A Reflection After Unearthing the Magic at Topaz Arts in Queens, NY By Jana Lynne Umipig Entering the brilliant high ceiling space of Topaz Arts in Queens, I felt the energy of this gathering put me at ease after a delayed arrival due to NYC metros jarring weekend rerouting and adjusted schedules. Immediately I was grounded upon entering. The space lent to the magnificent creations that filled it. Double helix carvings towered high over my head, and I was reminded how much I have yet to know of the creation of life, and how powerful we are as creators ourselves. Touching the sculpted pieces, I examined deeply the chippings and grooves in each creation and felt bit only the immense time and patience that was required of such magnificence, but also the connection to the wood itself. Mamerto Tindongan spoke of the creation process of his sculptings, ritual to his people, to pray to the tree and connect with it in such a way that is asking of permission to create from it a sculpted piece to emerge from within it, and before even cutting it from the ground asking the spirits around to leave the area so as not to disturb or destruct their peace. He also spoke about how when he carved he would become entranced by his own sculpting, he would connect so deeply and be so in tuned with the formations that were emerging, by the rhythms of the chipping and the motions of the body in this labor. I think on my own process of creation in my artistry, particularly in creating image on wood. I always have felt connected to the grains in the wood, when finding material to paint upon I always looked to the grain for inspiration. And how when I am in a space of creating time disappears. I have always said when I draw and paint I feel connected and disconnected at the same time, the same with dance and movement, in these creative space I feel myself fully in living and at the same time removed from all that is surrounding me. I felt moved by him because of the creator I long to deepen within myself. He recognized a calling far beyond his ideas of what he would become, of what he thought greatness to look like and he confided that he is still on his way toward fully realizing his greatness, but he knows that it is connected to the full length of his living. Recalling his childhood and the moment he first took to tools to carve a creation and believed he would be reprimanded by a friends father, but rather he praised them for their workings and opened up the possibility for him to move forward in his desire to create and connect to this spiritual path. And that support of community, of connections, of exchange in knowledge, continues to affirm his calling. A great supporter he recognized in friendship and connection was from Grace Nono, another being called to create and to reclaim and continue the creation practices of our people. Grace launched her second memoir or writings that chronicle the past decade she has built upon the practices of spiritual oral tradition from many Babaylan from regions throughout the motherland of the Philippines. Each time I hear Grace speak on her Journey toward her full being, I am moved with a deepened desire to explore self through my cultural roots. Her speaking of travels and connections with our people, of leaders, healers, spiritual masters of Light- her connection and building with then all in such a profound and rooted way, makes my heart ache for the same. Her movements and example move me beyond explaining and I continue to be blessed for her connection to me in this life, even in the smallest gestures of connection, she impacts me greatly. She spoke that her writings of Song of the Babaylan are for anyone who wishes to find understanding and knowledge of our ancestry and ritual and spiritual truth of the Philippine people. And in following this call to all knowledge, culture seekers, she shares and entrances us with the fruits of her Journey and what she has cultivated within her spirit and voice of oral teachings. I sat in the corner of this space in Queens, removed from the weight if the city and demands of living, and I sat present receiving Grace in chant and Mamerto also sharing in his peoples chant and Paz moving to their spiritual vibrations if voice. I was moved to tears and moved to deep thought about my Journey to self as a creator and instrument of my culture. I contemplate how to further my knowledge and understanding of self as Pilipina and am moved to continue in all my artistic workings, in all my continued connections with great teachers and living beings that honor the same hunger for full knowing of self and are example of the empowerment of fulfilling their calling to serve our people through their development toward their greatest self. Sitting on my train ride home to the Bronx, I long to travel, to walk, to swim, to breathe and to live the motherland and return to a re-membered self. And further more I am inspired to arrive home and create.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 03:21:19 +0000