tours of temples available when one travels throughout Udaipur, India. Hotel staff are helpful and often make suggestions on which temples one should not miss before leaving the city. One such temple is located in the village ofJagat, not far from the downtown area of Udaipur. This is one of the smaller, but more elaborately decorated temples dedicated to the Goddess Ambika. She is also known throughout various regions as Kali, Parvati, and Durga . Her name when translated from Sanskrit refers to one who is difficult to understand, and is worshipped for this somewhat terrifying aspect of her personality, as well as her graciousness. She is a dynamic female symbol, one filled with the power of the infinite universe. She is at once, both beautiful and without form. In some religious sects she is known as the wife of Lord Shiva, and their sons are Lord Ganesh and Lord Karttikeya. Their daughter is the Goddess Jyoti. In Bengal she is worshipped for her ability to destroy devils, and an annual Durga Puja festival is held in her honor.

Descriptions of her vary throughout the Agamas and the Puranas, however she is usually depicted with ten arms, holding ten different items, a rosary, a bell, a sword, a conch shell, a discus, a shield, a bow, an arrow, a spear and a wine glass. In the temple inJagat , she is represented in sculpture sitting on a lion, which is how she is often depicted. Signifying her role as the Mother of the Universe, along side the king of beasts. She is often dressed elaborately andcolorfully, drenched in jewelery and ornaments. Throughout India, Durga is worshipped for her kind nature as well as her fierce capabilities. She is known as the subtle energy of spirituality that inhabits each person and is said to create balance when balance is lacking, in the universe, or in ones physical body. There are many myths that surround the religions of India, each one beautiful in their own way, and the temples located throughout the country beautifully honor the devotion of the people in this region.

The Goddess Durga of Udaipur, India is a post from: Turn Five