Nepal Art Exchange Student Responses

[Debbie DePouli]

Winning Prize by Pradip Lana

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

The boy is winning some sort of prize from a teacher or principal, someone from his school. Maybe he won a science fair or a writing contest.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

Winning prizes makes him happy. He is proud of his hard work and for doing well.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We also win awards and trophies. We get rewarded for playing sports or having straight A’s in school. Our trophies look very similar in style.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

What kind of contest did he win to get the trophy?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

He has amazing drawing skills. The details in the faces, the background, and the clothes are really nicely done. The lettering is also impressive.

Plantation of Trees by Jiveen Majhi

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

They are planting trees, maybe sometime between summer and fall.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

By planting trees they are getting oxygen and maybe even fruit. It is good for the environment because it prevents erosion and flooding.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We also plant trees, flowers, and crops. We do this for food and sometimes for beautification projects (i.e. cleaning up parks).

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

How many trees have you planted? How often do you plant trees? Did she draw herself or her family in the picture? What kinds of trees are they planting?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The drawing is really realistic. It shows that she has a green thumb. The way its drawn shows perspective and it uses shading. The people really look like they are sitting down.

Worshipping God by Manisha Sanjel

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

Her mother is worshipping the God Ganesh. It looks like she is praying outside on a rug (instead of in a church or religious building).

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

It shows her religion and the value of respect and caring.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We follow religions and pray to God. We go to temple or church or mosque instead.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Do you pray to people who have passed on (the altar reminds us of a tombstone)? What are the objects she is using to worship Ganesh, the bell, food, etc?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The drawing is three-dimensional looking. The sunrise is drawn well by using different colors.

Listening by Lalita Lama

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

They are listening to what Buddha is saying to them about living good.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

She is showing us about her religion and how religion is a big part of her culture.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We also have the tradition of going to church. Usually we talk to priests or rabbis instead of to God himself.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Why are they outside when talking to Buddha? Who is sitting with her?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The grass was drawn really well and the Buddha was drawn very realistically. The outlines around the people and objects help them to “pop”.

Celebrating Fathers Day by Karuna Shrestha

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

The girl and her Father are celebrating Father’s Day. She is getting blessings and sweets from her father.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

It shows how important elders are in her country. It shows respect and how special blessings are. It shows that elders are considered to be wise.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We celebrate Father’s Day too, but we don’t get sweets or blessings, we give gifts instead. We also celebrate Mother’s Day.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Why do you get blessings? Why was the celebration drawn in that particular scene, is it her house?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The table and furniture look three-dimensional. The design of the hat is interesting and the painting on the wall looks like a window. There are really nice details in the drawing, especially in the background.

Playing Holi by Ashish Pariyar

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

He is playing holi with his friends. They are playing in water and throwing it at each other.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

It celebrates the full moon and it shows friendship.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We have water balloon fights in the summer; it looks sort of like that.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Are they standing in a river or is that water from them playing? What are the rules of the game?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The way the lines were drawn show that things were moving and there is nice shading for the sky. Also, the people overlap each other to look like they are in front or behind. This looks like a tradition that we would like to celebrate as well.

House in Deepwali by Nish Maya Tamang

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It shows the festival of lights as part of the Tihar Festival.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

It shows the value of community in their culture.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We decorate houses inside and outside with lights for Christmas and Chanukah. Also in the Jewish religion candles are used a lot during religious ceremonies.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

What is the Jewish star drawn in the picture for? What are the houses made of?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The symbols drawn on the sidewalk are interesting and the houses are drawn really well.

Worshipping Cow by Kumari Lama

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It shows her worshipping a cow as part of the Tihar Festival.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

The cow is their National Animal and it shows how important it is to them. They worship the cow and give them health.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We don’t exactly worship animals, but we have the eagle is a national symbol for us and we care for our pets.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

What is it around the cow’s neck, are they flowers? Did she draw herself in the picture or is it another female?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The tradition is interesting and one we would like to have in our culture. The house and cow are drawn very well.

Worshipping Dog by Bishal Lama

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It shows a man worshipping a dog during the Tihar Festival.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

Its value is companionship between the man and the dog. It shows the significance of dogs in their culture and how they believe they have a role as a messenger.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We also value dogs by having them as pets. We don’t worship them, but we care for them and treat them like family.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

What is he giving the dog- is it a bottle to put a message in? What kind of dog did is drawn? What kind of messages do they give to the dog?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The dog is drawn really well, which is hard to do.

Playing Swing by Shita Lama

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It shows how they play on swings as part of the Dishain Festival.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

They value friendship and community by playing together and celebrating the festival.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We also have swing sets to play on, but ours are not made from natural things. We don’t use trees to swing on unless we tie a rope onto one and make our own swings. Also, we have holidays that celebrate family and friends, like Christmas and birthdays.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Why doesn’t the boy have a swing too? Is ping something that happens throughout the festival or is only on a certain day of it?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

We like how the trees are used to make swings, it looks fun. The trees are drawn to look like they are receding up.

Receiving Tika by Moisal Lama

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It shows a girl getting tika as part of the Dishain Festival. The boy is flying a kite.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

It shows the value of fertility and abundance by receiving tika. It also shows the importance of family and elders.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We have ash put on our heads for Ash Wednesday and use holy water in churches. We also receive blessings when we go to church.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Why did she choose to draw the corners blue- is that decoration? What kinds of blessings do they get from elders?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

She drew the people really well, especially her brother and her mother’s hair.

Playing Duesi by Juna Koirala

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It is showing the festival of lights as part of the Tihar Festival. They are singing and playing music in their neighborhood.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

It shows the value of community and friendship by going out in groups and singing to neighbors.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

It is like when we go Christmas caroling. We don’t use instruments, but the singing at people’s houses is similar.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

What kinds of songs do they sing? What are the rings in the picture for?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

We like the style of dress the drawing shows, as well as the how the houses have grass roofs.

Nepali Marriage by Shanti Kumari Thokar

1. The actual tradition portrayed in my partner’s art. Where and when the tradition is practiced. The means by which the tradition is carried out.

It shows the Hindu tradition of marriage between a woman and a man.

2. The values my partner’s tradition portrays. Why my partner decided to show this tradition.

The values are spending the rest of their lives together and having children. It shows affection and their commitment to each other.

3. A tradition that is similar to my partners that we have.

We also have wedding ceremonies, but our style of dress is very different. Women do not wear red and our veils are very different. We use rings instead of necklaces and our ceremonies don’t have fire.

4. Follow up question that I would ask the artist.

Why do the women wear red? Does she hope to be married this way one day?

5. My thank you note including what I liked best about my partner’s art.

The cloth is drawn to look like it has texture and real folds.