Such is the beauty of my everyday life!
First of all, let me explain. I had a hankering for soup today, and lo and behold there was a butternut squash all pureéd and pre-mixed with chicken broth for making soup... I scouted my ingredients and set to work. My hands had been idle in the kitchen for far too long, and the process of dicing red pepper, slicing white onion and sauteéing them in the pan was delightful. Then I went hunting in the herb cabinet for seasonings, deciding quickly on nutmeg and tarragon leaves... Mmmmm. I dumped the veggies in a food processor and blended them with some medium-firm tofu and the spices, adding this mixture to the soup over heat and stirring it until smooth. What a delectable aroma then arose from the pan! A pinch of salt, and my soup was complete.
I sipped my soup from a large bowl while munching on white popcorn, the kettle-cooked variety, with apple-raspberry juice to drink. Ah, life is beautiful when one can cook!
Now then, about the Asante. After eating such a delicious bowl of soup, I was inspired to visit a local art exhibit - three, in fact - showcasing African textiles and cultural artifacts from Ghana as well as an African-American quilt exhibition. Let me just say - wow! The colors and combinations were phenomenal, the intricacy was exquisite, and every meticulous detail of the work was staggering. I saw a few familiar patterns, yet the sheer diversity of techniques and styles of cloth were far beyond my experience.
I noticed, as I closely observed the detailed embroidery and weaving work of African textiles, that there were several patterns seeming to be pictograms of various animals, both birds and mammals. Some of the pictograms resembled designs I had seen before in Mayan weaving from Guatemala, in particular the butterfly pattern embroidered on woven cloth. I guessed at the different animals - a camel, a dog, a peacock, an eagle and some other bird-like forms. On some cloths made for wearing like a blouse, I observed cross-stitchery forming flowers and elegant radial designs. On others, varying embroidery techniques were used with variegated floss. Some of the larger cloths contained a proliferation of threads forming a sort of mosaic in a more abstract pattern, having a more symbolic nature than literal. It was definitely evident that color in these designs carried great significance.
A second exhibit being held nearby celebrated the talented weavers of the Asante people of Ghana, who are well-known for their beautiful and elaborate Kente cloth. Kente has a history as a ceremonial and royal garment, worn by both men and women only on special occasions. Legend has it that the first weavers of Kente cloth copied their technique from a spider weaving its web. Kente has not only a royal implication but also spiritual and political significance, depending on the woven pattern or adinkra symbols in the design.
For an idea of the exhibit on Kente cloth, Click here. To find out more about Kente and its symbolism in African culture and daily life, read more here.
The third exhibit contained over twenty quilts made by African American artisans, featuring numerous fabric designs, portaits of African families and creative layouts. I was most moved by the quilts picturing a mother and father lovingly holding their child. These were decorated with beads and tiny gems in a way seamless with the colors of the quilt, seeming to naturally belong there. Another elaborate quilt was adorned with textured wooden buttons in different shapes and with various markings. In the center was a single ivory ornament in the likeness of a mask with its elongated head. I could have wandered for hours gazing at the beautiful handiwork of all the quilts, which means I will have to return soon.
After all, life is simply too short to die.
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