Happy Durga Puja!

I can't believe I almost missed Durga Puja! This is the very last day of the 10-day festival, also celebrated as Navaratri or Vijayadashami, also known as Dasara. Confused, yet? Never mind. The bottom line is that good has triumphed over evil, and it's time to celebrate. Happy Durga Puja!

Wishing everyone a happy Durga Puja!

What is this festival?
It's a major holiday celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Traditions vary by region, including whether the deity celebrated is the Goddess Durga, or the God Rama.

Since I've been studying north-Indian roots for some of my Rana Stationers, I'm slightly more familiar with the kind of Durga Puja celebrations one finds in Kolkata. For that reason, it's where I'll focus most of this post.

But the underlying reasons for the season remain the same. Success after an epic battle, a cosmic triumph of good over evil. It's the end of the monsoon season, and has its origin in ancient harvest festivals. Reasons aplenty to celebrate! Happy Durga Puja!

The beautifully-created statues in the pandals set up to celebrate Durga Puja glorify the strong and triumphant Mother Durga. (photo by Baishampayan Ghose/Flickr)

Who is Durga?
The best part for me is that Durga Puja celebrates a strong, triumphant goddess, Durga. This woman is so awesome she rides a lion or a tiger! Possibly in part because she's also the mother of the universe, she has lots of arms (anywhere from 8 to 18). Sometimes moms need that many! Mother Durga also wields ten different symbolic weapons in her ongoing efforts to protect the world.

The moment of glory celebrated in the Durga Puja festival is a long, hard-fought battle. She defeated a shape-shifting water-buffalo demon named Mahishashura. The festival lasts ten days (or seven, or nine, or fifteen, depending on where you celebrate) to commemorate how long and hard the battle was.

The dhunuchi dance is performed with an earthen bowl containing smoldering coconut husk mixed with camphor. These women also are wearing traditional white sarees with red and embroidered borders. Note this photo comes from Bangalore, not Kolkata. (photo by Amarnath via Flickr)

How is Durga Puja celebrated?
There are lots of Durga Puja celebration traditions in Kolkata (which, as I said, has so far been my primary focus). Several websites offer suggestions for tourists, although it's highly likely that local people observe the festival privately in other ways. But here are some of the things always mentioned in the online sources I can access. Three "Happy Durga Puja" approaches are via food, pandals, and rituals.

Food
Although some traditions observe fasts, the rule in Kolkata seems to be feasts. Bhog is the food most closely associated with the festival, since it is served free at every pandal during Durga Puja. Appropriately for the climactic finish of the festival, the word bhog means "pleasure" or "delight," but also "to end or conclude."

Bhog is delicious festival food handed out for free to the visitors who come to a pandal. (photo via Holidify)

Pandals

These are structures--some temporary, some more permanent--in and around which the festival is celebrated. They usually seem to be built by families or groups, who decorate them with stages (the site of amateur theatrical presentations) and the iconic idols, which are sculpted and sumptuously decorated.

This video from the Hindustan Times offers a glimpse of the development of sculptures and the variety of displays in Kolkata during Durga Puja. You also can hear a sample of traditional holiday drumming on dhaaks.

Rituals
Many aspects of the festival are performed as rituals. There is a particular day (Mahalaya; this year it was Sept. 28) when the eyes may be painted on the idols. There are different offerings at different times of the day. Apparel (such as the white saree with red borders), particular dances, music, and more. All are done in particular ways on particular days.

Kala-bou and sindoor! (see below for more details on what those are). Happy Durga Puja! (Photos from "This is Utkarsh Speaking" and Biswarup Ganguly).

An example is the bathing of the Kala-bou or "banana bride" on Mahasaptami, the seventh day of the festival. Read more details here. Another is the use of sindoor (red pigment) on people's faces during Durga Puja. Traditionally, only married women apply sindoor, but recently the custom has grown to be more inclusive in some places and among some groups, possibly spurred by tourist exuberance.

However you celebrate it, I wish you a very happy Durga Puja!

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to Snapgalleria via 123RF, for the "Subho Bijoya" greetings for Durga Puja. I also want to thank Baishampayan Ghose, Flickr, and Lonely Planet for the delightful photo of the Durga Puja statues, and Amarnath, also via Flickr and Lonely Planet, for the dhunuchi dance photo. 
The photo of many trays of bhog is from Holidify (however, their source link to the photographer's credits ends in a 404 error). Many thanks to the Hindustan Times for the YouTube video of pandals in Kolkata. 
The "Rituals" montage consists of photos from two different sources. The photo of the kala-bou (banana bride) is from the "This is Utkarsh Speaking" blog, possibly taken by the author?The photo of the women applying sindoor (red pigment) to each other's faces is by Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0., via Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. 

Artwork at Archon 43

All sorts of Images of Interest
I did not receive the same license to shoot pictures at the Archon 43 Art Show as my rare opportunity afforded by Peri Charlifu to photograph his artwork at FenCon XVI, But I'd like to highlight three of the artists who are showing artwork at Archon 43, even so.

Setup for the Archon 43 Art Show began Thursday night before the convention.

Mitchell Bentley
Archon 43's Artist Guest of Honor is Mitchell Bentley, who owns Atomic Fly Studios. I've known Mitch since he and I were both very young, and just beginning to work out what sort of artists we wanted to be. He was living in Tulsa, OK, working with oil paintings. I was under the illusion that I wanted to become an illustrator. We've both evolved since then!

Mitch has moved several times, earned a Master of Arts degree and lived in a variety of places. I've stayed basically in the same place, but had several different art-related and art-adjacent careers.

Not all of Mitch's images featured in this post are among his artwork at Archon 43, but I thought they were representative of some of the things he does really well.

Quantum Presence, © by Mitchell Davidson Bentley

Starspawn, © by Mitchell Davidson Bentley

Wild Ride, created by Mitchell Davidson Bentley for the Yard Dog Press book, Assassins Incorporated, by Phillip Drayer Duncan.

Rachael Mayo
Rachael Mayo also has artwork at Archon 43. She "dragons" frequently, and she does it extraordinarily well. She has an active presence on DeviantArt as rachaelm5, and a devoted following at sf convention art shows.

Deep Rising 11--Finale, © Rachael Mayo, is the large show-stopper in her display at the Archon 43 Art Show.

Jazzdragon 13, © by Rachael Mayo

Shadowgorge © by Rachael Mayo

Lucy A. Synk
As you know if you've been following my blog this summer, I've been acting as Lucy A. Synk's agent at sf convention art shows this year. You've possibly already seen displays of her work on my blog posts and Facebook pages.

Here's a look at Lucy's Art Show panels at Archon 43. I had permission, for this one! This artwork is all © 2019 by Lucy A. Synk.

Here are some of her individual images you may enjoy. They were displayed and sold at sf conventions earlier this year.

Planet Archipelago, © 2019 by Lucy A. Synk

Three Sisters, © 2019 by Lucy A. Synk.

A Planet Called Amethyst, © 2019 by Lucy A. Synk.

These three artists represent only a fraction of the artists who are exhibiting in the Archon 43 Art Show. Each offers an individual and beautiful approach to a science fiction or fantasy subject. I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse of the artists and the artwork at Archon 43.

IMAGE CREDITS:  Jan S. Gephardt photographed the entrance to the Archon 43 Art Show, and first posted it on Facebook. The Mitchell Bentley images are all © by Mitchell Davidson Bentley. Quantum Presence,  Starspawn, and Wild Ride all came from Bentley's website.
The Rachael Mayo images are all © by Rachael Mayo. Deep Rising 11--Finale, Jazzdragon 13, and Shadowgorge come from Rachael's DeviantArt presence. 
Tyrell Gephardt took the photos of Lucy A. Synk's Art Show panels specifically so he could text them to her after he put them up. She gave us permission to blog about them. My company Weird Sisters Publishing LLC has licensed the use of the three individual images for uses such as this. All of Lucy's artwork shown here is © 2019 by Lucy A. Synk. 

Will I see you in Collinsville?

It's early October, so it's time for Archon! Will I see you in Collinsville?

This year's convention is the 43rd iteration of "The Midwest's Premier Science Fiction and Fantasy Event." After a hiatus of more than a decade, Ty and I returned for last year's Archon, and quickly decided we wanted to come back.

Will I see you in Collinsville? There'll be a lot to see and do there. What will you miss, if you can't come?

Artwork
As you know if you've followed this blog for any length of time, I always want to be in the Art Show of any convention I attend. This one's no exception! I'll bring my own paper sculpture, including a newly piece that I've been working on--for real!--since 2012 (My Beloved is downstairs matting it, as I write this post).

The Silver Lady Appears, 2012-2019, by Jan S. Gephardt

This season from ConQuesT on, I've been acting as an agent for Lucy A. Synk's artwork, too. She has been developing an interesting series of "Dirty Pour Planets," which actually include moons, stars, nebulae, and other astronomical objects, as well as imagined planets. She explains her technique briefly on her "Planet Series" webpage.

Boreas and Khione, 2019, by Lucy A. Synk

But you really should enjoy these originals in person, for the full effect. With all the iridescent paints, mica chips, and other cool elements in her bag of tricks, no photograph or image scan really does them justice. So, will I see you in Collinsville?

My Reading
I love readings at conventions. I love listening to them from other authors, and I love doing them myself, reading from my own work. It's an author's way of giving out free samples (and who doesn't like free samples?).

My reading at Archon 43 is scheduled for Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m., in the Gateway Center Cahokian Room ("The Authorquarium").

It's also a great way to learn about new books and authors. A significant portion of my towering "TBR Pile" (to-be-read) may be laid at the doorstep of going to readings at cons!

I'll be part of a three-author panel that also includes Howard Andrew Jones and Marella Sands. We'll each present a reading at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening (Oct. 5, 2019) in the Gateway Center's Cahokian Room (aka "The Authorquarium").

I'll probably read from What's Bred in the Bone, unless enough of the audience is interested in hearing an excerpt from A Bone to Pick, the second novel in the "Bones" Trilogy (due to be released in 2020). Will I see you in Collinsville?

Panels
I'm scheduled on six panels, other than my reading (I'm pleased! I get to moderate about half of them!). Here's my schedule:

Friday
4:00 p.m. - Gateway Center Illini A - "The Viability of Being an Artist"
Can art be a viable career in today's world?

5:00 p.m. - Gateway Center Salon 4 - "Why do Stories of Children Captivate us?"
It, Harry Potter, Stranger Things, etc. Stories about children grab our attention. Is it good writing or nostalgia?

At Archon 42, fellow panelist Rachael Mayo interacts with audience members after our "Art on a Budget" panel.

Saturday
Noon - Gateway Center Salon 1 - "Will the Robots Rebel?"
It's a popular plot device, but what's the likelihood of this actually happening?

1:00 p.m. - Gateway Center Illini A - "Bright Colors"
I have bright colors and I'm not afraid to use them! (artist panel)

5:00 p.m. - Double Tree St. Clair A and B - "LGBTQ+ Representation in Fandom"
The representation is getting better, but what can happen to make it amazing and standardized across the board? (I'll have to sprint across the "causeway" to the Gateway Center after the end of this panel to get to my reading at 6:00 in the Gateway Center).

8:00 p.m. - Gateway Center Illini A - "Creating Covers"
Book covers are the first thing to pique the reader's interest! Learn how to create dynamic book covers to complement great stories!

Will I see you in Collinsville? It ought to be an excellent weekend at Archon 43.

At Archon 42, L-R, George Sirois (“SEAR-oy”), Brad R. Cook, Camille Faye, and Debbie Manber Kupfer discussed "Alternate Paths to Publishing."

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to the Archon website (artwork by Mitchell D. Bentley of Atomic Fly Studios) for the "Archon 43" banner. The cover artwork for my novel What's Bred in the Bone is © 2019 by Jody A. Lee. 
The photo of my art show panel from the FenCon XVI Art Show, and the photo of my new work The Silver Lady Appears, are by me, Jan S. Gephardt, of my own artwork. The photo of the painting Boreas and Khione is by Lucy A. Synk, as is the artwork itself. Used here with permission from the artist. 
The two "reading" photos that flank my book cover in the "readings" montage are by (L) Judith Bemis (taken at NorthAmericon '17) and (R) Dolly M. Dgrafe (taken at FenCon XVI). The two photos from Archon 42 are by Jan S. Gephardt, and originally were published in the "Glimpses of Archon 42" post on this blog.

Rosh Hashanah greetings

This post should go live a little before sunset in Kansas City on September 29, 2019, which is the beginning of this year's Rosh Hashanah celebration, and the start of the year 5780. I'm happy to extend Rosh Hashanah greetings to my Jewish friends!

Shana Tovah! Have a good year!

As I understand it, Rosh Hashanah goes for two days, which means this year it will last until sunset on October 1. Shanah Tovah (or Shana Tova, as Tatiana Sidenko's calligraphic treatment above renders it), means "Have a good year!" This is the first of the High Holy Days, or Days of Awe (what a great name!), in the Jewish liturgical calendar.

I found a YouTube video from Inside Edition, which I thought offered a heartwarming introduction to the holiday. I hope you enjoy it, too (it's about 3 minutes long).



May you have honey-dipped apples (if you're not allergic), enjoy the warmth of family and community, and be written into the Book of Life for another year! And I hope you've enjoyed my Rosh Hashanah greetings.

IMAGE CREDITS: I owe thanks to Tatiana Sidenko via 123RF for the "Shana Tova" calligraphy, and to "tomertu," also via 123RF, for the photograph of the assembled Rosh Hashanah symbols of flowers, apples, honey, and shofars. I also appreciate Inside Edition's "Inside Edition Explains" video on YouTube, about the holiday.

Friday Readings at FenCon XVI

I really love going to readings at science fiction conventions. There's always a new story, something interesting, and a chance to talk with the authors one-on-one. As I did at SoonerCon in June, I went to lots of readings at FenCon XVI, and I discovered some real delights.

I caught four Friday readings at FenCon XVI. All were delightful, but I was having a terrible time with my access to Facebook and Twitter, and in the process I lost some of the specifics about the selections being read. I was able to recover most of it, however. Enough to share with you here.

Rhonda Eudaly
You probably won't be surprised, after recent posts, that I made a point of being there to hear Rhonda Eudaly's reading. As I'd hoped, she read her short story "Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl," which is quite entertaining (did you read it from its link in Monday's post? If not, here it is again.) The story hasn't been published elsewhere, as far as I know.

Rhonda Eudaly reads "Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl" on Friday at FenCon XVI. I regret that I lost my note on which photo Rhonda preferred, but this is the one I thought most aptly captured her dramatic reading of the story. 

Monalisa Foster
After Rhonda's reading, I stayed. I didn't know who Monalisa Foster was, but I was primed to hear another story, and I'm glad I stayed.

Monalisa Foster reads from her story "Catching the Dark" on Friday at FenCon XVI. It's a gripping alternate history about the intrepid Russian "Night Witches" of World War II.

She read "Catching the Dark," a fascinating alternate history that involved the amazing Russian "Night Witches," a daring group of women so feared by the Nazis that anyone who downed one of their biplanes was automatically awarded an Iron Cross. The story has been anthologized in Slip the Surly Bonds, edited by Chris Kennedy and James Young, and released earlier this month.

If the rest of the anthology is as interesting as Monalisa's story, it belongs in the library of anyone who loves alternate history. For a fairly comprehensive list of this interesting author's work, visit her website and her Amazon page.

Kimm Antell
The next author to arrive, Kimm Antell, discovered long ago that "Brownies are my thing," that is, her favorite "monster" to write about. They weren't really all that monstrous in her story "Brownout," but they were true-to-form in many ways. These particular brownies inhabit the cubicles of computer programmers. Assorted hilarity and life-change events ensue, after Cedric, the kind-hearted but shy protagonist discovers them.

Kim Antell read "Brownout," a really delightful, funny-but-affirming story about brownies who inhabit an office where programmers sit in their cubicles and write code all day.

I try to remember to ask permission to photograph, write about her, tweet, and utilize Facebook, and I was particularly glad I asked before I started taking photos of Kimm. She told me she didn't normally allow anyone to photograph her, but she felt comfortable enough, because I asked, to allow me the liberty. I deeply appreciate her permission, because it allows me to share my discovery of another wonderful talent.

Julie Czerneda
Turns out  Julie Czerneda, one of FenCon XVI's headliner guests, is an accomplished dramatic reader. She's as fun to watch as she is to listen to, and no one photo of her in action will suffice, so I offer a "gallery" of them.

The peripatetic Julie Czerneda reads excerpts from several projects during her Friday reading at FenCon XVI.

You'll note she's not reading only from one book in these photos, either. She offered up intriguing glimpses from several different projects. As you'd expect, she did read from her latest release, The Gossamer Mage. But she also shared excerpts of other projects, including A Thousand Words for Stranger.

All in all the Friday readings at FenCon XVI were funny, gripping, dramatic, and altogether a delightful way to spend a large part of my afternoon.

IMAGE CREDITS: All photos are by me, Jan S. Gephardt, taken 9/20/2019 in Irving, TX. Please feel free to reblog or share them, but please always with an attribution and a link back to this page, their original source.

A mutual inspiration society

At FenCon XVI, I unexpectedly became an after-the-fact part of a mutual inspiration society. These things happen sometimes, and it's rarely because they are planned. More often, it's a matter of spontaneous combustion: all the elements come together in one place, and creativity happens.

I mentioned this story in passing, in my blog post from last Friday. I'd received permission to take pictures of my friend Peri Charlifu's artwork. Then I learned the story behind one particular bowl. It is the culmination of one mutual inspiration event, between Peri and writer Rhonda Eudaly. Their story in turn inspired me to post about it, and now to share it with you. Perhaps it'll inspire you, too--and thereby extend the mutual inspiration society even farther.

The Tale of Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl

Petunia's Bowl of Prophecy, 2019, by Peri Charlifu
There's an interesting story behind this little bowl. The story of how it was made is a glimpse of the sometimes truly magical ways that artists interact.

Long before this bowl was made, the author Rhonda Eudaly overheard part of a conversation and misunderstood what the person said. She thought she heard, "Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl."

We can guess what she really heard--but she was so amused by the mis-heard words, she later told Peri how she immediately thought of him. They both laughed, but the idea had by then gotten its claws well set in. 

Rhonda thought that would be all there was to it . . . but the silly little phrase wormed its way into her thoughts, and persisted, and persisted.

And of course, writers being writers, pretty soon a story began forming around it. Kinda like a peal forms around an irritant. Rhonda wrote it, and polished it, and called it . . . Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl
 (what else?)

Rhonda gave Peri a copy of the story, since he'd been the most important part of its inspiration.

Petunia's Bowl of Prophecy, 2019, by Peri Charlifu, with bid sheet, documentation, and a manuscript by Rhonda Eudaly, of her short story, Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl.

Petunia's Bowl of Prophecy, 2019, by Peri Charlifu -- with a better look at the manuscript.

Peri read it, and enjoyed it. "You really caught me," he said. But while he was reading, an idea started forming. He began to think about a bowl--one just like the one Petunia had in Rhonda's story.

What's an artist to do, in a situation like that? He made the bowl, of course! He brought it to FenCon XVI, because he knew Rhonda would be there, and he wanted her to see it.


He named it Petunia's Bowl of Prophecy, after the bowl in the story. So of course, Rhonda gave Peri a copy of the story she'd written, which was inspired by him, to go along with the bowl he made that was inspired by her story. And that's the Tale of Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl.

But what about the story that inspired this story?

By now, I imagine at least a few of you are curious to read Rhonda's story for yourselves. If so, you're in luck. Rhonda posted it on her blog in July, and shared the link with me. Read it here! I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you also enjoyed this account of how a mutual inspiration society came into being, after a mis-heard quote sparked a chain of creative reactions.

CREDITS: Many thanks to Peri Charlifu, for allowing me to photograph his art, and share it with you here. If you have access to Facebook, you can like and follow his page, and he also has a website, which he keeps up to date. 

I also deeply appreciate Rhonda Eudaly's generous willingness to share her story with you and me. 

The photos were taken 9/19/2019 by Jan S. Gephardt at the FenCon XVI Art Show in Irving, TX. Please feel free to reblog or share them, but only if you're willing to acknowledge Peri Charlifu as the creator of the bowl and attribute me (Jan) as the photographer. Please also link back to this site or to Peri's Aegean Goods website. 

The story Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl is © 2019 by Rhonda Eudaly. If you wish to use it in any way other than sharing a link to it, please contact Rhonda.

Artwork at FenCon

The Artdog Image(s) of Interest

I displayed my artwork at FenCon XVI. You might remember I mentioned that in my mid-week post.

I spent a large chunk of time Thursday on the FenCon XVI Art Show. That was "setup day," when the tables and display panels went up, and then the first of the art (the mail-ins and the work of artists able to arrive today) did, too.

Here's how much of the artwork at FenCon XVI had been set up in the Art Show by about 5 p.m. Thursday. I'm not sure whether you can tell by comparing with my photo from last year, but t's a much larger space than they had for last year's Art Show.

As much as possible, all the rest of the art went up Friday, preferably before the Art Show opened to the public on Friday at 2:00 p.m.

Artist Guest of Honor Peri Charlifu

Peri Charlifu is one of the most talented and generous human beings I know--and I don't think I'd get any naysayers if I asked others who know him if that was a fair characterization. He's this year's Artist Guest of Honor at FenCon XVI, so of course Ty and I found him working as hard as any member of the Art Show staff. His artwork at FenCon this year is a glorious bounty, and he gave me permission to photograph his artwork and post it online.

Thursday Art Show setup with Rhonda Eudaly (L) helping Peri Charlifu (R) set up his display in the FenCon XVI Art Show.

I've taken full and gleeful advantage of his permission to photograph and post about his artwork at FenCon. He knows I love to tell my readers about cool new artwork that I encounter.

Furthermore, he dares me or anyone else to take his ideas and execute them as well as he does. It's a dare I would never take. I'll happily promote him and his work till the world looks level, but the only way to get a real Peri Charlifu piece is to buy it from HIM.

Peri Charlifu brought a dizzying array of artwork to FenCon XVI. They include awesome ceramics, sets, and kits, as well as 2D work.

If you're on Facebook, I invite you to wander through the in-depth gallery of his work I posted on my Artdog Studio Facebook Page, as well as the Tale of Peri Potter and the Sorcerer's Bowl, which involves a fun story about Peri, the author Rhonda Eudaly, and the special alchemy of artists inspiring each other.

This deceptively simple piece of art, Petunia's Bowl of Prophecy, 2019, by Peri Charlifu, is partially from the mind of Rhonda Eudaly, the author whose manuscript is hooked under the edge of the pot. Read the story of how he inspired her, then she inspired him on my Artdog Studio Facebook Page.

My own artwork and that of Lucy A. Synk

Since DemiCon, I've been acting as an art agent for my friend Lucy A, Synk--or at least, my son Tyrell and I have been. I contact the show and manage the paperwork, but usually it's Ty who puts up the show. And it's also usually he who takes it down afterward. So of course we brought her artwork to FenCon.

All of these pieces of artwork are ©2019 by Lucy A. Synk. Each is a one-of-a-kind original.
(Photo by Tyrell E. Gephardt, 2019).

All of these artworks also are ©2019 by Lucy A. Synk. Each is a one-of-a-kind original. 
(Photo by Tyrell E. Gephardt, 2019).

I also had artwork at FenCon. Thank goodness, my panel wasn't quite as crowded as the one at SpikeCon, but almost.

IMAGE CREDITS: Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by me, Jan S. Gephardt, and they may be re-posted or reblogged freely, as long as you attribute me as the photographer and include a link back to this post. Many thanks! 

If you wish to reblog or repost images of Peri Charlifu's workartwork, please attribute him as the artist, and provide a link back to his website. I'd also appreciate it if you'll identify me as the source, with a link back to this post, please.

If you wish to reblog or repost Lucy A. Synk's artwork, please attribute her as the artist and Tyrell Gephardt as the photographer, and link back either to Lucy's page or to this post. Many thanks!