Guarding the Tomato Temple
by Pasadena Adjacent
“The Siamese cat originated from Thailand, formerly known as Siam. These cats were held in such high esteem in their native country that no one except the King and members of the royal family were permitted to own them. They were originally known as Royal points.
Written records reveal that Siamese cats, in their country of origin, were venerated as guardians of the temples. When a person of high rank died, it was usual to select one of these cats to receive the dead person’s soul. The cat was then removed from the royal household and sent to one of the temples to spend the rest of its days living a ceremonial life of great luxury, with monks and priests as its servants. These cats were reputed to eat the finest foods from gold plate and to recline on cushions made of the most opulent materials, which had been provided by the departed one’s relatives in an attempt to receive good fortune and blessings. Once they became temple cats, they were supposed to have special powers and could intercede for the soul of the dead person.”
Fairy Dust Siamese Cattery
Now the Temple guards Twyla. And the cat lives in luxery; including a garden of edible delights.
Having recently visited the Norton Simon Museum on free night friday, the editor discovered that some forms of art are best celebrated at a distance. But that was not the reason for her visit. We at Pasadena Adjacent came for the Norton Simon’s recent acquisition. One not accustomed too, or appriciated by the masses favoring those culturally sanctioned block busters. Thank you Jesus – say cheese.
We were there to visit an intricately carved and painted screen from one of the many ornate temples of Kerala, located in Southern India. Part of an exhibition called “Tales of the Blue Lord” An 18th century illustrative Temple Wall with Scenes of Krishna’s Life.
The true predecessors to those brightly colored paintings emulated in the contemporary printings of the Bhagavad Gita; AND the chosen color palate for Twyla’s newly painted tomato towers.
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Our Editor Responds: The photos biggafy.
the illustrative Temple Wall with Scenes of Krishna’s Life, 18th century, from Kerala, India (donated by the Narendra and Rita Parson Family Trust). This impressive piece—over 12 feet wide—was recently featured in the Museum’s exhibition Tales of the Blue Lord.
More Information: http://www.artdaily.com/section/lastweek/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=29126&int_modo=2#.UQ_30Y4bapE%5B/url%5D
Copyright © artdaily.org
The Norton Simon is free to the public the first Friday of the month 6-9pm
Ah, those free night crowds—
Our Editor responds: I saw people there who look like they came in Bentlys. Pay the 8 bucks for Pete’s sake and leave the free nights to the artist and the less fortunate.
Well…no wonder Siamese cats have a bit of a snobbish personality!!! (not Twyla of course…)
Our Editor Responds: Pleeeeaaassse!!! Regal, not snobbish, R-E-G-A-L
That Jesus guy in the link, with the one ear? I remember seeing him before. @ The Art Institute of Chicago a few years ago, we went with a woman who volunteers there, we had a trying shoulder to shoulder experience. That is to say: trying to shoulder our way to the front. Each man for themselves! Hard to enjoy with crowds pressing in from all angles. She, of course, was lucky enough to have had a private showing along with the other volunteers before the hordes arrived. Where was the crowd for the screen you went to view and how did you manage to scatter them for an unobstructed photo? Have a starry night.
Our Editor Responds: Vince’s final portrait – They can hang a purse on that missing ear. Same viewing experience when I visited the Mona Lisa “art appreciation at a distance” The temple screen from Kerala is a recently donated acquisition. It’s the only example of Kerala Temple art I’ve seen in Los Angels. A big deal for me since I’m a big fan of the blue man. And I was his date for the night. Thank you Jesus- say cheese!
Free museum days. I remember them well. Baileys and coffee, brunch, Sunday at the museum. Seems another lifetime.
I caved into peer pressure and decided to give facebook a whirl. I’d love to “friend” you but don’t know how to find you!
I’ll send you a note through your e-mail. Face Book – it’s worth it. But I understand the hesitancy. Once you figure it out, you make the experience what you want it to be. You’d be amazed at how it provides you a chance to connect with your past. Maybe even heal some old wounds (happened for me).
I keep track of all the museums in a desktop file – especially their free days. If I’m smart, I go through a calendar month and mark them down. You might really enjoy the Autry
If a cat thinks he is somebody, and then he and we find out his kin really were somebody, do we still resent his thinking he is somebody?
A cat does’t have to think. They are. And after the age of five they become eating, shitting, shedding pillows.
Aren’t all you literary types supposed to like cats? I once proposed a public art project for a municipality ripe with used book stores. My concept centered around the tradition of book store cat. They took a pass on my genius.
If your snake and amphibian tiles were on display, I’d pay.
Our Editor Responds: It’s cost me a small fortune. Did I mention I signed up again for the Monrovia class? I’m going to recreate my favorites and learn to use the wheel.
Cats appreciate art. Dogs just like stinky things.
Our Editor Responds: Maybe so, but it’s a dog eat dog world when it comes to getting up close to Vince (see links)
The stinkier the better…
Our Editor responds: It used to gross me out when the horse ferrier(sp) came to the stables and the dogs were all over the hoof clippings.
Our Editor is Disappointed:
But what about those tomato towers? Standard home despot fare, but given a new lease on life through the miracle of Krylon. The editor, when not arty – is crafty
“when not arty – crafty” …stuck on a painting, I stuck it with a sequined feather mask. Now, it’s done and I can move on. Moving on is the point, I think. That’s what cats do.
Our Editor responds: Ditto ditto. That aspect of my being is what Mr V loves about me. My democratic approach to the visual – be it high brow, lowbrow or no brow, like the cat, I’m always on the hunt.
HRH Princess Twlya looks as though she’s claiming the credit for wrapping those towers in Krylon. (What is it? Where can I get it? The towers look like works of art now).
Had to laugh about the free night crowd. I was thinking of going, but to get first to the paintings, and an unobstructed view, I’d have had to camp in front of the doors the night before.
The brightly painted temples of India can be too garish for those of us raised with snowy white Greek statuary but, shockingly, they were originally painted the same way as the Indian ones.
Our Editor Responds: She’s the muse for this non-ending project. Easy and crafty. Go purchase those common steel tomato cages from Home Despot. Then buy some bottles of glossy Krylon (currently 2 for 7 at Osh) then mix and match and stack. Two to a plant.
I do like me some garish
Should have done a spell check on what I just wrote. But here’s a link to the painted statues:
http://io9.com/5616498/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked
Our Editor Responds: I’ve seen this article. Thanks for the re-link. My favorite of the greeks was their clay pots in earthen tones. The color issue is interesting. The head of the Getty restoration crew worked on (maybe even headed) the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. It brought all sorts of issues out about what passes for authenticity. If you recall – without the accumulated muck of time, the chapel murals ended up being unexpectedly bright. The somber patina of age ends up becoming what we “think” something is. In reality, the truth of the image, that moment when the artist said “it’s done” is the real truth. Anyhow, so many issues surround restoration. Mr V’s “The Isle of California” mural introduced us to them. Never repaint a painting. Reveal whats left through chemical analysis an create a serum that applied, can bring out (whats possible) of the lost color.
OhOhOh gawd no! It reminds me of the Al Fassi mansion on Sunset in BH. I wish that my photographs survived but I’ll never for get the flesh colored statuary with brightly highlighted pubes. That would make a good painting on canvas. The interwebs have been scoured of all images. Heh! Do you remember?
Our Editor Responds: I do remember, but I never saw them. Curses! the loss of your photos. I’m also sad to see with the recent sale of the home on Beverly with all the David’s gracing the surrounding fence.
btw, I said this at East of West LA the other day, and maybe I had your post in mind as well: “There must be theories about bright colors in warm-weather countries or cultures (not England, not Holland, for example), but I don’t know what those theories are. Do you?”
I have a good friend from Kerala. I’d probably never have heard of Kerala otherwise. And see? I do get out. I’m really quite worldly. I eat tacos and everything.
Our Editor Responds: I probably discovered the Temples through Smithsonian magazine or National Geographic. God knows I’ll never have the kind of money it takes for travel. The first thing I would do if I ever won the lottery. I live vicariously through digital platforms or through museums.
Maybe it has to do with access to vegtable dies and pigments. Doesn’t explain Moscow though
Tomato towers in an array of colors. Do you think the tomatoes will appreciate such art? Will there be a watershed review in the Tomato Times?
And I always open all of your links, I just do it in new tabs.
Our Editor Responds: I’ll stack two towers together per plant. It will be extremely fetching and the tomatoes will contrast nicely
I love the color palette. It would be a better world if cats were held in such high esteem today as the Siamese cats were in Thailand back in the day. At least Twyla lucked out. Frieda and Ramona are jealous. I’m counting my dollars to see if I can afford to hire Mr V and his arty, crafty sidekick.