Danger Dog Blog

Live from Kathmandu:

I got an opportunity to pass by Megh Raj's studio yesterday and he has started his work.   This is Giggles the black and white cat as a work in progress.

Here are early sketches of Karma the Shitzu and Sam and Wilbur, a pair of golden labradors.   It's a start !!

I dropped by to see Dilip, his wife, and Dipendra - Dilip's assistant (in background).   Their daughter was at school, so missed her.

Dilip told me that he has a Pug, a German Shepherd and a Doberman.   I'm going to encourage him to paint one of his dogs for a Beware of Dog sign.

There's a new Animal Clinic around the corner from Dilip's with a lovely sign.   Wonder who painted this sweet dog image?  

Hari Timesina is happy to be given his Danger Dog orders.   One of my most fanciful painters, I can't wait to see what he will come up with this trip.

Meanwhile, around the Boudha Stupa this morning,  I was delighted to see the aged Tibetan lady again giving bread and food to the street dogs of Boudha.   Every morning and evening this dimunative lady doles out treats to the dogs.  

It has turned cold in the last few days, and everyone is bundled up for the early morning chill.

My old friends Tyson and Bison frolic on the high road.   I am always happy to see my old dog friends here in Kathmandu.

Just so you don't think I'm starving over here, here is a beautiful and delicious example of a home-cooked meal from a friend.   The Thai flavored papaya salad with lime, dried shrimp and curry paste was a knockout.

After the dust and many, many micro buses endured yesterday going from artist to artist, I treated myself to my favorite Tandoori dish - Paneer Tika.   With marinated paneer (fresh cheese) skewered with tomatoes, green peppers and Nepal's especially tasty red onions, it was a definite delight.

If you are lucky enough to be in Los Angeles before the end of December, you can see 60 Nepal Art Dogs at The Loft at Liz's Gallery at 435 S. La Brea LA  90036.   Part of an exhibit titled "Fair Trade", a total of 28 artists are represented in the exhibit so you can get an idea of their varying styles.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Your pet can be immortalized on metal by struggling Nepali signboard artists whose hand-painted work is being replaced by digital graphics.   Find out how below.

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

 

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for October/November 2011 trip.   All signs will be ready with plenty of time to mail for the holidays.

 

HOW TO ORDER

1.   Please send me a medium to high resolution photo of your pet.   I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out, be framed or unframed.

2.   Let me know what you would like it to say.

That's it !

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com or find out more at www.NepalDog.com.

Let's keep these artists painting.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

 

 

 

 

Why I Love Nepal: Hardware in Mustang

Nepal is justifiably famous for the fabulous woodcarvers of yore, but today I will focus on their locks, hasps and latches on the doors and gates along the Kali Gandaki River in lower Mustang.

The Chhairo Gompa is part of the Tibetan Refugee Camp just outside of Marpha village in lower Mustang.  It is slowly being restored to its former glory.

I'm not sure how old the hardware is on this door, but it is in the style of the Kingdom of Lo Manthang.

This gompa was built sometime in the 1600s.   Once the religious center of the Thakali people, the salt traders of the area relocated after the Chinese closed the border to Tibet and the Chhairo Gompa fell into disrepair.  The last of the monks left Chairro in the 1970s.

John Sanday was the architect chosen by Lama Sashi Dojto help with Chhairo Gompa's restoration.

We have been watching the progress every year and things are progressing albeit slowly.

A lovely old hasp at the Gompa.

Just down the road a bit, in Tukche, where I have been photographing this lovely old abandoned house for many, many years, there are quite a few old hasps and latches.

From the same house in Tukche.

A more primitive latching system.

Even more primitive hinges, again made with what's on hand.  

I would have like to have seen this old house in its heyday, when Tukche merchants cornered the  lucrative salt trade from Tibet. 

Starting in the early 1960s, these magnificent old houses were abandoned when the road from India to Pokhara was built -- making the traditional salt from Tibet more expensive than the Indian salt.   By the early 1970s many houses were abandoned.   My husband met a lady who grew up in Tukche at an African/Nepal film festival in Kathmandu.   In her mid-60s, her aunt lived in this house and she often visited.  She is now a doctor and her children have emigrated to New Zealand.

There are clues that this house is not completely abandoned however... Laundry on the lines and prayer flags adorn the inner courtyard. 

Just to compare, this is the courtyard of the lovely Tukche Distillery.   The house was 207 years old when this photo was taken.   Their brandies are delicious!   But that story is for another post.

This hasp is from the town of Philing, just across the bridge from EklaiBhatti in Mustang.

A hasp of an entirely different sort.   Also from Philing.   Yak hide hardware.

Using what is at hand is an art in Mustang.

Looking through photos really makes me miss Nepal.

Stay tuned.  

 

 

 

Dogs of Pokhara

Since I have been stranded here due to the monsoon for a few extra days, I have time to walk the streets of Pokhara and interact with some not-so-Danger-Dogs.

   

This dog has a bounce to his walk and is a big dog in every respect but his short legs.   He came right up and got the petting that he deserved.   I think the Nepali dogs like tourists very much.

 
This is a male dog named 'Maggie'.   He is gentle and friendly and has a lovely notched ear.   His owners were foreigners here who have since moved on to Indonesia.   The owners of the Lama Restaurant took him under their wing and he now live the life of riley and is well fed and loved.

 
This little puppy is Maggie's friend and they play together on a large construction sandpile.

 
I ran into this little boy with this adorable puppy.   Dogs here jump up on you if you are not careful.   And this is the rainy (muddy paws) season.

 
I haven't seen many 'Beware of Dog' here in Pokhara.   This one is on its last legs.

 
This woman rests parkside with her happy dog.

I may be off trekking, but you can still order your Danger Dog signboard.   Of course, your pet may be Enlightened, Happy, Smiling or even a cat!   I will be back on the grid soon and ready to give your photo of your pet to 3 endangered Nepali signboard artists.   You pay nothing if you are not satisfied with the results.  

All signboards are approximately one square foot and are painted with synthetic enamel and are good indoors or out.  

Contact me at ampage1@gmail.com for more information and to order.   Also, you can go to NepalDog.com to see more about the project.

The first Danger Dogs work-in-progress

This is always an exciting time for me in Kathmandu.   I should be picking up the first signs in a couple of days and meantime I get to see the work in progress.

 
These two beauties by Amar Shrestha are Happy Dogs.   You can tell by that irrepressible tail on the left hand dog!   These are a work in progress and I can't wait to see the final.

 
I stopped by Megh Raj's studio a few days early and was rewarded by these portraits of Dexter and the 4 Labradors in the hatch back.  

 
Logan and Buddy are two more Shepherd Danger Dogs by Megh Raj.

 
I saw this handsome 'Beware of Dog' sign on my walk home.

If you would like your pet's portrait painted on metal by these struggling Nepali signboard artists, please send me a photo of your pet to ampage1@gmail.com.   I will give that photo to 3 artists, giving you a choice of 3 and 3 artists work at the same time.   You pay nothing if you do not like any of your portraits of your pet.   The artists are paid fair trade wages for all work whether you buy their art or not.   

They make the perfect gift.   Order by August 1, 2010 for this trip.

The Nepal Art Dog Fair Trade project promotes the disappearing art of the Nepali signboard.   Micro-finance through art patronage.

I have commissioned more than 1500 pieces -- making a difference in the artists' lives.

Stay tuned, as I will be picking up more signboards tomorrow, hopefully.   Dogmandu!

For more information about the project contact me at ampage1@gmail.com or go to NepalDog.com.

More 'Beware of Dog' Signboards of Kathmandu

 

While ordering Danger Dog signs yesterday, we walked the streets of Kathmandu looking for good 'Beware of the Dog' signs.   Here is an old friend near the Chabahil area of Kathmandu.

 
Another old friend in the district.   I often photograph signs I have seen before to keep track of their patina.    This lassie is a particular favorite.   There is a huge compound behind this sign.

 
This is a wonderfully naive (and large) signboard advertising a Veterinarian.

 
This two-sided signboard is from the same vet.

 
This 'beware of dog' sign is certainly different.

 
This pretty sign has the typical Nepali tongue on a 'be ware of dog' signboard.

 
This 'dog(???)' can speak for itself.

 
Turns out that the Everest Kennel Club people are going with a new image!   Yesterday I reported that some family had put their Corgi on their gate.   The Corgi is the new German Shepherd here in Nepal.

 
This faded afghan sign is a precursor to the German Shepherd that is now everywhere.   Soon to be replaced by a Corgi?

 
All these Danger Dog signs don't seem to phase these kittens.

If you would like to immortalize your pet and help struggling Nepali signboard artists at the same time... now is your chance!  I am here in Kathmandu currently taking orders and will give each commission to 3 artists who will paint your pet on metal, giving you 3 choices and 3 artists work.

Each sign is approximately one square foot, synthetic enamel on often recycled metal.   They can be hung indoors or out.

Any questions or comments are welcome.   You can leave them below or contact me at ampage1@gmail.com.   The Nepal Art Dog project also has a website at NepalDog.com.   There you can find the various artists, their style of art, costs and what's available if you'd like to purchase an existing signboard.  

This is a fair trade art project determined to promote signboard art in Nepal before it completely disappears.    Micro-finance through art patronage.   We are giving these artists a rod not a fish.

Danger Dogs (or Cats) make the perfect gift for pet lovers who collect art and would like to make a difference.