Danger Dog Blog

Live from Kathmandu!

Kukor puja, Nepal's Day of the Dog starts tomorrow at noon.  

But for these lucky dogs, Kukor Puja started early.   This western Sadhu (holy man) feeds the stray dogs around the Boudhanath stupa, in front of the Guru Lhakhang Gompa.

Being as it is the first day of Tihar, the monks have set up a special altar behind those garlands of Tibetan Flags.  Tihar is celebrated by Hindu's, but it seems to me that the Buddhists cover their bases and join in the fun.

Tihar is a great excuse to gamble.   Here these youths get a head start, setting up their gameboard before 8 am!  Technically, the festival does not start until later in the day, but why wait for a good thing?

Winter is settling in here in Kathmandu, with sunny, warm middays and chilly mornings and late afternoons.  My kind of weather.

The dogs of Boudhha watch the action around the stupa.   More tomorrow.   Stay tuned!

Now is the time to order:    Each commission I receive will be given to 3 different Nepalese signboard artists, giving 3 struggling artists Fair Trade work and you a choice of 3 colorful paintings on metal!  

Your satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front, only if you like one of the portraits do you pay.   The artists are paid fair trade wages whether you buy or not.

How to Order: 

1. Send a photo of your pet to me at ampage1@gmail.com.

2.  Let me know what you would like the signboard to say.

3. Tell me which style of Danger Dog art you prefer, by giving me examples of signs you have liked on the website or just say whether you like realistic, naive, cartoonish or fanciful. 

4. Follow the Danger Dog Blog and see the works in progress, trips to the studios, the life and arts of Nepal.

5.  Decide which painting you prefer of the 3 and send me a check and I will mail you your very own personal Danger Dog (or Cat)!  

More information and examples of the Nepal Art Dog project can be found at NepalDog.com.

Live from Kathmandu! Fabulous Art!

After a 30-hour journey, I arrived in Kathmandu and hit the ground running!

At the new Kathmandu Contemporary Art Center in Jhamsikhel, there was an installation which was the perfect meld of art, eco-science and social conscience.   Featuring the artworks of Nepali and French artists, the piece de resistance was this 5-meter Buddha by Karl Knapp, constructed with chicken wire covered with colorful recycled plactic bags, this exhibit was part of the Planet Nepal Festival of Arts and Environment.    You can find an earlier review of Karl's work in Kathmandu here:

The woven petals in front of 'The Recycled Buddha' are by Ashmina Ranjil, a contemporary artist from Kathmandu.

 

Also included as part of the exhibit was the Rickshaw Project - an artistic take on the most ecologically sound mode of transport.   The rickshaw above is made from recycled bicycle tires by Sanjana Joshi. 

Another of the 3 rickshaws, this one by the artist Om Khatri.   As part of the Festival, the three circulated through the streets of Kathmandu, handing out pamplets explaining how the local people can help sustain the environment on a personal level.  

This multi-media exhibit included these masks. 

A photo exhibition by Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati asks dificult questions and makes one think about the future of the global warming that starts at the top here in Nepal, the Roof of the World.

Apologies for the skew of this photo, but I cannot seem to get the photo orientations to stick on this computer.   However, I can assure that this giant Suhuaro cactus made of recycled soda bottles was a sight to behold.   I also cannot find the name of the artist in the literature provided.  

The evening ended with a documentary film that strikingly showed the pollution that is choking Kathmandu Valley in a dramatic way.   Very well-edited and shot, I recommend trying to see this short film named Pani (Water) by Sushma Joshi.   You will be glad you did.

I can't begin to do justice to this exhibit with my limited time, but please visit the website www.Planetnepal.org to find out more.

While trying to find the gallery, I came across this Nepali Danger Dog zealously guarding his turf.  

Seems I came late to the party, missing a great 3 day show at the Patan Museum and an installation at Patan's Durbar Square, but better late than never!

I even got a chance to talk with France's Ambassador to Nepal!

By the way, this exhibit would not have been possible without the help of Kathmandu's Alliance Francaise.   If you are in Paris on November 20 and 21, 2010, there will be a reprise of this exhibit.   Go to the website to find out those locations.  

Remember tomorrow is the Day of the Dog.   Stay tuned.

Labor Day in Nepal

I often joke that the Nepalese dress nicely even while breaking rocks.   We should give thanks this labor day that we are not Nepali contruction workers.   

Dogmandu!

There are many great places to donate to in the vast miasma that is Dogmandu!  

There are many sleeping dogs in Dogmandu.   Some are more picturesque than others.

This charmer is sleeping with the rocks up in Mustang.   Better than sleeping with the fishes!   He looks content in any case.   Dogmandu!

This dog - Tarapondray - sleeps on the stupa.  She is well loved, by her Tibetan owners, the many passers by on the Boudha Stupa, and the male dogs that have fathered many generations of pups.   Hope she is enjoying her sleep...

Cause she's going to need it!   Here she is in 2008 with her puppies.   In August of 2010, she was in heat again and I saw her copulating with 3 different males daily and often.   The KAT (Kathmandu Animal Treatment center) tries to fix these dogs, but Tarapondray has an owner.

There are many, many dogs that wander in Boudha.   Dan has counted over 100 in a short trip from our guest house to the stupa and around.    Many have owners but many do not.   One granny feeds the streetdogs each evening.

Jan Salter, a British artist, has spayed, de-wormed and vaccinated over 8100 dogs since beginning her  wonderful KAT project in 2004.

You can help by going to her website, donating and spreading the word about the wonderful work that she does.   I have seen for myself how many dogs have been helped through her work.  I have met veterinarians who donate their time and expertise to these dogs.  I have met Jan many times and she is selfless in her determination to help these animals.

 

Danger Dogs from Nepal

Yesterday a 'chakra jam' or strike not allowing any private or public vehicles on the road was called, causing havok for businesses and problems for anyone trying to get anywhere!

While it is a major discomfort for the people in the Kathmandu Valley, Dan and I use it as an excuse to wander into new neighborhoods without the incredible noise and dust that the traffic generates.   We were lucky to find this big and bright Danger Dog near Jorpati.   Signboards like this one were the inspiration for this Fair Trade art project.   They are disappearing fast. 
Bruiser is a lucky dog that lives on a farm and roots around in all sorts of fragrant stuff, hence the stinky appelation.   Be assured that he is well loved in any case.   Here is his finished portrait by Sagar.

This double portrait of Posey and Scooter is also by Sagar.   Sagar signs his work in Japanese with a chop that means Ocean in Japanese.  Sagar is Ocean in Nepali.

Lastly, we have Ozzie, an Amazing Dog, as painted by Sagar.   Ozzie sports his Burberry scarf.   Sagar's art is on recycled metal.

More tomorrow!   Stay tuned.

To find out more about the Danger Dog project, go to NepalDog.com.

This Fair Trade art project was started to preserve the fast disappearing signboard art in Nepal.   By promoting this art I hope to make it possible for these fine artists to continue their work in this digital age.

These paintings are all approximately one square foot, painted with synthetic enamel and can be hung indoors or out.

I will be returning to Nepal later this year for holiday orders.

Give someone you love a portrait of someone they love!   Make it a Danger Dog Christmas!