April 10, 2020
Dear friend,
The concept of home is both physical and metaphorical. As we continue to increase the amount of time we spend in our physical homes, we may also be contemplating the more spiritual or philosophical interpretations of the word.
For Ragamala's artistic team, home is two places, two identities, two north stars. Ranee was born and raised in India, and came to the United States as an adult; Aparna was born in India and after moving to the U.S. returned to India for many months each year; Ashwini was born in the United States, and those same trips to India were more about discovery than return. They each use Bharatanatyam to explore these facets of home and multicultural identity.
What does home mean to you? How are you adapting your home - both physically and emotionally - to prepare for the unknowable months ahead? We hope that you find this week's content both entertaining and thought-provoking, and we look forward to hearing your perspectives.
Until next week, please stay safe and healthy,
Ranee, Aparna, Ashwini, and
the Ragamala staff
EXPERIENCE
Of memory and homeland: Let the Crows Come
Although scheduled performances of Ashwini Ramaswamy's Let the Crows Come on April 8-10th at The Baryshnikov Arts Center (NYC), April 14th at UMass Amherst's Fine Arts Center (MA), and April 17th at The Ware Center (PA) can no longer take place, we can still bring this work to you.
Let the Crows Come evokes mythography and ancestry to explore how memory and homeland can channel guidance and dislocation. Ashwini's upbringing in both India and the U.S. has encouraged an aesthetic perspective with a hybrid internal compass.
Watch an interview with Ashwini/excerpts as well as some at-home videos she made in lieu of the performances on our YouTube Channel:
ENGAGE
This Is an Indian House, According to One Architect
By turning his gaze backward, Bijoy Jain is creating a new architectural language that acknowledges his country’s precolonial past
Ragamala's work layers influences from both the past and the present to create something new, which is why we found this nuanced article about Indian architecture from the New York Times Style Magazine to be a fascinating read.
"THROUGH ITS PREMODERN phases, Indian architecture was one of the truest examples of the vision of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who wrote in his 1946 book, ' The Discovery of India ,' of a place 'on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie had been inscribed, and yet no succeeding layer had completely hidden or erased what had been written previously.' Dynasties rose and fell, the religious makeup of India changed, but Indian architecture, like Indian food, music and literature, was able to absorb the new influences."
EXPLORE
Recipe: Avocado, lime and cilantro rice
For many, home is synonymous with food. As spring continues to bloom, this avocado rice will be a great addition to you next lunch or dinner.
What you need:
3 avocados, mashed
3 limes, juice
1 cup fresh chopped cilantro
2 1/2 cups organic brown rice
Zest of 1 lime
1 cup frozen peas (optional)
1 tsp salt
1 jalapeño, chopped, optional
What you do:
In your rice cooker cook the brown rice. Alternately you can cook it in your stove top. Place the peas in your microwave and cook for 2-3 minutes until warm.
In a large saute pan, or large bowl, mashed the avocados. Add the chopped cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, peas, salt and jalapeño if using. Mix the ingredients until combined.
When the rice is cooked through add it to the avocado mixture and incorporate well. Serve warm or cold. I like it warm better.
We would love to stay connected with you: please let us know your reactions to the videos, article, and recipe we have shared this week by commenting on this post or posting on our Facebook page.
As we all navigate this strange and uncertain time, we know that many organizations could use your support. If you are able, please consider supporting Ragamala so we may continue to provide artistic experiences that move and connect us all long into the future.