Deer Park, Bir

District Kangra

tea country.

from the roof 

panoramic valley views at sunset

here one gets just a tease of the Himalayas

we got fresh snow in the mountains yesterday

its May.

but the rivers are dry

choked by the heat

and the heap of plastic bottles

biscuit wrappers 

tires

some afternoons

thunder storms blow through

intense, urgent in their will 

to unravel

the most stoic flagpoles

as i walk to the town from deer park

chirping birds give way 

to barking dogs

to honking taxis

to trucks rumbling thru

with daily loads of rocks

from the river

it is saka dawa

one of the holiest months in the buddhist calendar

and the whirring of large prayer wheels

chants and the tinkling of tea cups

permeates the tibetan settlement community center.

it is believed this month

the merit of good deeds are

multiplied many thousands of times.

(Pictured: Deer Park temple, a detail from one of the murals at Dzongsar Institute in Chauntra, Geeti and I for a walk down to the river, and the mani stones at Chokling Monastery.)

Delhi

the wind. it hit me like the voice of a familiar friend,

sending me back

to joys 

long lost 

past the memory of chili.

this place is music in the form

of spice

infiltrating the air

almost indistinguishable from dust

simmering in the sunlight

songs and thuds from taut

skins 

laughter in the morning

bare feet 

clapping

this place is music in the form

of prayer

praising the dawn

almost indistinguishable from birdsong

calling to life the wake

of children

sailing past fragrances

sweetly drifting

yellow boughs

Exploring the source anew... the beginning of a new series

its so yummy to find time to write again. i'm minimally workshopping the poems. i guess for me they've been a part of excavating my creative process...this one is fresh and probably not done. i think i would like it to be the narrative for an animation piece.

("dilaw" is yellow in tagalog and "puti" is white)


dilaw. puti. dilaw. puti.

i cough color
staining baby cheeks
wrists, fingernails
feet

dilaw. puti. dilaw. puti.

hands slapping
morena, mistiza,
dilaw. puti. dilaw. puti.
i raise a hand
in protest
my soul is not reflected
in my color --it lays
between sinews
saving voices
laying dormant
dilaw. puti. dilaw. puti.
until such a time
as spirit erupts
irrepressible and pure
like rage in a forest.

image: From the series "Saving Face" by M. Mangahas, 2006, Philippine cocoa, paraffin, chili 

Silhouette of Songs Reception + Performance

Paintings and animation by Susan Chen and Minette Mangahas. Life music performed--improvised--by FIELD: Walter Kitundu (invented instruments) and Robin Sukhadia (tabla). This was a wonderful event at the Sangati Center in San Francisco that was so well attended, folks were turned away (I'm so sorry to those who could get in!) and there were people sitting underneath and behind the screen!

Paintings, stills and photographs:

1. "Flash" by MM.

2. "Red Tree" by SC.

3. After the performance (l-r) Minette, Susan, Robin, and Walter.

4. Robin and Walter watching a preview before the show.

5. Minette w/ mom Miranda Lee.

6. "Country animation still" by MM.

7. Reception

8. Patricia Wakida and Wallis Harvey

9. "The Green Man" by MM.

10."Chartreuse" by SC.

11. Picture of screen at the Sangati reception.

12. Folks at the reception: Susan, Minette, Camille Hoffman, Jefferson Pinder, Chris, and Janif

The Silhouette of Songs

The Silhouette of Songs: Minette Lee Mangahas + Susan Chen (painting & animation)

FIELD: Robin Sukhadia (tabla) + Walter Kitundu (invented instruments)


Opening Reception Nov. 8, 7-9 pm
Exhibition of stills and paintings with a preview of the 5-part animated cycle for “The Silhouette of Songs”

Performance Nov. 22, 8 pm
FIELD: Robin Sukhadia (tabla) + Walter Kitundu (invented instruments)
With a screening of the entire cycle for “The Silhouette of Songs”


Exhibition runs through Dec. 19.
The Sangati Center
3049 22nd Street
SF, CA 94110

http://sangaticenter.org


Presented in conjunction with the De Young Museum's exhibition "Asian/American/Modern Art: Shifting Currents" on view from Oct. 25-Jan 18.

The Sangati Gallery is open during events and by appointment.
Please call (510) 962-5044 or email gallery@sangaticenter.org.

4,000 Strokes Opening Reception

Surya and Minette working on installation for "4,000 Strokes" at Mid City Arts

Chinese scroll collaborations between Minette and writers (l-r) Desi W.O.M.E., Spie, Apex, and Amend One. Large scroll "Flight" in collab with Apex.

Solo paintings by Surya

"Flash" series, solo pieces by Minette Mangahas.

Studies on graffiti tags in ink and silver pigment.

View from window

Surya, Shig and Minette

All photos (except this one) by Hank Willis Thomas. 

"One World One Dream" at Oakland Art Day on KTVU News

Performance painting with Desi W.O.M.E at the Oakland Art Gallery  Oct. 3, 2008. Commissioned by the Cultural Arts and Marketing Dept at the City of Oakland.

Click on title above to see feature on the KTVU 10 o'clock News.