Suddenly fourth week is in full swing. It is amazing that we have only been weaving for less than a month! The works we have produced are ones to be proud of for sure. We have spent late nights avidly weaving many yards, problem solving, and eating an unreasonable amount of freeze pops to arrive where we …
Barong in Bali
This week in Bali, our class had the pleasure to witness a traditional performance of the Barong--a mythic creature of major importance in Balinese theatre and religiosity. This lion-esque beast contains two people controlling the costume, with one in the front and one in the back. Though seemingly a stage prop at first blush, the …
Dyeing
Throughout the whole block, we have been learning the many ways to dye various fiber materials. Fibers can be relatively picky about how they want to be dyed, and dyes take careful measuring and planning to come out the desired color. At first it all seemed overwhelmingly mysterious to me. All of the chemicals and …
Exploration into Tapestry weaving
The adventure into the mysterious basement of the Fine Arts center was an unforgettable one. Michael led us behind the scenes, into the basement where priceless art waits on its way in or out of the museum. We held our breaths as the grille of the massive elevator screeched into position, locking us in for the …
The Final Performance
After weeks of rehearsal and preparation, the class finished this music class about as fittingly as one can--with a gamelan and dance performance for the whole community. Surprisingly, despite the atmosphere of excitement behind the performance itself, I found the costume and make-up preparation to be one of the most memorable parts of the day. …
Introduction to fiber arts
This week has been a whirlwind of learning. It is amazing to work our way through the many steps of creating fabric—something we are in contact with every day. Textiles are such an integral part of cultures all over the world and the craft of weaving is a specialized and versatile one. Somehow handling the …
Spirituality in Bali
Arguably the most difficult part of blogging about this trip (as I'm sure would be the case in any abroad experience) has been to capture the sea of subtlety that naturally comes when thrust into a world outside of your own. However, I feel that I would not be doing my religion major proud if …
Tourism Revisited
To continue our journey through Bali with a a trip to one of the holiest temples on the island--Tanah Lot. Located on an island twenty yards off the coast of the mainland, at first blush this quiet sea temple (seen below) has an unperturbed atmosphere deserving of its sacred status. However, look anywhere around this …
Tourism and Kecak
So far in our virtual journey through Bali, we've covered forms of Balinese music and theater that predated globalization and the advent of mass tourism. However, as emphasized through Liz's repeated questioning of "well what IS traditionally/properly Balinese?" a main point in this class has been about the fluidity of culture. Just as the indisputably …
Playing in the Gamelan
Throughout our time in Bali, the class has had the opportunity to play in one of the cornerstones of Balinese music--the gamelan (or "ensemble" in English). Composed primarily of bronze instruments to withstand Southeastern Asia's notorious rainy season, these gamelans serve multiple ends here in Balinese society. On one level, one cannot understate the religious …
