Live from Kathmandu: Happy Halloween
October 31, 2011
Halloween is celebrated in far off Nepal, but not with the usual flamboyance of America. Here at the Saturday Cafe in Boudha, this cheerful carved pumpkin attracts a large crowd.
This acrobatic black Nepali cat rests on the rooftop after frolicking and chasing insects.
This rather scary taxidermied Bengal tiger at the Kaiser Library in central Kathmandu certainly fits a Halloween theme.
Baba always dresses in orange. I worried that he had changed his phone, but it was simply a glitch in the phone system. I was very happy to see him still in his studio. He now has a computer in his office. I guess his plan to get all his money from the Danger Dog project in one big lump sum (to buy a computer) paid off. Bravo to Baba.
Megh Raj Thapa and his son, Anup, are happy to get some new Danger Dog business.
A wonderful example of a native 'Beware of Dog' sign from Kathmandu. Though I've seen this before, I couldn't resist showing this again.
These lovely ladies with magenta head dresses have been seen along the Boudha Stupa for the last few days. So colorful and appealing, they are not from Kathmandu and look over the goods on offer as much as any tourist would.
Surounded by a garland of marigolds, this old faded Danger Dog afghan still looks good to me. This is an early version of a pre-printed Kennel Club sign from the early 1990's. Later the Club changed to a German Shepherd for their beware of dog signs.
I also got a chance to see the always wonderful Lotus Gallery smack in the heart of Thamel. Run jointly by Santosh and his American partner, Jim Aplington, the Lotus is one of the few (if not the only) galleries in town that specialize in contemporary Tibetan Art.
With a wide selection of Fine Artists from the Mountains of Nepal as well as Tibet, you can find their website at LotusGalleryNepal.com. It is always one of my favorite places to stop and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the tourist district of Thamel. Santosh is the perfect host, and there is all that art to enjoy.
More tomorrow from on my Live from Kathmandu blog.
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.
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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 [email protected] or find out more at www.NepalDog.com.
Let's keep these artists painting.
American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.
Hello from Dogmandu!