From Brahma to Buddha, Spring 2010

Dancing on stage at Chokhi Dhani

Billy (Haley's brother), Haley, Margie, and Jeremy dine on traditional Rajasthani food

Kai excited for food and Eliot looking sharp

Back in Jaipur, we visited a book binding workshop put on by Ayush Kasliwal. Ayush is an international designer based out of Jaipur who works hard to sustain the arts and knowledge of local craftsmen. Every other Sunday he puts on different craft workshops that bring together two diverse sections of Jaipur society--the children of upper elite and local crafts workers. Here Ayush (center, in red) helps the kids bind their books.

Jeremy works on his own book

We also visited the Anokhi museum, which houses a beautiful history of the art of hand block printing.

The 14 steps of creating a design in one variation of hand block printing. Different prints carry different meanings: one may be worn only by widows, one only by men from a certain village, one only by girls before they are married, etc.

A finished product in the modern style

Eliot watches the blocks being carved

Two finished blocks. Each would be used to print with a different color to complete the whole pattern.

The group takes a turn at the printing process

Margie printing

Our finished designs. Clockwise from top-left: Jeremy, Margie, Haley, and Eliot.

Peter models his finished print