The Daily Delicious for June 8, 2008

Subodh’s (over) 1 ton sculpture of shiny cookware, “Very Hungry God.”

Know Your South Asian Art
A “quick primer on the heavies of Indian art” offered by NY Mag’s Andrew M. Goldstein, in preparation for next week’s Christie’s auction in London. Including Subodh Gupta, Atul Dodiya, Nalini Malani, Arpita Singh and M. F. Husain.
(tags: art south_asia(n) india(n) subodh_gupta atul_dodiya nalini_malani arpita_singh mf_husain)

Obama’s Huma is Reggie Love
Love, a poli-sci and public policy grad, was a “wide receiver on a football scholarship at Duke who also walked onto the basketball team.” He also tried out with the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. As a body man, Love attends to many details, including keeping protein bars, berry tea and nicorette on hand for his boss. —Pavani
(tags: politics barack_obama)

Fugma Lakshmi
“Top Chef” host and Rushdie-ex Padma is the latest target over at the fashion trash talk spot, where bloggers note that an unfortunate wardrobe choice has highlighted the lithe Lakshmi’s non-existant stomach into existence. —Pavani
(tags: fashion blogs padma_lakshmi celebrities)

The Daily Delicious for June 6, 2008

Photo by Chris Stowers.

The Summer of Brownface
An interesting commentary of “brownface” casting in Hollywood. —Priya
(tags: film hollywood celebrities brown)

Hair Less Apparent for Younger Generation in South Asia
“I see younger people and I don’t think that facial hair is so popular,” said Richard McCallum, co-author of Hair India: A Guide to the Bizarre Beards and Magnificent Moustaches of Hindustan. “But I’m sure the doormen at the five-star hotels will continue to have them.” The authors grew some of their own, and claim it created instant camaraderie with the men they interviewed and photographed.

The Daily Delicious for June 3, 2008

Vijay Iyer. Photo: Pooja Bakri

Vijay Iyer: Tragicomic
“Manhanthappa is given the lead on the album’s first real dustup, “Macaca Please,” referring to the racial slur used by former Virginia Senator George Allen to describe a young Indian-American man. Both Iyer and Manhanthappa are of Indian descent, and clearly view this incident as a watershed moment not just for Indian-Americans but for the whole of American culture, which was forced to confront lingering prejudices in a very public way. The saxophone begins with an incessant, almost mocking riff that doubles back on itself before Iyer’s piano seizes control with a lightly tapped improvisation…”
(tags: jazz piano music politics macaca)

Interview with Camoflauge AKA Gangis Khan
Straight outta Scarborough, TO. Via India and Kuwait. “Scarborough definitely has its own sound. There’s a lot of bullshit out the Borough but the real heads are starting to come together so that sound is going to be even more recognizable soon.”
(tags: music hiphop toronto)

Nagaland’s Abiogenesis Fuses Folk and Rock to Create New Music
This musical group created a genre they call Howey music, a fusion of Naga folk tunes with modern rock. Band member Moa Subong invented a new bamboo wind instrument – bamhum. Hear it on the track “Saramati Tears.” Next show Sunday, June 8, 9:30pm at Blue Frog, Mumbai.
(tags: india(n) music folk rock)

HomeSpun by Nilita Vachani
“A marriage between the nationalistic Nanaji, deeply committed to Mahatma Gandhi, and Naneeji, equally committed to her wardrobe, could only spell trouble.” A first novel from a documentary filmmaker and writer.
(tags: literature india(n) marriage film)

The Daily Delicious for June 1, 2008

Mehta, 21, in Mumbai with ABC’s Dan Harris. (Alice Maggin/ABC )

21 And The World Is Yours – Mumbai
“Mehta’s mother never went to college, doesn’t work and cannot make major decisions without the consent of her husband…and her mother has actively encouraged her not to follow in her footsteps. In this way, her mother is…a ‘quiet feminist.’”

From a series on young people in different countries, a profile of Nisha Mehta. She is an ambitious sales manager at a medical testing company who sleeps on a foldout couch with her younger brother, manages 5 people older than her and, to the amusement of the reporter interviewing her, neither knows nor cares who Brad Pitt is. —Pavani
(tags: india(n) news mumbai women feminism)

The Daily Delicious for May 31, 2008

Muraqqa’: Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
“Among the most remarkable of Mughal paintings and calligraphies are those commissioned by the Emperors Jahangir (r. 1605-27) and Shah Jahan (r. 1627-58) for display in lavish imperial albums.” May 3, 2008–August 3, 2008 at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Gallery of Art. “The Persian word muraqqa’ means ‘patched’ or ‘patched garment,’ similar to those worn by Islamic mystics (Sufis) as a sign of poverty and humility. It came to be applied to Mughal albums due to their patchwork construction…”
(tags: art mughal painting history smithsonian DC)

S-U-C-C-E-S-S: Life After Spelling Bee
“I was born in America and when I was growing up I was American as can-be, minus the skin and the accent. I played sandlot baseball and joined Boy Scouts and felt that those activities tapped into American culture. Spelling was always something I enjoyed doing. I didn’t do it because I thought it would lead me anywhere. It is an American tradition that stresses diligence and studying,” says George Thampy, 1999 champ featured in “Spellbound” documentary
(tags: spelling america(n))

San Diegan Stops at Satyagraha in Spelling Bee
“Justin Song‘s advance in the Scripps National Spelling Bee came to an end shortly after 6 p.m., when he added an extra letter while attempting to spell the Sanskrit word ‘satyagraha.’” From the comments: “One would think they would stick to English words in a National spelling bee. Dang.” This year’s desi quotient in the Top 10 is 50%, including Indiana boy and winner Sameer Mishra.
(tags: spelling gandhi)

Desifest Returns to Toronto

Dias, Jayadevan, Autorickshaw, Kat Eyez, Shahid Ali Khan, Shobha.

For a second year, in celebration of South Asian Heritage Month, Desifest transforms Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square into a colourful South Asian bazaar on May 31, Saturday, featuring a free 12-hour music festival. The lineup includes the original bhangramuffin star Apache Indian, master musicians and artists as well as a number of fresh and rising performers. Toronto is the grand finale of this year’s national tour which also hit Montreal and Vancouver.

Previously: The T-Dot Heats Up With Summer Festival
On Flickr: photos from earlier lineups at Desifest

The Daily Delicious for May 30, 2008

Rock Cult or Nice Kids That Do Their Homework?
I’ll admit, no specific South Asian angle here. But seriously, BBC? Wasn’t this trend story keg all tapped by 2002? —Nalini
(tags: music media UK crybabies)

Imaad Wasif
Speaking of emo, Wasif has tons of summer shows coming up soon. Look for the ethereal, gaunt guitarist for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs rocking out at a bar near you. Strange Hexes, recorded with Two Part Beast, a band made up of some longtime friends, is his second solo album. —Pavani

The Daily Delicious for May 29, 2008

The Making of Independent Film “A Dream In Doubt”
“A scene that has deep meaning to me is the presidential election exchange…Rana (who wears a blue turban) and Harjit (who wears a red turban) argue over whether Democrats or Republicans would be better suited to fight terrorism.” Official site.
(tags: film politics sikh 9/11 turban)

NY’s Asian-Pacific Origin Students Face Race-Based Harassment
Nearly 85,000 APA high school students regularly face such harassment. The affect on their mental health is often overlooked due to a “common belief that the community is a model minority group,” according to a survey by ASAP, a youth leadership project of the CACF.
(tags: education race asia(n) health)

T.Tandon
A second clothing line from NY designer Tina Tandon. The Spring 2008 collection includes a Chikan embroidered georgette shift dress. —Pavani
(tags: design fashion nyc)

Staten Island Hindu Temple Celebrates Third Stage of Completion
From May 23-25, the temple celebrated the second phase of the Prana Pratistha, a three day ceremony during which the consecration of deities brought from Rajasthan took place. The temple will be called Shree Ram Mandir. —Pavani
(tags: religion hindu nyc)

Narayanhiti Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nepal Abolishes Monarchy, Becomes Republic
“After approving the move by an overwhelming vote,” Nepal’s newly elected leadership “said it would send a letter to 60-year-old King Gyanendra and his family, informing them that they have 15 days to vacate the royal palace.”
(tags: nepal south_asia(n) politics)

Sharon Stone Blames “Karma” for Chinese Earthquake
“The outspoken actress was talking to a Chinese media outlet on Thursday when she linked the recent disaster, which left more than 67,000 people dead, to China’s recent treatment of Tibetans.” (Update: Apology issued.)
(tags: celebrities asia(n) china)

The Daily Delicious for May 24, 2008

Photo by The Sartorialist.

Profile of Sohiny Das
The Sartorialist profiles Sohiny Das, the well-known Delhi-based fashion stylist. I like her answers: Very pragmatic without being dull. — Nalini
(tags: fashion india(n) shopping)

The Daily Delicious for May 22, 2008

Erasing Borders:Passport to Contemporary Indian Art
“The exhibition…explores the contributions of artists whose origins can be traced to the Indian Subcontinent.” In 2004 the Erasing Borders exhibition was “the first to focus solely on Indian diaspora artists.” Touring NY now through October.
(tags: art painting photography diaspora subcontinent(al) india(n))