pink rickshaw

4 minutes: he named me malala

"I don't want to be remembered as the girl who got shot. I want to remembered as the girl who stood up."-Malala Yousafzai

Most everyone knows some aspect of teen activist Malala Yousafzai's amazing story. Whether it is the headlines regarding the horrific attempt on her life and her remarkable recovery, or her outspoken activism for girls' education around the world or perhaps, how she is the youngest Noble Peace Prize winner. In fact most of her story is so well documented in the media, I was very curious what fresh perspective the new documentary, He Named Me Malala would present. David Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting For Superman) definitely does not disappoint. His film is a lovely but powerful portrait of Malala that definitely covers all the aforementioned headlines (including a goose bump inducing recount of the assassination attempt) but also feels  very intimate by focusing on her family and her everyday life. Malala struggles in Physics class, picks on her brothers, likes looking at Roger Federer online. In a nutshell, "Superheroes: They're just like us!" These small moments of reminding the audience that despite her icon status, Malala is a still a regular teenage girl who was forced to leave her native home and adjust to life in London are touching and the strength of the film. Those moments are beautifully contrasted with footage of her admirable passion, eloquence and dedication when traveling around the world advocating for education for girls.

art: meet the patels

"They say love hides behind every corner, I must be walking in circles."-Unknown

I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical about if I would like the new documentary, Meet The Patels. After seeing the funny trailer, I wanted it to be enjoyable in support of the  young, Indian-Americans who created it and in hopes there was truth to all the positive buzz surrounding the film. But the cynical and critical side of me curbed my enthusiasm. (Spoiler alert: I did like it and like most reviews you will read, highly recommend it). So, why the hesitation?

Well, for most first generation Indian-Americans, the subject matter of the modern, Indian matchmaking process is familiar, typical and frequently discussed, usually ad nauseam. If you are the child of Indian immigrants and have reached “marriageable age”, probabilities are high that in some form or another, you have been exposed to the process that the documentary explores. You have undoubtedly felt the pressure from your parents to wed (preferably to someone from your regional background).  You know what a biodata is, have deflected relatives' questions regarding marriage prospects, have been asked to attend matrimonial matchmaking conventions, and have definitely been gently reminded about the world's most popular dating/matrimonial website, shaadi.com.  And, if you are part of this special group, you have also commiserated and joked with friends about the complexities and discomfort of the entire process. So having heard countless funny anecdotes on the subject, I had low expectations, anticipating the film to be a documentary-style dive into the matchmaking process sprinkled with the same tired jokes. (I also had no doubt that it would be far more interesting and eye-opening to those not familiar with the process, hence the great reviews). However, after seeing the documentary this weekend, the cynic in me was pleasantly surprised. I absolutely enjoyed Meet The Patels.

art: dallas art fair preview

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."-Thomas Merton

The Dallas Art Fair returns for its seventh year this weekend and the event has steadily grown in both international recognition and local popularity. GOOD magazine probably put it best saying that the contemporary art fair is "the newest in a series of international art events vying to become the next Art Basel Miami Beach." And the event may get there soon with its increasing ability to attract some of the best and established contemporary art galleries from all over the world. This year's fair has over 90 galleries exhibiting from Latin America, Europe, the U.S. and Mexico. And to add some local flair, renowned and newer galleries from Dallas and Houston are also in the mix. Here's a look at some of the offerings from a few of the galleries. 

 1 and 2. Artist Despina Stokou (Derek Eller Gallery, New York)
The Derek Eller Gallery is doing a solo booth of Stokou's work which utilizes "cyber language" in her works. In her painting on the left, gallery Director Brian Faucette told me that she googled the word "avocado". She then incorporated the html code of the google results into the work (which is the lettering that you see). 

3. Artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (Sicardi Gallery, Houston)

4. Artist Lauren Luloff (Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton)

5. Artist Manolo Valdes (Marlborough Chelsea, New York)

6. Artist Keith Mayerson (Marlborough Chelsea, New York)
Ok, just when you were starting to get all arty and take yourself too seriously.. how great is this Miss Piggy? 

7. Artist Jesus Rafael Soto (Galerie Perrotin, Paris, Hong Kong, New York)
Galerie Perrotin has one of the most anticipated exhibits of the fair with works from renowned artists like Venezuelan Jesus Rafael Soto (who passed away in 2005) and Daniel Arsham. Arsham (his work is pictured above in the title picture) casts materials such as volcanic ash and glacial rock dust into objects like laptops, cameras and musical instruments. Collectors of his art include JayZ and Pharrell.  

art: dfw south asian film festival

"A film is a petrified fountain of thought."-Jean Cocteau

This weekend is the Dallas area's inaugural DFW South Asian Film Festival. The event should be a treat for local film lovers and is a rare opportunity to view new, independent South Asian films right here in Texas. The line-up is a mix of shorts, documentaries and feature films from South Asian filmmakers and filmmakers around the world. Many of the films and documentaries tackle important social issues of the region. I know I am especially looking forward to (and willing to brave the snowy weather for) two notable films that have been making their way through other festivals: the opening film, Brahmin Bulls and the centerpiece film, Sold. Both screenings will be followed with Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. 

art: india

"There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won't go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds... I had been seeing the world in black & white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor."-Keith Bellows

With all the recent media attention on India, (Hello, Narendra Modi name suit. Jokes aside, the man does have some serious style), it seemed quite timely to highlight some of the beautiful photography of the everyday India. Capturing the candid people and places of India has to be a photographer's dream. Every corner you turn in the country is a juxtaposition of old and new, wealth and poverty, grime and vibrant colors. Just a beautiful mess. There are countless Indian, America and European photographers with outstanding Indian based portfolios but here are two that caught my eye recently.

The first is a striking series of photographs from Danish photographer Ken Hermann. His project "Flower Man" captures the flower vendors of Mallik Ghat Flower Market, a gigantic floral market along the banks of the Hoogley River under the famous Howrah Bridge in Kolkata. The market is one of the largest and oldest flower markets in India and it is quite the colorful, chaotic maze with flower vendors and buyers running through the area with flowers on their heads and carried in their arms. Hermann told the Daily Mail he was inspired by the unique ways the vendors carry the flowers and the "quirky contrast between the delicate flowers and their masculine owners". Hermann got some of the vendors to move a little bit away from the chaos of the market and pose in front of the river with their flowers.

 

holi moly

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ” -Oscar Wilde

Today marks the Indian/Hindu spring festival of Holi. Holi has to be hands-down, one of my favorite holidays ever. It's messy, crazy and you get to throw colored powder. Can you think of anything better?  The festival celebrates the beginning of spring by paying homage to the colors of the  season while saying goodbye to the bleakness of winter. Although it is mainly a fun and festive (and often wild) party, the celebration is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. In addition to welcoming the start of spring, the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil because of the death of the evil demon Holika and is also often associated with the Hindu god Krishna.

If you're not familiar with Holi, the popular  festival is marked with people throwing colored pigment at each other. You show up to a Holi festival in the whitest garments you can find to get doused in color by friends and family. The holiday has become an iconic symbol of Indian culture. Sadly, I won't be throwing any brighly hued powder today so I thought I could pay tribute to the colorful occasion virtually. Here are  a few ways to get the Holi experience today or any time of the year.



DIY like it's Holi
I was so excited to see this awesome DIY tutorial on how to make Holi inspired posters on one of my favorite blogs, Design*Sponge. To make your own poster, colored pigments can be purchased on Amazon as D*S suggests but you can also purchase them at many local Indian grocery stores. It is a fun and creative way to make your own colorful and gorgeous art pieces.

Run like it's Holi
Color runs have become extremely popular all over the US. There is one in Dallas next weekend (no joke about the popularity as sadly it sold out very quickly. The race's website does tease another one in the fall). The run is a 5K where you get doused with a new color every kilometer you run. I can't think of a more fun 5K. The Color Run has upcoming dates in April and May in numerous cities including Austin, Orange County and Baton Rouge.

Sing (and dance) like it's Holi
Holi makes its way into most Bollywood movies but there's nothing more famous than this song. To get more of your color throwing music fix, check out this dramatic Linkin Park video inspired by Holi.

image sources: top collage (an Indian boy celebrates today in Mumbai via usnews.com taken by Rajanish Kakade/AP, Holi powder unknown photo credit and a  Holi celebration in Berlin last year taken by Oliver Lang/DAPD),  DIY poster: designsponge.com; thecolorun.com

-SD

pumpkin doughnuts

"Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole."-Oscar Wilde

In all of my sweet treat making adventures, I have always flirted with the idea of making homemade doughnuts. Who doesn't love a fresh, hot doughnut, right? However, the idea of a giant vat of hot oil has always been pretty intimidating. So, I was thrilled to try this baked doughnut recipe which is slightly healthier than a Krispy Kreme run, perfect for fall and a great way to use up any leftover canned pumpkin from Thanksgiving.

The recipe is significantly easier than traditional fried doughnuts. I opted to use mini doughnut pans which means you can reduce the bake time to about 8-10 minutes instead of 15-18 minutes for regular sized doughnuts . The cinnamon sugar coating is by far the best part. Take about 3 tablespoons and coat the doughnuts (when they have completely cooled) by gently shaking the doughnuts in a bag with the sugar mixture.

 

image source: SD

-SD

art: map prints

"A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there."-H. Stanley Judd

One of my favorite parts of starting any new year is making a list of places I am looking forward to traveling to. But between now and hopping on a plane, some lovely hand drawn map inspired artwork is a great way to stay excited about an upcoming journey. They also serve as good mementos of places you call home, love and have visited in the past. So whether you are packing your bags for a trip this long weekend or just getting ready for a staycation, here are some lovely illustrated maps from around the web to get you inspired.

City Series by Jim Datz (pictured above)
If like many fashion lovers, during the last few days you have New York Fashion Week on the brain, you'll love Jim Datz's city print of Manhattan. He combines fun signs and 1950s inspired illustrations for that print and ones of other glam cities like London and San Francisco.

art: fatakra

"Once I find what I am looking for, I will send for you and we will be a family again."-Fatakra

 

If you are in music festival withdrawal, then let me introduce you to the benefits of the film festival. There's no mud, you get to eat popcorn, your venue is typically air conditioned-- all the while viewing the brilliance of talented film makers. You can later appear cool and intellectual when you mention said films to your friends and brag that you heard of them first.

One such brag-worthy film is Fatakra (which translates to firecracker in English) directed and co-written by Soham Mehta. The University of Texas film grad is a recognized name in the Texas South Asian arts community. He co-wrote the Kal Penn starrer Where's the Party, Yaar? and founded Shunya, a non-profit theatre troupe in Houston. The troupe can boast of alum including actress Tiya Sircar (featured on PR in 2009) and NBC's Outsourced actor Guru Singh. Soham's latest film, Fatakra, is receiving wonderful reviews as it plays at film festivals around the country including scoring spots at the illustrious South by Southwest along with the Dallas International Film Festival and Aspen Film Festival. This past weekend it played at the Sarasota Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Short.

The short film tells the story of a family reunited after three years. Naveen (Samrat Chakrabarti) leaves behind his wife (Meena Serendib) and young son in India in hopes for a better life in the U.S., promising to bring them over to join him in a few months. He arrives during the recession and his promise of months turns into years. The short begins with the first day they are back together. The film brilliantly explores the often harsh reality of the immigrant experience, a brutal economy but also the beauty of hope and love all cleverly interwoven with a story from the Mahabharata. Intrigued? Pink Rickshaw had the pleasure of speaking to Soham Mehta to learn more about him and Fatakra.  

PR: How did it feel when you got the news that Fatakra was selected to be in SXSW?
SM: I was ecstatic. Every time I got a phone call with an Austin area code, I was wondering, is this it? In many ways, it was like taking the film home. I went to school in Austin, much of the crew was from Austin and we filmed around Austin. SXSW is such a prestigious film festival but because it's right in our backyard you often take for granted just what a big deal it is. I had peers on the East coast remind me that it's probably the most important American film festival next to Sundance.

 

PR: Each actor provided phenomenal performances in the film. What was it about Samrat Chakrabarti that made you know he was right for the film?
SM: When I showed people the script, some of them commented that they couldn't believe certain things the characters did, just on the page. I always felt like it would work, but I knew that I needed an actor that could pull it off because Naveen makes such an incredible journey. He's such an average person, but he goes through a heroic journey. I knew I needed an actor that could make that believable. And there are a lot of subtle things that Samrat did that make it work.

art: undying love

"On n'aime que ce qu'on ne possede pas tout entier." (We only love what we do not wholly possess) -Marcel Proust

  
Happy February! With this short, Super Bowl filled, cold month upon us, it means Valentine's Day is around the corner. And while your honey might have football on the brain over flowers, there are a few sweet options to remind him or her of your undying love. Pigeon Post has created a lovely set of six postcards shaped like stamps that are inspired by "myths, folklores and ancient stories from around the world based on the theme of undying love." Always on the look out for South Asian inspired art, the Radha Krishna print initially caught my eye which led me to find and read their love story. Which then peaked my curiosity and led me to read the New Zealand tale of Himemoa and Tutanekai (pictured top image, bottom right postcard). You see the trend..each one of the stories is worth a read. It will be especially helpful in picking the postcard that best describes your love story for Valentine's Day or really any day. Framing the whole collection would also make a great and conversation-starting art piece.

 

The love stories:
Radha Krishna (Hindu)
Pygmalion and Galatea (Greek)
Hinemoa and Tutanekai (Aotearoa)
The Butterfly Lovers (Chinese)
A Midsummer Nights Dream (English)
Pyramus and Thisbe (Babylonian)

These illustrated postcards are available at Pigeon Post's online Etsy store.

image source: studio tipi, post via eat drink chic via grainedit

-SD