Category Archives: People

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The Call of Garamut

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The garamut is a slit gong made out of wood. The instrument is widely used in Melanesian cultures. Garamuts are used for traditional dancing and performances. It is also used to call and gather. Communities used the garamut to call meetings, call school children to classrooms and congregations to churches.

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Picture by Pioneer Bible Translators. Calling his congregation to church; one of the most common uses of garamuts.

In Papua New Guinea the instrument, depends on its size and how shallow the slit is, gives a distinctive sound. It can also be played very rhythmically and the sounds makes you want to dance.

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A garamut in Brooklyn Museum.

In the first video clip, I am delighted to show my own people dancing the siak, a slow motion dance in Salamaua, Morobe Province. A single and sometimes two garamuts would lead the siak accompanying kundu drums. Pay attention to the sound of the garamut – the largest wooden instrument in background.

The second video below is from Manus Province. For their performances, Manus dancing requires a collection of garamuts of various sizes and played together. The biggest drum (deepest) leads the rhythm and song.

Art, Culture and Heritage, Life, Living, My Art, People, Stories, writing

Discovered Human Bone Uses : Home-ware?

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New research offers the best evidence yet that cannibalism took place in Somerset’s Cheddar Gorge 15,000 years ago

The Independent UK reported that scientists investigating a system of caves in Somerset have found new evidence that shows our human ancestors engaged in cannibalism in Britain – and that no part of their victims was wasted.

A research team from the Natural History Museum and University College London have used modern carbon-dating techniques to establish that remains in Gough’s Cave at the mouth of Cheddar Gorge were all left there over just a few seasons around 15,000 years ago.

But more alarming is what was done to the bones before they were deposited. Find out here

authors, blogging, Kindness, Life, Living, People, Stories, Stories about people

ANZAC Centenary

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Today ABC reported: Thousands of people have attended Anzac Day dawn services at Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux to mark exactly 100 years since Australian and New Zealand troops came ashore. Here is more on the history of ANZAC from a fellow blogger.

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James Charles Martin (1901-1915), youngest Australian KIA at Gallipoli James Charles Martin (1901-1915), youngest Australian KIA at Gallipoli

Anzac Centenary

Between 2014 and 2018 Australia and New Zealand will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since their  involvement in the First World War.

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The Anzac Centenary is a milestone of special significance to all Australians and New Zealanders.  The First World War helped define them as a people and as nations.

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During the Anzac Centenary they will remember not only the original ANZACs who served at Gallipoli and the Western Front, but commemorate more than a century of service by Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women. [And I hope other nations will as well.]

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The Anzac Centenary Program encompasses all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which they have been involved.   And to honour all those who have worn the uniforms.  The programs involved with the Centenary urge all to reflect on their military…

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Art, blogging, Cool stuff, Life, Living, My Art, People, Stories

Cool Stuff: Living Grass Art

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25.08.79 #2, 2010, soil, wheat seeds, recycled metal, fabric, 110 x 90 x 40 cm. Exhibited at The Invisible Dog Art Center, NY.

Mathilde Roussel is a French artist. Based in Paris, Roussel works in various materials for her sculptures but one of her most remembered work is the Living Grass. This collection shows the transformation of soil wheat and seeds, fabric and recycled material to show the effects of transformation of material as a metaphor of the human body. After installation, the figures transform over the period of exhibition showing. Time sculpts the forms, makes them change and then decay.

For more of the grass sculptures. The artist’s statement can be read here

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25.08.79 #1 and #2, 2010, soil, wheat seeds, recycled metal, fabric, 170 x 150 x 60 cm and 110 x 90 x 40 cm. Exhibited at The Invisible Dog Art Center, NY.

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Mathilde Roussel

blogging, Life, Living, People, Stories, writing

The Sacrifice

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Monday Finish the Story with host Barbara W. Beacham

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Picture: Barbara Beacham

The Sacrifice © JLeahy  

They followed the buffaloes and their babies along the trail heading into the woods. At trail end Aka ran forward and sliced the youngest calf and wrenched out its heart.

The calf gave a horrifying shrill and fell back; the rest dashed for the woods.

Blood spurted in a red fountain, saturating the soft green bushes, ground and his shirt.

“Look! Look Ahwen, it’s still beating”, he said mesmerized by the throbbing organ in his bloody hand.

I staggered back against the old rain tree. I stared at the convulsing calf beside his leg.

“Why did you do that, why?” I shouted.

I AM a warrior,” he said.

“A warrior ONLY kills for food.”

“We can take this calf to eat.”

“It’s not ours, it belongs to the sanctuary”, I looked at the cluster of houses at the head of the trail. Soon, someone will know.

“Let’s leave!” I ordered.

(150 words)

authors, blogging, Life, Living, People, Stories

The Mighty Sandow: How the world’s strongest man wowed Australian audiences in 1902

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Infographic: A fold-out of Eugen Sandow’s arm from his 1902 book The Gospel of Truth

ABC reported this fascinating story about one of the earlier body builders of our time. I was particularly interested in the long strong arm because my own is not working very well at the moment, especially with ‘writers’ elbow’.

The most interesting thing about this story is the first paragraph…

His first Sydney appearance promised he would exhibit his “400 phenomenally developed” muscles, tear packs of playing cards in half, and lift – at arm’s length – a grand piano on which a musician was performing, and support on his chest “a platform (weighing 800lbs/363kg) on which three horses play at see-saw”.

With his golden curls, waxed moustache and bulging muscles, Eugen Sandow cut quite a figure when he performed in Australia in 1902.

Born Friedrich Wilhelm Mueller in Prussia in 1867, Sandow was billed as the strongest man on earth and has come to be regarded as the father of body building.

The National Library of Australia (NLA) has a collection of material related to his Australian tour, including handbills, newspaper reports and a local edition of his book The Gospel of Strength, which included exercises that outlined Sandow’s theories on physical culture.

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Art, authors, blogging, Life, Living, People, Poetry, Stories, writing

Night Travels – Poem

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Public domain image.

Night Travels © JLeahy

In the black of the night

Mind’s curtain drops

A screen unfolds

Scenes after scenes

Words travel in echoes

Enemies captured

Friends laugh

A child cries

Someone screams

Emotions grip you

You are afraid

Someone holds you

In places only dreamers go

Shapes blend into pictures

And fades into nothing

Spirit walks, runs and flies

In just one night, a lifetime,

can become one story

Until dawn brings the ending

blogging, Life, Living, Nature and Climate Change, Nature and Environment, People, Stories, writing

Satoyama

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM2IivELhWI

Art, blogging, Life, Living, My Art, Painting, People, Stories

Writing On The Wall

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tlHY8NgmxY

Graffiti – is it art, writing, or both? A freedom of expression. I have posted this question on this blog before. Here a documentary explores the work of street painters and gives them an opportunity to speak about what motivates them to colour the streets.

authors, blogging, Life, Living, People, Stories, wildlife, Women, writing

Female Voices in Writers Festival Byron Bay

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BYRON BAY WRITERS FESTIVAL IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST ROUND OF WRITERS APPEARING AT THE 2015 FESTIVAL.

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Julia Gillard

Five successful and talented Australian women have top-billing at the 2015 Byron Bay Writers Festival from August 7-9. In what is shaping up to be a Festival showcasing a line-up of strong, female Australian voices, the first five announced were former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Joan London, Helen Garner, Kate Grenville, and Jackie French. More writers will be announced soon.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE FROM 17 APRIL!

Already the Festival is shaping up to deliver a diverse and eclectic program of stimulating and engaging conversations with some of Australia’s most celebrated writers and international guests in the Festival’s history.

Festival Director Edwina Johnson said she was delighted to be bringing the best writers and thinkers together to share stories, triumphs, challenges and ideas; to debate, laugh and cherish; to connect, nurture and celebrate literary talent and new friendships down by Byron Bay’s scenic ocean shore.

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