Balmy Alley, Mission District in San Francisco.

We thawed ourselves in sunny San Francisco during our Easter break. A city that lured us with it's weather, landmarks, historical places, food and it's happy colours! 

San Francisco city is best explored on foot especially the Mission District. As we emerged from the 24th St. Mission,  BART station we were welcomed into a lovely Latino neighbourhood with vibrance in the form of street art, cafes, bakeries and architecture.

Mission Pie Cafe.

The colourful murals take over large walls.

As we started our walk, there was so much to take in, the architecture with the deep blue sky above and  the multi- coloured art splashed on the walls.

The houses saturated with bright colours.

Art, patterns and colour play.

My friend's little daughter was completely taken in by the colours.

Each alley. Each lamp post seemed to be covered in art!

Patterns in the network of cables!

The buildings formed lovely angular patterns against the blue sky.

We finally reached Balmy Alley where Mission District artists have transformed the walls of their neighbourhood with huge murals.

The murals of Balmy Alley are examples of expressions of the history of displacement and marginalization  experienced by Mexicans and Chicanos of the United States.

These eyes reminded me so much of Aarohi Singh's work.

The walls are covered with Latino and South American murals portraying images of political struggles, artistic movements and their cultural heroes.

The famous mural  Naya Bihana by artist Martin Travers.

  

How about some Outer Body Experience? 

I was completely blown away by this world of colours and art. The murals keep changing and many are added over time.

 Art in every nook and corner.

I found this interesting link to San Francisco Mural Arts.  You can find your favourite mural artist here.

If you are traveling to San Francisco, do visit the Mission District and also the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center.  (We ran out of time but it does come highly recommended!)

I re-lived all those beautiful moments while I put this post together. Hope you all like it:-)

( Images by Arch. Reference: Wikipedia, Fodor's California 2012)

While I patiently wait for Spring...

Yesterday we set our clock ahead by an hour.
The days are getting longer.
As I look outside my window I see a white blanket of snow which doesn't seem fluffy any more.
Tiny rivulets flow down the paths.
A gently breeze seems to take over the quiet stillness of winter.
A season in transition.
An anticipation of Spring....

Having moved to Minnesota in late July last year, we have been able to enjoy Summer, Fall and Winter.
Now as I patiently wait for Spring outside my window, few corners at home seemed to have already welcomed the season:-)

 Vintage Oleographs, fresh flowers and silverware.

A sparkly twist on the Oleographs...

 Attar perfume bottles from Old City Ahmedabad sit pretty on a vintage tile...

A floral mirror work dupatta provides the perfect background.

 Rose perfumed tea lights...

Look who just made an appearance!

Priya Sebastian's Charcoal Artwork doesn't have an orange wall backdrop but holds the same position in our study.

Wishing all of you a beautiful season of fresh flowers, soft green grass under your feet and blue blue skies!

( Images by Arch)

She came home on Mahalaya...

It all began one July afternoon in 2011, while having chai on our terrace in Bangalore, 

Mr. Husband and I were reminiscing about our respective childhood days spent in Calcutta, West Bengal. {Yes, both of us had Grandparents who lived in the ‘City of Joy’}

The rich culture, the distinct architecture, the warm people and the simple daily life in the land of the Goddess is so deeply engrained in our memories that we wanted it to be part of our lives today. To be depicted in the form of art that could be cherished everyday. Forever.

With each painting that Dithi Mukherjee uploaded on her blog, we knew that she was the only one who could bring our memories alive with strokes of her paint saturated with Bengal folk-art and mythology.

Dithi Mukherjee needs no introduction but let me try.

She is a self-taught artist and a print-maker from West Bengal, India living in Geneva, Switzerland. Her paintings are inspired by the rich traditions of India, her childhood memories, her experiences in the magical land of Bengal, the folk art and the music of the Bauls… 

Her unique style of painting has the viewer getting lost in the eyes that are nectar-filled pools of beauty.

Away from home.
The unabashed use of a vibrant palette of colours, the Bengal influence makes Dithi's work very exclusive.

Kumortully Ghats 

Mother and daughter.

Her talent weaves magic on anyone who looks at these canvases steeped in vibrant hues.

On a personal level, I met Dithi online via Vineeta’s blog in 2009 and there was an instant connection.
A creative connection. 
A connection fueled by our love for India, the great admiration for our culture and traditions. 
A connection shared with many cups of steaming hot masala chai over the internet. 
A connection based on our love for the beauty of life. 
A connection based on the highest regard for each other’s creative work.

We commissioned Dithi to paint for us amidst her hectic travels between Geneva and India and our imminent move to Minnesota.

For us, Calcutta is our favourite Bonedi draped in the traditional soft Bengal handloom saree, the Shanka pola (White & Red Bangles), a hand fan for those hot humid summers, the black & white flooring on which we as kids ran with abandon during our summer vacations. 

Few weeks before Durga Pujo, 2012 with each exchange of mails, with each shared thought, with each experience, with each stroke of her brush the Bonedi was getting transformed into someone mystical, someone magical, someone embodying the supreme feminine power. 

She was becoming the Goddess. 

She was becoming Durga.

She was becoming Maa.


In October, 2012 Dithi was leaving for India to be with her family for the Pujos and she mailed the painting of Maa just before she left.

Each day passed filled with the anticipation of Maa’s arrival. 
....and then finally.

A beautiful golden handwritten note by Dithi.

She arrived!

Maa arrived on Mahalaya. 

{The auspicious day that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, the beginning of the Navaratris}

Dithi elevated the painting to a completely superlative creative level with her interpretations, the profusion of colours on the canvas, the lotus-petal eyes to drown in, the spring-green ‘pakhi’ Her consort, the crimson-coloured fingertips, the Bangla composition by Rabindranath Tagore that runs along like an intricate silk border that holds the painting so delicately.

Maa's space in our humble abode.

The birdcage on the camphor chest is representative of the profound composition 'Khanchar Pakhi Chhilo' by Rabindranath Tagore depicted in the painting.

Here is the translation.

Meanwhile in Calcutta, Dithi helped me get a bunch of traditional Bengali Sindoor Daanis’ {Containers for storing Vermillion powder} which I wanted to be part of Maa’s corner in our home.

Along with the Sindoor Danis came Tara Maa's Magical Padukas. 

I have mentioned before in many of the previous posts that whenever art in any form comes home: It is a blessing. 

With Maa coming home to us, in our new home, in a new country, we feel completely blessed!

When the ochre lights come on in the evening.

Thank you Dithi Mukherjee, for giving us Maa!

Hop over to Dithi's blog to read her post on the creation of Maa.

( Copyrighted Images by Arch, Painting by Dithi Mukerjee. Please don't use without permission)