#fralin

From The Scout Guide​ Co-Founder, Christy Ford: The kids and I just went to the Fralin Museum of Art​ to see the Richard Serra​ exhibit. It is absolutely fabulous. A must see!!

Oct. 15. 2015

The Student Docents are an official U.Va. student organization operating under the supervision of The Fralin’s education department. But aside from being a CIO, the docent program is a completely engaging experience with an 11 week training course to prepare you to  lead interactive tours and assist with the Museum's special programs, such as the annual Writer's Eye competition. It’s like being a UGuide, but for art lovers.

Still not convinced? Check out the site!  Otherwise apply here by Oct. 26

Also check out the Beta Bridge Daily FB page to see the #tbt post!

Soon to be headed my way!

I’ve been seriously stalking Waterslide Guitars for about six-eight months, and when this baby came up, I pounced on it. Originally, it had a set of Fralin PAF style humbuckers in it, with tortoiseshell inserts that matched the guard. Unfortunately, right as Patrick was getting the guitar ready to ship to me, one of the pickups turned out to be faulty. I asked him if maybe we could swap out the PAFs for a set of Big Singles. Lindy wound them last week, and now I just have to wait for the reborn guitar to make its way to me. 

Every year I take my students to a local (ish) museum so they can participate in the Writer's Eye project.  My students tour a museum and look at specially selected pieces. They then write a poem or a piece of prose based on that work. The writing is only inspired by the work and not a description of it.  I always write a piece with my students and this year I chose "Leaf from the Qissa-i Amir Hamza: Four Men in Combat" from India, Mughal, Akbar period, c. 1562–1577. You can find a description of the piece (second description) in the museum's packet.

I am pretty proud of my piece this year, so I thought I would share it with you guys. The title is a line that the docent said while giving us our tour.

“They Found it Being Used as a Curtain”

Inspired by: Leaf from the Qissa-i Amir Hamza: Four Men in Combat

They came at night—I panicked. 

The Pakistani people had threatened this,

but I never thought I would be affected.

Really, no one ever does. 

I did not really want to leave,

but I am not the type to stay and fight,

especially in 1947

when every conflict seems to turn in to a

World War. 

In my panicked state I collected

things that I thought would

              make me happy,

               remind me of home,

              remind me of where I came from.

In my father’s two leather suitcases, worn with overuse,

I frantically packed the first items I could get my hands on:

              my grandmother’s wedding sari,               the books I used at university,  

              the tapestry that always hung in my parent’s house,                 

               toiletries, 

               a blue tie,

              undershirts.

I left with the sunrise.

Now,

Looking at my own artifacts

I do not understand who I thought I was in that moment. 

Who I really am is a lost adult in a sea of expatriates searching for a new way of life. 

I should have packed

               money,

              gold,

               anything I could sell,

because at this point I don’t care about what colors my grandmother chose on her wedding day—

it only reminds me of the henna that I will never smell on my nonexistent bride’s hands.

What makes me Indian here?

The fear of another conflict?

The fact that I cannot taste this British food for lack of spice? 

I left my home because I am a coward,

                I am not Hanza

                I have not gone into battle for Muhammed

                I ran from the challenge,

but I still feel a connection

because I stand out here with my accent and my skin. 

Now I hang the tapestry up in my small room.

I hide from my own realities

and stare at this old cloth. 

               The battle,

                I notice,

                reflects my own struggles. 

There are conflicts in the external world that forced me here

and there are conflicts in my own mental dealings that are battling my fears and my desires.

I like that.

This is my homeland.

This is my struggle.

It is small

And faded,

But it is mine.

And they can’t take that from me.