August events at Hungry Head Books
Brian Wilga
There are four events listed and described at some length below,
8/2, 8/4, 8/13, 8/15. Details are soon to follow about a Sacred Sexuality
Workshop on 8/25.
August Events
Sunday August 2 at 4 pm--The Secret Lives of Alexandra
David-Neel: A Biography of the Explorer of Tibet and
Its Forbidden Practices by Barbara Foster and Michael
Foster
Lawrence Durrell called Alexandra David-Neel the "most
astonishing woman of our time." She was the first European
woman to explore Tibet at a time when foreigners were
banned; few have lead a life of adventure equal to hers,
or made so much of it. Now with additional source material
available, including the secret files of the India Office,
Barbara and Michael Foster revisit their subject, this
time revealing rare information about the secret mystical
practices of Tibetan Buddhism, many of which were mastered
by David-Neel--including out-of-body travel, telepathy,
vampiric Shamanism and tantric sex.
The result is a vividly detailed chronicle of David-Neel's
quest to conquer her personal demons and of the outer
journey that made her one of the most celebrated figures
of her day. This comprehensive survey of David-Neel's
life and the hidden practices of Tibetan Buddhism provides
the deep background for the renewed interest in Tibet
from the Western world.
"Blakean imagery in Alexandra David-Neel's Magic And Mystery
in Tibet magnetized me toward Buddhist meditation
half a life-time ago. Now in The Secret LIve of Alexandra
David-Neel, her own vast sacred life record is happily
accessible to her lineage descendants." --Allen Ginsberg
Barbara Foster is assistant professor in the library
department at Hunter College, City University of New
York. Michael Foster is the author of Freedom's Thunder
and other novels. Their most recent book is Three in
Love, a history of the romantic triangle.
6 x 9 304 pages
26 black and white photos
2 maps
$32.50 hardcover
Tuesday August 4 at 7:30 pm--Eric Kroll's Beauty Parade
Eric Kroll, the well-known fetish photographer, will be
doing a booksigning, video screening, a fetish fashion
show and photo shoot. Check out his web site:
www.fetish-usa.com. His books include Eric Kroll's
Beauty Parade and Fetish Girls, each $29.99 hardcover.
Thursday August 13 at 7:30 pm--Completing the Course
by Tom Nussbaum. Gay author to read from Eugene-set
novel.
Seattle writer Tom Nussbaum will read from and sign copies of
his first novel Completing the Course. It is about an unlikely
relationship between a gay high school teacher and a
conservative, religious student, and follows it beyond the
latter's graduation, examing its lone term impact on each of
them. Among the themes are complexities of life, the varieties
of love, perseverence and fate. But, ultimately, this story is
about decision making, consequence and the defining moments
in people's lives.
While Completing the Course, which partially takes place in
Eugene, was inspired by people Nussbaum has met and experiences
he has had since he began working in high school, it is not
autobiographical. Nussbaum, a member of the Gay, Lesbian
and Straight Education Network, acknowledges that his book is
about a controversial subject and may not be for everyone.
The Seattle Gay News says Completing the Course "should be on
everyone's 'to read' list." The Stranger, also of Seattle,
describes the novel as "a real stand-out in contemporary
gay fiction."
128 pages paperback
$11.95
On Course Books
PO Box 20687
Seattle, WA 98102
Saturday August 15 at 7:30 pm--Sarah Lukas' Art of Exile
Event is cosponsored by Skipping Stones Magazine
(PO Box 3939, Eugene, OR 97403).
Arun Toke, Editor, Skipping Stones
342-4956
NEWS ARTICLE: Art Transforms Trauma, Painting helps young Tibetans deal
with exile
by Melissa F. Halsey
Sarah K. Lukas is the founder and president of the Friends of Tibetan
Women's Association (FOTWA) a Santa Barbara nonprofit group that
provides assistance to Tibetan refugees in exile. Passionate about the
plight of Tibetan refugees, she says "This isn't about politics but
about people."
Lukas feels that although the refugees' physical needs are great, the
emotional health of the children also demands attention. In 1995, she
set up several painting clubs at the Tibetan Homes Foundation, where
72 young people from the ages of 8 to 20 met every afternoon to paint.
"The paintings were a door for the children to express their
experiences of leaving their homeland. Making painting after painting
with such intensity became a way to tell their stories which came
tumbling out,"Lukas recalled. "It was a time to begin healing."
The painting clubs were inspired by 8-year old Tsering Chophel, who
arrived in Dharamsala in March 1994 after an arduous journey over the
Himalayas. He had injured his leg during the trek over the high
mountain passes.Lukas was present when he was being interviewed for
placement in a Tibetan run school in India.Tsering told his story in a
small hesitant voice. His mother was a street sweeper and his father
had been killed in a demonstration several years earlier. His mother
had sent him with other families fleeing Nepal. He didn't want to talk
about the journey through the mountains on foot, braving frostbite, a
fall and the fear of being arrested....but he did. When he finished,
he turned to a coloring book. Dipping the paintbrush in water and then
onto the watercolor set, it was time to play. Watching Tsering paint
with passion, Lukas realized that art could be a healing outlet for
children exposed to trauma.
Since the first painting club began, over 400 paintings have been
produced by children at the Tibetan Homes Foundation in Mussoorie
India. Friends of Tibetan Women's Association has written a book The
Art of Exile: Paintings by Tibetan Children in India published by the
Museum of New Mexico Press. It is in conjunction with a year long
exhibit at the Museum of International Folk Art which features 40 of
the paintings. Some of the children study thangka painting at the
Vocational Training Center. Thangka painting is traditional Tibetan
religious painting which involves meticulous copying. However the
concept of painting from one's imagination was unheard of. Gradually
over time the children began to paint from their own imagination, from
their own experiences. Tsering Topgyal created a painting called "Sad
Times". He said he was thinking of his grandfather who was ill at an
old peoples' home. He painted himself sitting under a tree, tears
streaming down his cheeks with the tree comforting him.
Lukas visits India frequently. " I go every year and stay longer each
time. I visit several of the Tibetan settlements doing needs
assessments, often meeting with doctors and nurses to determine what
medical need they require. Working with Direct Relief International we
have help ship medical supplies to many refugee settlements throughout
India.
Selling the Tibetan children's paintings is just one of the many ways
FOTWA helps Tibetans. Paintings range in price from $85 to $125 and go
to help the Tibetan Homes Foundation. Tibetan carpets are sold to
raise money for the nursery and kindergarten schools. Since this year
Save the Children Fund has ceased funding these schools and much
needed donations are needed to pay for the teachers' salaries, toys
and educational supplies and to a hot lunch for the children. Book
sales also will help fund FOTWA's many projects.
Meeting Lukas and seeing the paintings was inspirational for me. For
many years I taught art and humanities to children in the New York
area. During the years I realized how art can bridge the emotions and
open doors for release and new understanding. Don't miss the
opportunity to view these inspirational and beautiful paintings.
INFORMATON ABOUT THE TIBETAN CHILDREN'S ART PROJECT:
Tibetan Children's Art Project
FRIENDS OF TIBETAN WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
SARAH K. LUKAS
PO Box 22701
Santa Barbara, CA 93121
805 962-1190
e-mail: fo...@rain.org
KITTY LEAKEN
518 Juniper Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505 982-2865
e-mail: ang...@rt66.com
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