Yesterday we held a reception at the Blanchard Student Art Gallery. Although I was afraid that not many people would turn up due to the snowy weather and change of opening date, which is rather inconvenient, I am glad to announce that I am satisfied with the number of audience. Not all of them bid on Art Works but I am glad that they at least showed up and that they carried away with them some reflection on Mithila culture and hopes f Haiti.

Another good news I share is that, two of my most favorite painting were bid. One of which is the long painting that stands at the center of the room. Among all, couple paintings have become quite famous and more than three people have bid for them, making it tough on who is going to be the ultimate winner. Though this is my first time getting involved in an art exhibition business, my lack expertise on art was not a big problem. I was able to tackle all the challenges in getting this exhibition up with the help of my partner Haeinn Woo, my roommate from last year, Dani, my best friend Bishal, and other friends who have supported me throughout. I am also thankful to Davis Projects for Peace and Clinton Global Initiatives without which this project would have no financial support. I cannot remain without thanking the student art board who gave us the gallery to display our paintings until the 24th of February.

I really hope that people will remember this exhibition until the last day and bid on maximum of these paintings so that we can raise maximum amount of funds for women in Nepal and school building project in Haiti.

Jurshital: a new beginning

Honestly, the idea of starting a blog has crossed my mind several times but I pushed this idea since I identify with lives of most, if not all full time students with a double major (mine being Mathematics and Economics) that go to school every day and strive for the best. But today is a different day and now I have a reason, a new beginning to my life that is going to unfold this summer.

The title of my blog itself, “Jurshital”, a Maithili word, means New Year. I chose this word because my inspiration behind this blog is my project that I am going to do in Halkhori village in Nepal, where I come from. My society back home is dominated by Mithila culture in which we celebrate Jurshital, the New Year during the month of April. Interestingly enough, I was born in April, too! Jurshital is celebrated in Mithila culture by throwing mud at each other, family, friends, etc. Mud carries a special importance in our lives, the Maithili people as more than 90% of us depend on agriculture. As Rakesh writes, “We are born on mud, play on mud and die on mud,” we regard mud as a sacred part of our lives in Mithila culture. No wonder, we Mithila women spend so much time decorating our mud houses with yet other kinds of mud and produce from mud. We decorate our mud built houses by Mithila paintings, passed down from mothers to daughter. We paint the walls of our houses with lively depictions of family celebrations, religious ceremonies or even daily life moments and village scenes. We make the paint from red soil, charcoal, chalk, plant extracts that wash away in the rainy season. This gives us a new start the following year and we repaint the walls every year.

I am taking this Mithila painting to a professional level this summer by training the Mithila women into using the permanent paints, paint brushes so that the paintings are made permanent onto canvas and paper from the temporary ones on the walls. To get a more detailed idea on my project proposal, please refer to my next blog. And wish me a very best for the new beginning to my life. Happy Jurshital!