Finally, a little over a month after my exhibit at the Asian Arts Initiative went up, I've starting make more for the series. Here is a work in progress. They are the Red Hat Yao of 8 1 Village down South near Laos.

Images from the Exhibit!

AsianArts Initiative Join us for a special workshop led by Colette Fu, the artist behind the new, popular exhibition, We Are Tiger Dragon People! Learn how to create your own pop-up art book!
Bring your own photos, scissors, and gluestick!
Friday 11/13 @ 4pm
No prior experience necessary!

Please register in advance!
Free, with donations gladly accepted!
Please contact Toni@asianartsinitiative.org to register in advance.

Rubén Proposes to Claudia

Rubén proposes to Claudia and she said yes!

The plan was that my future brother in law (Arnoldo) made this special goodbye dinner for his sister (Norma). I told Claudia I was on a business trip and that I was going to make it late for dinner.

Claudia is going to sell some pop up books, so I bought three pop up books and your proposal one. What we did (in conspiracy with Arnoldo and his Wife Nanette) was that Nanette told Claudia that her little son got some pop up books from kindergarten. She gave the books to Claudia and she started watching them. The last one was the proposal one and I was hiding in a a room next to the kitchen, where Claudia was. So, there I was very nervous listening to them talking about the pop ups and Claudia even went for a pen to write the publishers. At the end she finally saw the proposal one and opened it, and when I heard the music coming from the pop up book I came out and proposed. It was nice and she loved it and thought of it as very original. So then I became an engaged man! How about that?!

Opening Reception Friday Nov. 6th 5:30-7:30pm

Chef Moon Krapugthong of the area’s top rated Thai restaurant Chabaa, as well as, the popular MangoMoon, an upscale bistro serving Bangkok Street Food with a trendy 2nd floor bar, will cater the opening reception for Colette Fu’s We Are Tiger Dragon People.
http://www.mymangomoon.com
http://www.chabaathai.com

http://www.asianartsinitiative.org/#gallery

So many tables, yet prefer to work on the floor/couch

Collages for the Show- We are Tiger-Dragon People

Yi Costume Festival
16x60"

Nearly two thousand Yi gather on a hillside in Yongren County for their annual costume festival. Their embroidery contains important symbols of Yi myths and legends.

Long ago, there was a young Yi couple in love. They met in the forest, and in pursuit of the girl, the Devil King killed the boy. As the girl fled to the edge of the village, she suddenly heard the loud crow of a cock. An old man taught her to make a cock to crow to call out the sun and drive the devil away. The girl saved her boyfriend, and the villagers decided to show their gratitude for the cock that saved their life. Yi people began to make cockscomb hats and now believe that it can bring luckiness, brightness, safety and happiness to the world. It is said that the silver bubbles on the hat stand for stars and moon, and symbolize eternal light and happiness.

Wa Rub You Black Festival
20x40"

The Wa people live in Cangyuan, within the Awa Mountains on the borders of Burma and China. According to legend, if the Wa sacred medicine niangbuluo" is rubbed onto girls" faces, they become increasingly beautiful; onto elders"faces, they will be healthy and long-lived; onto children's faces, they will be safe and lucky. Now they rub mud mixed with perfume.

The Stone Forest

18x42"

The Stone Forest dates back to the Ming Dynasty- 270 million years ago an immense expanse of water with a vast stretch of limestone sediment formed over the years on the seafloor. As a result of the crustal movement, the seabed rose gradually and a large piece of land came into being. Eroded by rain and wind, limestone ranges were shaped by time. About 200 million years ago stone peaks, pillars, and stalagmites rose abruptly from the ground and towered into the sky, looking like a vast forest of stone.

Lisu Hot Springs Gathering
60x16"

Every Spring Festival, the Lisu people gather at the Hot Springs by the Nujiang River in NW Yunnan. By taking baths and washing off dirt with sacred spring water, people hope for forthcoming auspiciousness.

Yi Tiger Festival
26x26"

It is said that the Yi people from Shuangbai County once lived in a dense forest disturbed by snakes and wild animals. In order to prevent themselves from being hurt, they thought out a way to guard the village. Under the lead of the black “Tiger King”, they perform all kinds of dances reflecting the production, living, and procreation of the Yi people and go to each house at the village to help get rid of evils. Thus the Tiger Dance was created ever since, showing their tiger-like strength and valor.

Yuantong Temple
15x100"

King Yimouxun of the Nanzhao Kingdom built Yuantong temple during the late eighth century. Kunming locals and Yunnan in general come here on pilgrimages to pay respect. On the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, old women gather at what is the largest Buddhist temple in Kunming.

Finally!

Stone Forest

The Sani live in and around Stone Forest, and are a subgroup of the Yi. Their lives are as colorful as their embroidered clothing, and they treasure song and dance above wealth and success. Their legend of Ashima is sung from generation to generation and is an inspiration for Sani women today who refer to it as "the song of our ethics.”

Ashima was a young Sani girl engaged to be married to (her cousin) Ahei.

Azhi, the son of the village leader, in a jealous rage Kidnapped Ashima and tried to force her to marry him. Azhi unleashed a trio of tigers to kill Ahei who killed the tigers with arrows and escaped unscathed.

When Ashima and Ahei were playing by a river, Azhi used his power to generate a flood. Ashima drowned but Ahei continued to call her name only to hear his own echo. Ashima turned into river stones and her words echoed through the forest: I will never disappear even as the sun and cloud disappear, my soul and my sound will exist till the end of time. Sani people say that Ashima’s suffering is their suffering.

Wa Hair Swinging Dance

The Wa people regard the wooden drum as a divine tool that has exceptional power and is the symbol of existence and prosperity. Wa women uninhibitedly swing their long black, shiny long hair to the beat of the drums. Their beat is slow and fast, representing anger and sadness, anxiety and happiness.

Hani Long Table Banquet

Scattered throughout Yunnan, Vietnam and Laos, over 90% of the Hani live in Yunnan. Every year after the autumn harvest comes the most important festival for Hani people; the Long Table Banquet is part of their October New Year where 3,000 tables are laid end to end along the street like a long dragon.

Tibetan Dog/Bear

In Tibetan lore each Lama has a Temple dog. When a Lama dies it is believed that he is reincarnated as another Temple dog. Thus he would serve two lifetimes of strict adherence to ritual worship, chanting, meditating, and sacrifice.

In Tibetan they are called Do-Khyi, meaning tied dogs because they are primarily used as guardian dogs who are able to dutifully protect against intruders and can fight off wolves and leopards. Last year, A Tibetan Mastiff is believed to have broken the record as the world’s most expensive dog — sold to a young Chinese millionaire for $582,000.

Dulong River Valley

Only about 4600 Dulong people reside near the Dulong River in NW Yunnan, along the borders of Tibet and Burma. In former times, the main decoration for women was the facial tattoo, etched using bamboo needles and ink made out of ashes from the bottoms of pans. Girls got their tattoos at puberty and each clan had its own set of designs. The origin is not clear, but some claim it was a reaction to the assault of powerful neighboring tribes (Tibetans to the North, and Lisu to the east) who enslaved the Dulong and went after their women. Hence, they were tattooed to make them unattractive to the oppressors. Dulong woman believe that their tattoos resemble butterflies because the souls of the dead were said to turn into butterflies. As of 2009, there were only 40 tattooed Dulong women left.

Axi Fire Festival

The Axi, one of the 27 branches of Yi celebrate the Axi Fire Festival

to honor Mu Deng, the man who brought them fire. Legend has it that once when the naked Axi were hunting, heavy rains came down, sending them to shelter under an old tree. An old wizard, Mu Deng, appeared, rubbed some dry wood together and started a fire. The Axi were no longer cold and learned how to cook food.

Naxi Sanduo (Wargod) Ceremony

"Sanduo" is a spiritual war God created by the Naxi who have lived for generations at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Legend says that a brave Naxi hunter chased a white deer who ran and hid behind a white rock and disappeared. The hunter struggled to carry the white rock back to his home, but it quickly grew too heavy for him to carry. Believing that the rock was the Holy Spirit of the mountain god, the Naxi built a temple upon the rock to enshrine it. At the temple, the incarnation of a divine general was frequently seen riding on a white horse with white armor and a white spear, protecting the Naxi. During war, his troops assisted the NaxI; during fire, he created snow out of fog; and in outbreaks of pestilence, he created wind. Thus people addressed his as " Sanduo"ˇmeaning the patron god of the Lijiang Flatland.

Yao Bride

In Tai Yang (Sun) Village, on the border of Laos, the 17 yr old bride said "I have to do it now cause I'm getting too old." Her bridesmaids were 14, 16 and 26. The 16 yr old was getting married 2 days later. The ceremony lasted 2 days - the 1st day is spent at the Bride's home, the 2nd day she entered the Groom's home - finalizing the marriage.

Yi Costume Festival

Nearly two thousand Yi gather on a hillside in Yongren County for their annual costume festival. Their embroidery contains important symbols of Yi myths and legends.

Long ago, there was a young Yi couple in love. They met in the forest, and in pursuit of the girl, the Devil King killed the boy. As the girl fled to the edge of the village, she suddenly heard the loud crow of a cock. An old man taught her to make a cock crow to call out the sun and drive the Devil away. The girl saved her boyfriend, and the villagers decided to show their gratitude for the cock that saved their life. Yi people began to make cockscomb hats and now believe that it can bring luckiness, brightness, safety and happiness to the world. It is said that the silver bubbles on the hat stand for stars and moon, and symbolize eternal light and happiness.

Dai Food

In Xishuangbanna, where the largest number of Dai live, they refer to their area as bazi meaning tranquil and beautiful. This land is near river basins in a lush subtropical land where the soil is very fertile. Their food is similar to Thai food in that it combines sour, spicy, salty and sweet flavors.

Hani Rice Terraces

The Hani people have cultivated the terraces of Yuanyang since the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD). With a subtropical climate and an advanced irrigation system, the rice fields are relatively self-sustaining as evaporated water is trapped within the surrounding forest forming a sea of clouds ready to replenish the fields. They are a broadening of the natural landscape and represent a harmony of nature and human will.

Shangrila

Zhongdian was renamed in 2001 after the fictional land of Shangri-La in James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon. Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Tibetan Buddhists place prayer flags along mountain ridges and high places where the wind can spread their prayers across the countryside. The colors represent the elements: earth, water, fire, air and space. In Tibetan, prayer flags literally translate as “to increase life, fortune, health and wealth to all sentient beings”.

I've finally finished 11 of the pop-ups!
Will be posting more soon, as i have a mid- October deadline now!

Lijiang Art Scholarship

There are about 5,000 students attending the Lijiang Teacher's College. It is located right next to Black Dragon Pool. I went up to Lijiang to meet the student candidates for an art scholarship from Roanoke, VA their sister city and my current place of official residence.

Me and Gary

Tibetan students getting ready for their Xmas Party performance

There are 3 studio art depts- Chinese Painting, Sculpture and Oil Painting

The candidates...

One student couldn't make it today

More Yao

In Tai Yang Village, on the border of Laos, the 17 yr old bride said "I have to do it now cause I'm getting too old." Her bridesmaids were 14, 16 and 26. The 16 yr old was getting married 2 days later. The ceremony lasted 2 days- 1st day at the Bride's home, 2nd day she entered the Groom's home- finalizing the marriage. They are the Landing Yao.

The Bride

The Bridesmaids

Boys don't dress up

Pork Skin and fat, fish ,cauliflower with pork fat, celery with pork fat

Children wear pom-pom hats

The Lyrics-the Yao have their own spoken languange but not written

Steaming pork in bamboo

Intestines

Women eat on palm leaves, men with ceramic bowls
Easily recycled

We shared my Saltines

The Groom with his men

Fish and Pork- offering pork symbolizes welcoming the guests

The Red Hat Yao of 8 1 Village.

Pan Xiao Mei is Hong Tou Yao.

Mom's room
The guestroom

An unmarried girl wears a turban-red cone hats are for the married.

Down South

Xishuangbanna literally means "twelve thousand rice fields". It straddles the Lancang River, has Asia’s last elephants, and is in a tropical climate surrounded by rainforest and most medicinal plants that are available in China. Returning here I had a sense of dread since the last time I was here for the Dai Water Splashing Festival my big camera got blessed by water and broke, and my smaller one got stolen. Panhu, which is also called Panwang and Pangu, is the name of a legendary dragonlike dog- a totem to the Yao people. Many Yao people believe that Panhu is their first ancestor. They worship, offer sacrifice, and gradually began to celebrate him during their Panwang Festival. The festival was being held in Yaoqu, NE of Mengla- one of the main counties of Xishuangbanna. On the way from Jinghong, the capital, I got a phone call from a lady from Mengla. Her daughter was doing her master’s at the minority school in Kunming, my teacher told her I was coming. She picked me up at the bus station and took me to her home. Her friends came by shortly after and drove us to Yaoqu. She was born there, is Yao minority, so we stayed in her relative’s house. The Yao are hunters so we ate a lot of pork roasted in bamboo.

Dai Barbecue

Lunch-Yao fish, pork stewed in bamboo, chicken, cold noodles, pork skin, fried peanuts

Dinner

Dai Marinated Chicken Feet

Dai Spicy Chicken

Yao Babas- purple sticky rice cooked in bamboo leaves with a piece of pork lard in the middle

Red Bull, coconut milk, milk tea, water or orange drink

Auntie-so many babas

A typical Yao house

Ya Ling is the first Yao girl in her village to get her Master's

Yao Dog

Less women now are wearing the elaborate hairpieces due to balding.Dai Barbecue

Yao"watermelon" hats

Making the Babas

Eye pencil sharpener

Yao Cucumbers

Yao Fish and Pork in Bamboo. Yao fish is similar to Dai fish but not as spicy.

Roosters make excellent trouble shooters, detectives, doctors, nurses and psychiatrists.

After the festival, I headed to Menghai and Menghun to see the Lahu and Bulang people.

Akha-part of Hani

Akha

Bulang

Bulang-clothes that younger women usually wear

Bulang

Sticky rice

Puer Tea

Garbage Disposal

More Dai Barbecue

Tea fields

Pomelos

AkhaBulang

Lahu

Bulang

The Well

Northeast of Jinghong is Jinuo Mountain. The Jinuo people were named after the mountain and are China's last officially recognized minority group.

Performing the Sun Drum Dance

The Jinuo people are animists

The women chew on a black plant that supposedly protects their teeth

Typical Jinuo house

And than back to Jinghong-Uyghers selling their fruit and nut cakes.
"Where are you from...but you look Chinese."
"But you don't."

Resting in Manting Park - Garden of Spirits.
Stupa built in 1204

The girl in the yellow helped me take my picture

All for now!