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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Happy Summer Solstice, Midsummer, Ligo, Jāņi...

Jāņi is a Latvian festival held in the night from 23 June to 24 June to celebrate the summer solstice (Midsummer), the shortest night and longest day of the year. The day of Līgo ([liːɡu͡o]) (23 June) and the day of Jāņi (pronounced [jaːɲi]) (24 June) are public holidays, and people usually spend them in the countryside. The festival's eve Jāņu vakars ([jaːɲu vakars]) is held in the evening of 23 June and goes on all through the night Jāņu nakts ([jaːɲu nakts]) , where people Līgo (sway) into the following day. Jāņi is an ancient festival originally celebrated in honour a Latvian pagan deity Jānis, referred to as a "Son of God" in some ancient Latvian folksongs. Jānis is also traditionally the most common of Latvian male given names, corresponding to English name John, and everybody of the name Jānis holds a special status on this day (Jāņi is a plural form of Jānis). Jāņi is thought to be the time when the forces of nature are at their most powerful, and the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds are thinnest. In the past, evil witches were believed to be riding around, so people decorated their houses and lands with rowan branches and thorns in order to protect themselves from evil. In modern days other traditional decorations are more popular, including birch or sometimes oak branches and flowers as well as leaves, especially ferns. People wear wreaths made from flowers for females, or oak leaves for males; in rural areas livestock is also decorated.
Jāņi also is thought to be the perfect time to gather herbs, because it is believed that they then have magical powers. Other practices of magic in Jāņi vary from fortune-telling to ensuring productivity of crops, as well as livestock fertility. A well-known part of this celebration is searching for the mythical fern flower, though some suggest that the fern flower is a symbol of secret knowledge; today it is almost always synonymous with having sexual relationships.
Another important detail is fire: A festival fire must be kept from sunset till sunrise, and various kinds of flaming light sources are used; usually these are bonfires, which traditionally people jump over to ensure prosperity and fertility. Traditional food during Jāņi is a special type of cheese with caraway seeds, made out of curd, and the traditional drink is beer. Many people make the cheese of Jāņi themselves; a few also make their own beer.
Information via wikipedia
Bonfire photo via apolo.lv


Some Photos From NY Show(1st weekend).

The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Plaza and art show..




Sculptures by amazing artist Kimberly Willcox
My new owl triptych "Midnight" - etching +gold.

Friday, June 18, 2010

American Craft Festival at Lincoln Center, NY.



This and next weekend I am at New York's 34th Annual




at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts


64th St. at Columbus Ave., Manhattan


June 19-20 and 26-27


Saturday: noon - 9pm


Sunday: 10am - 9pm


My booth #34


Image: Ex libris Kalli Halpern, etching.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Free as a Bird.

Ruby-throated hummingbird(girl).

Baby robin was picked up in our backyard yesterday. We just wanted to be sure the bird is not
injured or orphaned nestling. It was uninjured fledgling, and parents showed up nearby, so baby was released...btw, my daughter's t-shirt says: " free as a bird" in Latvian (brivs ka putns). Just a coincidence? :)
Food!!!!
Young house wren.

Young grosbeak.
Unidentified duck.

Butler's Gartersnake.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Old Town Art Fair.


This weekend I am at Old Town Art Fair in Chicago.

June 12 - 13, from 10 am to 6 pm.

My booth # 240A (near music stage).