tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-329860882011-09-22T21:43:30.351-07:00Liza Behrendt's blog about Beauty of Water, international art in appreciation for water.<br> <strong><a href="http://www.beautyofwater.org">BEAUTY OF WATER WEBSITE</a></strong>Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-54046791708326148822011-09-22T21:18:00.006-07:002011-09-22T21:43:30.365-07:00

This evening I had the pleasure of joining a gathering at the home of a People for Puget Sound Board Member. The new Executive Director, Tom Bancroft, had encouraging things to say about the good works of this ambitious group, an organization I admire a great deal. They intend to help restore the Edmonds Marsh, for instance, as well as the 30 or so other areas on the Puget Sound they care for, in

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-75566367982258145872011-08-05T22:39:00.011-07:002011-08-24T15:26:00.297-07:00

Catch a Beauty of Water story in Issue 3 of the Women Environmental Artist Directory online magazine, edited by Susan Leibovitz Steinman. This story is a newly revised version of journal-type documentation I wrote during the 2008 Beauty of Water workshop in the Kerala Backwaters. Also available: a recent audio interview on Robin Escher's Socially Conscious Investing show. The podcast is called "

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-33894883252224985512011-06-28T22:50:00.013-07:002011-06-28T23:22:34.059-07:00

Global Water Dances, an event that was held around the world this past June 25th, is a participatory event I've long admired. At 5:00pm in each of 60 different locations a Global Water Dance performance took place, honoring local water while recognizing water worldwide, and our connection with and dependence on water.The Seattle performance, which I was fortunate to be able to attend, was held on

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-24249482013790634552011-04-23T23:45:00.008-07:002011-04-23T23:56:20.745-07:00

Today Mona Fairbanks and a few of us volunteers installed a transparent tube that is functioning as a new downspout in front of Fabric of Life, an idea from Carol Schillios that we all love. I can't wait to see the water running through when it rains, which probably won't be a long wait here in Edmonds, Washington.See also the work-in-progress Spirit of Water Edmonds website!BEAUTY OF WATER

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-63555550134319946122011-03-15T22:49:00.007-07:002011-03-15T23:10:00.476-07:00

Last month the Fabric of Life fair trade foundation and Beauty of Water held our second community gathering to continue cultivating creativity toward development of our project Spirit of Water.Pictured here are the fabulous Carol Schillios, who founded Fabric of Life, and her stellar colleague and assistant, Ariel Macpherson.This 7-image slideshow captures the spirit of the community gathering,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-75922484136009268972011-02-05T20:17:00.017-08:002011-02-05T21:03:07.161-08:00

I am thrilled to introduce Spirit of Water, a community art and rainwater catchment project initiated by volunteers in a partnership between Fabric of Life and Beauty of Water. Spirit of Water has now begun and will take place over time, as our collaborative process is as important to us as our end results. We are excited about both.We were honored to inaugurate Spirit of Water yesterday with an

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-17835782357815377132010-11-18T19:05:00.004-08:002010-11-18T19:21:59.110-08:00

"...beauty may be contentious and difficult to define, but it’s also one of the great goods of human life. It is something we all crave..."The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has published seven commissioned essays on beauty. I did not find these provocative, rather they comforted me.As Hasan Bakhshi writes, "The appreciation of beauty is a fundamental part of what it means

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-23416969438757826992010-10-14T22:01:00.008-07:002010-10-14T22:37:20.992-07:00

I enjoy focusing on the global level, as I've written of here before. Yet I appreciate being grounded and local, too!Last night I joined pals from Sustainable Edmonds at an event for Sustainable Works hosted by Green Drinks. It was a clear evening and I enjoyed a spectacular sunset over the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound on my bike ride home.Speaking of the sound, People for Puget Sound

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-77673822576096297782010-08-26T16:21:00.015-07:002010-08-26T17:17:48.193-07:00

Last weekend at the Arts in Nature festival I got to be a kid again. The "Sound Cabin" hosted by Amber Kai Morgan and Garrett Kelly of Hollow Earth Radio was a blast! They had hung an underwater microphone in a tank of water, and provided inspiring tools like leaves and shells for making surprising sounds, using the water as part of the instrument. It was really fun!Now I'm wondering about

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-18780118625749447612010-07-18T00:04:00.020-07:002010-07-18T11:40:51.707-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of traveling by bicycle and ferry to see Beverly Naidus, shown here, eco-artist, professor, and author of several books including Arts for Change: Teaching Outside the Frame, at her home on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound near Seattle.Beverly has begun a new, multi-faceted work called "Eden Reframed: An Eco-art Project for the Beall Greenhouses" in partnership with

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-22505471987259160812010-05-26T16:25:00.005-07:002010-05-26T16:42:49.523-07:00

I am delighted to announce the newly redesigned Beauty of Water website, integrating more photos, sharing more information about our projects, and making it easier to connect with our work.We loved the old site, but simply outgrew it. Please drop a line to send your thoughts on what you like and what could make this new website even better. Thanks!BEAUTY OF WATER WEBSITE

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-44880357877367851362010-04-28T19:31:00.012-07:002010-04-28T21:21:23.207-07:00

tranquility / splashy / opaque / beauty / refractive / wet / glowing / soaking / marveling / drenched / promiscuous / strange / pure / pristine / abrasive / bottomless / transparent / wonderful / polluted / creative / loud / majestic / devious / developing / abused / living / powerful / taken for granted / luminous / beautiful /

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-54760433102726991062010-02-02T21:21:00.022-08:002010-02-02T22:05:42.806-08:00

Beauty of Water is alive and well. Waves of activity swirl and dissipate, while under the surface churning continues.I am reminded of the first phase of our work in India, during which new connections formed like a neural network, and every day was exciting in the project's new location.I notice the same tentative yet grounded exploration here in Edmonds, Washington, a quiet hum of happenings and

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-15521106836247982602009-10-06T20:10:00.034-07:002009-10-09T14:47:18.152-07:00

There have been many changes in my life in the past few months. I now live in the Seattle area, USA, with my father and husband, within bike or bus distance of my sisters, their lovely families, and our visiting Swiss friends. Wow! I lived in ths area after college, and in 2007 while launching Beauty of Water, so this is one of my homes.It's been a joy to be here, but I deeply miss India and the

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-61514550677443287852009-08-16T11:48:00.002-07:002009-08-16T21:46:46.275-07:00

This summer these children collaboratively produced this stunning rainstick, which carries a lot of love and intention, and donated it to Beauty of Water!Teachers Emily Frost and Gena Rabinowitz founded a unique environmentally focused art camp held in Oakland, California, which explored a different aspect of the environment each day. The young artists of the Rainbow Rainstick made the instrument

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-18750860374340156872009-07-31T09:16:00.014-07:002009-08-02T08:10:19.239-07:00

"I loved to feel the rain," said Subhash Viswan, a student in the first batch of the fine arts degree program at the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) in Trivandrum, after a day of making art on the theme of appreciation for water with Beauty of Water earlier this month.His enthusiastic comments were translated by Degree Section Coordinator Shirly G., who invited Beauty of Water to

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-82250032037065503452009-07-12T04:20:00.044-07:002009-07-13T21:16:24.389-07:00

A quietly breath-taking spot on the Triprayar River near Thrissur, Kerala, India, was the site for a deeply gratifying experience for me as founding director of Beauty of Water. Ten painters, a mixture of amateur and professional, with yours truly included, painted one painting together on one canvas!This Beauty of Water Painting Camp took place from June 26-28, 2009, and was graciously hosted by

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-78026167909872880282009-06-20T01:18:00.026-07:002009-06-27T05:41:08.662-07:00

Hello from Trivandrum! I am in my last weeks in Kerala, India, now drawing my face-to-face involvement to a close for this chapter in the evolution of Beauty of Water. While I expect to return for some awesome upcoming programs, it's time to recharge my batteries in the USA, and support ongoing developments here from afar.The amazing Latha Kurien Rajeev is continuing with several programs in

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-15325039288670824912009-05-18T19:03:00.014-07:002009-05-20T05:41:49.782-07:00

I had the pleasure of a brief visit to the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this month, where I met with inspiring people like Askia White, pictured here. Askia is working on a home-use energy collector combining systems of rain catchment, gravitational force of flowing water, solar, and wind technologies in one artistic sculpture you can put in your yard. Wow! Wow! Wow!Askia is part of Andrée

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-24083926648976815712009-04-28T14:44:00.006-07:002009-06-07T05:24:34.536-07:00

Beauty of Water welcomes our new publicist and planner, Krishna Mayur from Hyderabad. A professional business consultant with specialty in public relations and communication, he also promotes community events such as blood donations and recycling programs.Krishna Mayur is passionate about the environment, especially water. He has already come up with immediately actionable ideas for focusing

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-35964640080780551382009-03-10T02:21:00.011-07:002009-03-10T03:12:06.031-07:00

Today is Pongala, an annual, sacred festival held in Trivandrum to honor the Goddess. At 5:30am I arose and walked 5k to the home of dear friends Susan and Dr. Raj, who live near Attukal Temple, locus of the event. Most of the 2 million or more women attending, mainly Keralite Hindus, were already in preparation.Here are two short videos with ambient sound taken on my walk home at 10:00am. The

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-77302289154546455102009-03-02T06:27:00.006-08:002009-03-10T03:13:50.019-07:00

I am deep in the throes of grant proposal writing, please wish us luck! A very exciting art installation called Lucid has been conceived by Latha Kurien Rajeev and me, with influences and input from many. More on this one day soon! There are also signs of growth for Watermark, a show of solo works and performance on the theme of appreciation for water.In January I started my journey toward a

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-37142111318767927322009-01-29T05:47:00.005-08:002009-01-29T06:05:09.865-08:00

Stanley Krippner, PhD, of Saybrooke Graduate School and Research Center, has been sending me important articles about water for more than a year, for which I am grateful. It is time to come out of the closet with this GOOD NEWS, albeit controversial, enquiry about water. Please check out this paper about primary water by Robert Gourlay of the environmental consulting business called the

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-24825605881061906672009-01-29T05:12:00.005-08:002009-01-29T05:30:21.415-08:00

Beauty of Water has published a curriculum related to the course we offered through Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts. You may download the curriculum here.If you use this curriculum please drop us a line and tell us about it! The email address to which to send your feedback is in the curriculum document itself. We are also interested in hearing about similar courses, so share your stories

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-58028670838657598702008-11-19T04:54:00.005-08:002008-11-19T05:32:45.960-08:00

There have been two stories in the media recently about Beauty of Water's activities here in Kerala. Thanks, Renu Ramanath for this October 2008 story in Artconcerns, and thanks Nita Satyendran for the November 6 2008 feature in The Hindu's Metro Plus, which ran in the Kochi edition of the newspaper as well as in this Trivandrum edition. Web pages eventually move or come down, so these links go

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-25449293516645267042008-10-20T01:02:00.008-07:002008-10-20T03:36:57.835-07:00

Seven students and two artist-lecturers from the Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts co-created a five-day, site-specific Beauty of Water workshop along with myself and our hosts Antony Caral and family of Cheriyam Thuruthu, a backwaters island near Varappuzha, twenty kilometers north of Ernakulam in Kerala, India. This 38-image slideshow shows highlights, and my downloadable journal provides a

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-6891847038138531892008-10-17T20:30:00.009-07:002008-10-18T22:07:46.795-07:00

The Beauty of Water workshop with fine arts college students in the Kerala backwaters was a delight! A handful of our experiences and some of the artworks were captured in the short videos shown below.Still photos in the form of a slideshow will be available here shortly along with a photo-illustrated downloadable written narrative. The curriculum may also be published on the Greenmuseum website

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-80520184260708273392008-09-05T03:28:00.030-07:002008-09-11T23:53:55.879-07:00

The Beauty of Water lectures at Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts in Mavelikara has finished. Our final day earlier this month featured artist Rajan M. Krishnan, who shared stories of his development as an artist and images mainly from his recent show, Revisit, at OED. Readers may recall other entries posted here about Rajan and his art. Rajan is shown above between artist/lecturer A.P. Sunil,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-2322709062720306832008-07-26T07:46:00.012-07:002008-07-28T08:48:28.755-07:00

Beauty of Water and Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts have partnered in creating a unique series and workshop for senior students, focusing on artistic collaboration and nature in art, with emphasis on water. We launched on 11 July and the course continues, meeting most Fridays through the end of August, culminating in a week-long workshop at the end of September.This week we spent a day at

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-829333761295379102008-07-06T15:18:00.018-07:002008-07-06T20:32:46.678-07:00

I wanted to bring thoughtful gifts to friends and Beauty of Water collaborators in India before returning from the USA. But there is too much consumerism in my native culture and I don't like to play the acquisition game. For weeks I put off the task of finding the right gifts, vaguely thinking I could get stuff at my last stop, Crestone, Colorado, where I would be coming for a rare family

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-64479973255624142702008-06-22T20:43:00.014-07:002008-06-22T22:02:53.082-07:00

On 10 June I met with Rimzon, Shijo, Sunil, Sivaraj, Preeti, and Beauty of Water collaborator V. Sasikumar, shown individually below, in a planning session for the experiential education series that Beauty of Water is presenting with Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts in Mavelikara. The two-month series begins on 11 July.For many months Sasi has been thought-partnering with Beauty of Water,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-79239658923867902172008-05-25T22:26:00.003-07:002008-05-25T23:08:45.559-07:00

The Center for Civic Participation in Detroit, Michigan, has been researching the creative power of arts and culture as a catalyst for action, and has published eighteen essays through the Community Arts Network under the project title, "Bridge Conversations: People Who Live and Work in Multiple Worlds." Caron Atlas, Javiera Benavente and R. Lena Richardson conducted this project. Metadata about

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-8942977992331640332008-05-21T00:39:00.007-07:002008-05-21T01:55:04.257-07:00

The Earth is in the news more and more. There is a minimum of one story about water every day in the newspapers here. My heart goes out to anyone experiencing loss from the earthquake and cyclone.Kerala's summer is nearly over. Students are beginning a new school year now. This will be my first near-full year in South India (I will be in the USA for four weeks starting in mid-June). The

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-24215560421864870772008-05-01T00:43:00.002-07:002008-05-01T00:46:15.254-07:00

"...the universal language of art serves as a catalyst that can unite people in thought and action, and can empower individuals, communities, and leaders to incorporate environmental values into social, economic, and political realms..." READ MORE FROM THE UNITED NATIONS WEBSITEBeauty of Water Website

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-2321216538784414852008-04-23T03:09:00.005-07:002008-11-19T05:29:05.953-08:00

[This entry was modified on 19 November 2008.] An article about Beauty of Water appeared in the Trivandrum edition of The New Indian Press (The Indian Express) on 22 April 2008. It is captured here in jpeg format. The interview was held in mid-March, and therefore names of some important contributors to the project were not included, such as artist T. Kaladharan. Involvement of others named in

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-86692811444697985572008-04-15T00:34:00.006-07:002008-04-23T03:37:45.081-07:00

April has seen unseasonable rains in Kerala, and correspondingly, Beauty of Water is flooded with fantastic happenings! We have not posted lately simply because of the deluge of developments! Here are some hints...We are partnering with a fine arts college to offer a course focused on collaboration and nature in art, with emphasis on water; we are partnering with a well known senior artist to

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-7554605363802639022008-03-26T00:08:00.012-07:002008-03-27T22:49:22.661-07:00

The Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation presented a two-day workshop for women art students at Kanakakunnu Palace in Trivandrum last week. The title of the workshop was "Womenscape: Contemporary Expressions on Being a Woman," and an exhibition of the artwork was held at the Museum Auditorium from March 23-25. Acrylic paint was the medium. Media students, primarily female, covered the

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-50910552541677595622008-03-26T00:06:00.002-07:002008-03-26T01:49:44.179-07:00

Santhan N.V., former art lead for Beauty of Water in Kerala, has cleared the way for a new director to step into this important position. Santhan gave a great deal of consideration to this work over time, provided valuable input, and generously connected us with other wonderful people who have supported the project. I wish him well in his new career opportunities, and encourage others to watch

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-6795518685925720412008-03-19T02:19:00.017-07:002008-03-19T03:37:38.580-07:00

I have been continuing to connect with Beauty of Water collaborators around Kerala. Here is friend and collaborator Anitha Sharma, environmental educator and activist engaged in numerous activities with schools and organiztions throughout Kerala. One of the areas Anitha focuses on is wetlands. We are in discussions about how her work and Beauty of Water can be brought together in several future

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-64573850859903524612008-02-27T00:18:00.011-08:002008-02-29T07:13:04.540-08:00

Here is a truly gorgeous fifty-two image slideshow from Rajan Krishnan's oRe/Substances of Earth-I show opening that took place on 19 January 2008 at Bodhi Art in Mumbai, including nice shots of the installation pieces. Rajan, in the purple shirt here, provided me with these photos, which were taken by Ajilal. The first image in the slideshow includes writer Renu Ramanath, seated and looking up,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-35984261058426362212008-02-26T09:05:00.015-08:002008-02-27T00:38:28.765-08:00

Last night I posted an entry about collaboration in art. Eight hours later I took it down. It annoyed even me in its self-referentialism. Additionally, to understand what I see as potential for collaboration in art making, experiential information is needed. That is harder to capture in writing. I am working on a revised version of this entry and hope to post it soon. Meanwhile, here are some

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-9801271395850589142008-02-04T00:47:00.000-08:002008-02-05T21:17:58.614-08:00

Meet Harachi, artist, healer, and vibrant soul, native German with many years in Austria, recently in Kerala, India, aiming for new adventures in Mallorca, Spain. Harachi and I met in Kumily and found great inspiration in each other's ideas, history, and art projects. Harachi is joining Beauty of Water, with many possibilities for collaborations to come. Welcome, Harachi!Below you will find

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-4824516628171048612008-01-23T04:59:00.000-08:002008-01-28T04:59:21.399-08:00

I have been traveling in the past weeks, attending art events and connecting with Beauty of Water supporters.On January 12 I had the pleasure of seeing Santhan's solo show opening at Kashi Art Café in Fort Kochi. Enthusiasts from near and far came to see his wonderful works, including Terry Berger, shown with more beloved friends and Beauty of Water supporters, from left to right, Ruth, Sylvi,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-59592284883418339662008-01-04T08:57:00.000-08:002008-01-04T09:15:06.822-08:00

My good friend Sreeja is a playwrite here in Kerala and she and her amazing people staged an original play recently in Kalamassery, near Kochi where I've been staying lately. These sixteen photos capture the spirit of costumes, colors, action, and drama, including post-show fun, albeit with photographic challenges due to the low lighting and no flash. The theme has to do with a young woman's

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-48097928052902230122007-12-25T07:46:00.000-08:002007-12-25T08:04:21.349-08:00

Many people know about the backwaters of Kerala, in the vicinity of Cochin and Alleppey. I spent some time there last week, and the scenery and ambiance were exquisite. The water, as you can see in these eight photos, while full of life, is calming to the soul. This man was treating his boat with fish oil.Beauty of Water Website

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-44768398592494300292007-12-13T06:22:00.000-08:002007-12-13T06:56:25.623-08:00

I had the great pleasure of trekking for a few hours in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, next to Kumily where I have been staying for the past weeks. These twelve images taken by Santhan and me show much better than I can write of the pristine beauty in this well cared for reserve, and the amazing light all around. The picture that looks like mud is actually a recent print from a young

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-55508435667779969982007-12-09T04:59:00.001-08:002007-12-09T05:12:11.305-08:00

Gallery Red Frog, which opened in Kumily last September, presented a new show entitled 'Elephant' that drew a crowd for the opening last night. These twenty-one images capture some of the spirit of the event, along with most of the contributing artists themselves. Bravo, Red Frog and Santhan, who curated this show. The Gallery Red Frog website features some of the elephant images as well as at

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-6382696271531348052007-12-02T00:36:00.000-08:002007-12-02T07:42:07.761-08:00

Santhan and I departed Kochi the same day I had arrived from Trivandrum, and headed to Kumily, adjacent to Thekkady, where tigers and elephants roam free in massive protected lands of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. This is my new home for the time being.These thirteen slides span scenes from Trivandrum to Kumily. First you will see the Earth Pledge posted on the grounds of the museum park in

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-28172258533105725592007-12-01T23:47:00.000-08:002007-12-02T00:35:36.232-08:00

After my stay in Trivandrum, I headed to Cochin (Kochi) where Santhan and I visited the studio and a worksite of Rajan Krishnan, longtime friend of Santhan and featured artist with Bodhi Art. This ten photo slideshow reveals the thrilling inside story of work in progress. We are at Jayan V.K.'s Terra Crafts terra cotta production studio, where students from three local art schools, more than one

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-72695675910632559992007-11-25T00:08:00.000-08:002007-11-25T00:26:13.208-08:00

“Representation II: Contemporary Indian Art” opened last night in Trivandrum to more than one hundred enthusiastic art appreciators from throughout the area and abroad, including a couple of film stars and the press. Beauty of Water art lead Santhan Velayudhan, pictured here, and four additional artists contributed to the show, including Alexander Devasia, Anoop Panicker, Bhagyanath C, and Riyas

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-53409357285445066142007-11-23T06:09:00.000-08:002007-11-23T06:57:44.250-08:00

Greetings from South India! I arrived in Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, where Kalai and Raju and son Goutha fed me, gave up their beds to let me sleep at odd times, and welcomed me so sweetly that leaving seemed unnatural. Raju and I met squished side by side on a bus last year, and enjoyed our first hour of conversation about his work in sales management at a water purification company,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-91045465417874721622007-11-15T15:46:00.000-08:002007-11-15T16:02:45.767-08:00

Here are eleven photos... While in England for a few days, I've captured a couple of impressions from in the city of Oxford, and more in London, including Christmas lights in Oxford Circus, grounds of Tate Modern, the Millenium Bridge, the Thames, Borough Market, and in the home of my cousin and his partner Beso, who made me delicious Georgian food. Their back yard has fig, apple, and pear trees,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-35186965024307436532007-11-09T10:08:00.000-08:002007-11-11T10:43:15.931-08:00

Please check out the new Beauty of Water website, located where the old one was at beautyofwater.org. Tell us how you feel and what you think about the website using the contact form.This new opening comes on the heels of the Bay Area oil spill. As of this moment, a quick search on what one can do to help brought good results on these pages: Oiled Wildlife Care Network, Golden Gate National

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-68757198505990555752007-11-09T09:48:00.000-08:002007-11-09T15:31:51.917-08:00

I'm sad to be leaving the vibrant, dynamic San Francisco Bay Area tomorrow, yet excited for things to come. In the five weeks I've been here I've volunteered for Earth Island Institute's Brower Youth Awards (check out 14-year-old Alex's acceptance speech) and the Bioneers Conference. Last night I heard Joanna Macy talk at my alma matter, CIIS. She read from her re-released World as Lover, World

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-8256348567609423242007-11-09T09:35:00.000-08:002007-11-09T10:28:54.676-08:00

The International Humanities Center (IHCenter) based in Malibu, California and with projects all over the world, has adopted Beauty of Water into its fiscal sponsorship program! This gives Beauty of Water nonprofit public charity status. Beauty of Water is now exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and supporters from the USA can make tax-deductible

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-8650316189081155612007-10-15T16:57:00.000-07:002007-10-15T17:30:59.142-07:00

I returned last week to my home of the past ten years, the San Francisco Bay Area, via train, which was wonderful, visiting amazing urban farmer - food activist friends in Oregon along the way. I'm now living in a captain's house on a (former) Naval base in Alameda, with beloved friends and Beauty of Water supporters. The Governor was holding a press conference where my ferry to the city launched

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-74899537169321708782007-09-20T11:13:00.001-07:002007-09-24T00:15:15.038-07:00

I met an artist from The Netherlands, Martina Florians, while in Weimar, Germany. She and others were preparing an exhibit called Le Souvenir, at ACC Galerie. Her piece, The Changing Smells, struck me as wonderfully creative, and the more I absorbed what she was doing, the more brilliant I percieved it to be. Martina's gorgeous website features this and other of her works, well worth a visit.I

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-55326801227740731902007-08-30T08:05:00.000-07:002007-08-30T20:56:07.223-07:00

I am back from a SUPERB visit to Germany and the Weimar Summer Courses. These 45 slides show course activities, my instructors and the leader of the program, Burkhardt Kolbmüller, scenes from in and around Weimar, such as Goethe's town and garden houses, Schiller Strasse; a 1923 home and buildings from the Bauhaus in Weimar, an original Rodin sculpture (shown here) that lives in the lobby of the

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-88107210663432250082007-08-08T20:05:00.000-07:002007-08-08T20:37:04.715-07:00

I am delighted to share that I received a full scholarship for a workshop that is supported by the European Union, called From Bauhaus to Social Sculpture. The Shaping of a Humane Society as an Aesthetic Challenge taking place in Weimar, Germany from August 11-25. The instructors are Dr. Hildegard Kurt of und.Institut and Shelly Sacks of the Social Sculpture Research Unit at Oxford Brookes

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-69744363510170199522007-07-08T15:38:00.001-07:002007-07-08T18:33:54.691-07:00

This blog centers on Beauty of Water, an international art project in appreciation for water. For more information, please visit the Beauty of Water website. Now and then I like to share personal photos. Here are recent shots taken by family friend Andrea McDonald. We are in the back yard at the home of my sister, Lynne, on the left in this photo, where I am currently living in Edmonds,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-3142954997607985412007-07-08T15:24:00.001-07:002007-07-08T18:36:50.442-07:00

I have been researching fiscal sponsor organizations, comparing fees, services, requirements, and application procedures. Here are some of the entities we are looking at: Earth Island Institute, Fractured Atlas, Global Giving Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts, Rose Foundation, Rudolph Steiner Foundation, Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, Tides Center, Universal Giving, and Work

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-4115246708038014082007-06-24T20:54:00.001-07:002007-06-24T21:07:44.573-07:00

For anyone unfamiliar with what networking can do for a project such as Beauty of Water, go to WiserEarth and enter the term 'water' in the box in the upper right. More than 9000 organizations, including a semi-active online discussion group focused on water topics in Kerala, came up in my search results. Over the years the technologies, interfaces, and overall usage of networks such as these

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-90517920324073188462007-06-11T22:58:00.000-07:002007-06-11T23:41:18.999-07:00

There have been quiet little explosions in the development of Beauty of Water, which, taken together, characterize vital signs of growth.Caroline Cumming is catalyzing development of our funding strategy and organizational structure. As a part of those efforts, the network of people and organizations that supports Beauty of Water is now captured in a spreadsheet, 200 entries strong on the first

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-34409533810178171672007-05-27T11:05:00.000-07:002007-06-11T23:41:45.352-07:00

In the Paul Hawken article mentioned in the previous post, he writes of a movement, of "Something Earth-changing [that is] is afoot among civil society." I resonate with his statement that there is, "...a coalescence comprising hundreds of thousands of organizations with no center, codified beliefs, or charismatic leader."At the same time I don't personally feel I live within the three

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-26927311663740832812007-05-26T19:05:00.000-07:002007-06-11T23:42:06.615-07:00

Sometimes when weeks pass and I have not posted to this blog I wonder if it seems as though nothing is progressing with Beauty of Water. This link-happy entry is meant to give a sense of the kinds of developments that occur between postings.Today I spent a delightful mid-day strolling through the Edmonds Farmer's Market and then conversing on the patio of my favorite ZuKafe with my dear friend

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-21319115598304672492007-05-12T21:19:00.000-07:002007-05-12T21:55:10.902-07:00

Announcing the grand opening of the Beauty of Water website and concept paper. While our public face will be enhanced over time, in particular the website will sparkle more and more, the initial review period is complete. Immense thanks to all who have collaborated on bringing these mission-critical materials to life. It is time to call forth and receive new partners to co-create the expansion.

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-44234182276918780852007-05-07T23:03:00.000-07:002007-06-11T23:42:33.339-07:00

Close friends are aware that finding clarity, such as where to live, is something I've historically struggled with. Once I have clarity, powerful things happen. Action and manifestation come easily the moment I know what I want. Yet gaining clarity, even as a process-oriented person with higher than average tolerance for the unknown, has been trying at times. Therefore I am especially delighted

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-920612157237257772007-04-18T21:34:00.000-07:002007-04-19T10:56:23.022-07:00

Yes, this blog design has changed. I was tired of pink.I just learned of Live Earth, a music show set to take place over 24 hours in seven locations around the world on July 7, 2007, featuring top artists and sponsored by the people behind An Inconvenient Truth such as Al Gore.I think the global event trend is picking up speed. That makes sense, given the state of the planet.I can tell that some

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-69436744414384591502007-04-15T09:20:00.000-07:002007-04-18T22:45:31.125-07:00

The new version of the Beauty of Water paper is now available from http://www.alignmentconsulting.org/downloads. I am waiting to announce this widely until the email address embedded in the paper is functional and until I receive and can implement feedback on the paper itself. I am interested in readers' thoughts and ideas. Please send them to me at lizabehrendt at yahoodot com until the other

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-84789926432664755512007-03-22T11:03:00.000-07:002007-04-18T22:45:00.560-07:00

The Water Project is now Beauty of Water. Thanks to all who helped select a name. Here are excerpts from two contributors in the selection process:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Water:is lifeorigin of lifeis that which shapes the earth and gives it beauty through its geology,topography, flora and faunahas a duality: soft and yielding, flowing, controllable, the source ofalllife; hard, powerful

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-91201868501481250922007-03-20T11:02:00.000-07:002007-03-20T11:39:38.689-07:00

The past few weeks I've been adjusting to the new job at the health club. I work six days a week, and on the seventh I go skiing. Actually last weekend I went to my dad's in Milwaukee to see my sister Sarah perform in a play ~ excellent!I have a good first draft of the new version of The Water Project concept paper. I will post it here soon. It emphasizes the collaborative, global, and artistic

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-9983110836398350072007-02-22T11:03:00.000-08:002007-04-18T22:45:41.418-07:00

I am also in deep inquiry about WATER, water itself. I have a lot of internal messages telling me to sit with water, Be with water, and explore it on multiple levels. When I go there even just in my mind, I pretend I am a rippling lake, or a meandering river. I feel my weight as a noisy waterfall, or the weightlessness of water streaming upwards in a city fountain somewhere. I expand and become

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-70288220969655882432007-02-22T09:42:00.000-08:002007-04-18T22:45:59.354-07:00

I could also call this entry Sharpening the Focus. It is in my nature to give attention to a lot of things at the same time. Sometimes, though, I get fragmented and have to regroup.My intention for this phase has been to focus on: short-term financial sustenance, as I depleted personal funds launching The Water Project; designing sustainability for my future vis-à-vis The Water Project; learning

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-38404585330566985922007-02-21T14:48:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:20:33.103-08:00

I heard from Anna Halprin on my request that she serve as an advisor to The Water Project. Here's what her administrative assistant wrote: "Anna and I discussed your email yesterday. She is all for your project and sincerely believes in your vision. At this time, with sincerity, she regretfully must decline the advisory position. We understand the role is very low key and she has considered this

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-37836922298685895932007-02-19T19:50:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:17:13.664-08:00

My plan to regroup while hanging out with my sister and her family is going great. After a yummy party at April and Matt Cameron's this weekend, we goofed around in Bellingham, Washington. Lynne, Greg, Cedar (8, pictured here), and Sierra (5) are shown in these eight photos. Tomorrow I start work as a personal trainer at Mieko’s Fitness. Thursday I interview for a part-time Diversity Coordinator

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1170705210239369832007-02-05T11:29:00.000-08:002007-02-05T12:21:47.693-08:00

Goodbye for now to beautiful Guatemala. Last days were spent with new friends in the areas of Lake Atitlán and La Antigua.Back in San Francisco, in Bay Area Fever style, I visited stellar people, danced with a group I initiated in Point Reyes Station, saw the opening of a gorgeous new space at the CircleCenter in Fairfax, experienced a talk and choreography from Anna Halprin, and for a rest, went

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1169405513455833512007-01-21T10:51:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:16:17.069-08:00

Here are ten photos from a couple of hikes I took in Guatemala. The first photos were taken in the jungle at Biotopo Cerro Cahui, which is in the protected Mayan Biosphere Reserve. My eight year old nephew says that it looks like I am sitting in a dinosaur´s foot in one of these pictures. The monkeys sounded like dinosaurs, too, although I can´t say as I have actually heard a dinasaur. The next

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1169404783235899902007-01-21T10:24:00.000-08:002007-01-21T10:49:15.403-08:00

I want to metion how things are going in Guatemala with regards to The Water Project. This is on the personal level, and a week from now, not to mention a month from now, this might seem completely out of date. I have been staying in Antigua lately, and it is easy to get lost here. An amazing person, who runs a community center that grows leaders who can organize to obtain government funding for

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1168551086321694522007-01-11T13:31:00.000-08:002007-01-11T13:54:49.393-08:00

A close friend has sent a financial donation toward my work with The Water Project, the first from a non-family member. Thank you, Dear One!!Another wonderful friend had offered financial support when she saw the initial version of the concept paper in October. I was not ready to receive at that time, but have since learned the answer: "Yes, thank you! Is there anything specific you had in mind

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1168472486464365592007-01-10T15:41:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:15:50.798-08:00

I visited Tikal yesterday, a famous park that preserves a set of gigantic Mayan ruins. Here are my photos. I have seen a lot in my nearly 42 years, and came with a ho-hum attitude. At first, on this rainy morning, the climb to the top of Templo IV, Temple 4, was indeed disappointing. Everyone had told me how great it would be, but it seemed like a stack of rocks to me, and besides, I couldn´t

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1168470923157421742007-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:15:26.635-08:00

My father pointed out that it has become difficult to get to the paper describing The Water Project´s concept, design, and status. From now on, at least until there is a website, versions of that paper will be available here: http://www.alignmentconsulting.org/downloads.

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1168467953281327212007-01-10T14:12:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:22:03.015-08:00

Here are eleven photos showing Antigua, some drawings, and El Remate in El Petén, Guatemala, where I continue with The Water Project. I have a new camera, and aspire to the greatness of Terry´s photography... this will take practice!While in Antigua, I heard from Santhan, the sculptor in India. He said that he would like to join The Water Project, and details are forthcoming. I really felt that

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1167758715192055102007-01-02T09:25:00.000-08:002007-01-02T09:55:51.600-08:00

I am delighted to report that my luggage arrived intact, my health is good, and on New Year's Eve Day I found some quetzales. They were hiding at a bank machine in a mall in Zone 4 of Guatemala City. Today I am visiting the Modern Art museum here. Starting tomorrow I plan to spend a few days in Antigua, after which I will head to the north of the country, to El Petén. This is the general area I

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1167505892764667462006-12-30T11:11:00.000-08:002006-12-30T11:13:10.513-08:00

It's my first time in Guatemala. Things are great here! Nevermind that there is a cash shortage so I have yet to see Quetzales, my bag was last seen in the front luggage room in Los Angeles, and last night I ate two bowls of delicious sopa de tortilla which, who knew, had cream in it and I'm lactose intolerant... People are kind, the weather is fantastic, and I get to rest after busy holidays in

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1165984189721544652006-12-12T20:29:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:14:47.077-08:00

The first public version of The Water Project paper is now available for download as a pdf file [TheWaterProject.v2.5.pdf].This paper, entitled The Water Project: Concept, Design, and Status, provides an overview of the project along with the project philosophy, objectives, development phases, participant roles, countries identified for the project, appproaches, funding, recent supporters,

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1164007074736709022006-11-19T23:17:00.000-08:002007-02-21T15:14:06.974-08:00

These five photos taken by Terry Berger early in my stay in Sathyamangalam show my dear friends Ramya and her sister, Yamini, along with their mother, Sumathi. This is the day they tried to teach me south Indian cooking. Missing from the photos are Ramya's wonderful Daddy Prakash & Uncle Mohan. You'll see the kitchen and main hall of Terry's apartment, which was my home base for a couple of

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1162715389297181622006-11-05T00:29:00.000-08:002006-11-05T00:50:16.673-08:00

I am entering my final week of this Indian trip. I have a lot of plans, including one more visit to see Santhan the scultor, and one more visit to the hills. Kodaikanal is a possibility even though there is a high likelihood of rain. That's just the way it is this season in this part of the world.There are some things related to the Water Project that I am keeping an eye on. Oxford Brookes

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1161972610140620642006-10-27T11:10:00.000-07:002007-02-21T15:13:51.661-08:00

I caught an amazing sculpture exhibit at Kashi Art Gallery in Fort Kochi the other day. Afterwords I went with the artist to visit the owners of the gallery, an Indian man and his USAmerican wife. Anoop, Dorrie, and Reghunadhan gave me loads of ideas and feedback on the Water Project. Here are some photos from Diwali, by Terry Berger. He's actually pictured in one of them this time. See if you

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1161408316783532882006-10-20T22:25:00.000-07:002006-10-22T19:30:47.560-07:00

I returned to the west coast of south India, and am delighted to report that I think I have come upon a sculptor to join The Water Project! He lives in the state of Kerala, is interested in this project, has true dedication to nature, is connected in a loving community and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and does beautiful work. I will post more soon.For those who celebrate it, happy Diwali.

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1160486136256520812006-10-10T06:15:00.000-07:002007-02-21T15:13:12.979-08:00

I spent an extended weekend in Cochin, also called Kochi, originally a Dutch fort in the Indian state of Kerala. As these 20 amazing photos that Terry took share, there are fantastic arts shows to be seen there. We also strolled to Jew Town, and came upon a synagogue that was built in 1563.Fort Kochi is near Ernakulam, which is distinguished by multiple waterways and a fun ferry system. Not all

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1159796436481773132006-10-02T06:27:00.000-07:002006-10-02T07:23:15.016-07:00

I'd like to take my art to the next level. I visited two one-room, one-teacher art schools in Mangalore today. The first was open-air, allowing me to watch the monsoon rain as it swept through. The second was above a convenience store, the kind that sells trial-size packages of everything from detergent to the beauty aid, coconut oil. Both schools had remarkable pictures on the walls, showing

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1159513230725808462006-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:002007-02-21T15:12:39.661-08:00

Here are two images that I created here in India, using crayons and paper, size about 18" by 24" I would guess. Thanks to Terry for taking the photos. These pictures will remain in Sathyamangalam, as Karuppusamy from READ, mentioned in the entry below called "A Few Projects," wants these for the office.I have taken a jaunt to the west coast, on the Arabian Sea, a place called Mangalore. It is

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1159249200423128002006-09-25T22:40:00.000-07:002007-02-21T15:12:08.844-08:00

Kotagiri is a hill station that I visited for a few days. I met a woman while taking a walk, and she invited me into her home. Her family spoke English well, and they were generous and kind. They gave us cuttings from their garden, including mint and something called tree tomatoe. My friend Terry took a bunch of photos that I have posted online, yipee!

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1158850543857333882006-09-21T07:55:00.000-07:002008-01-17T04:14:50.192-08:00

The following message was added in early 2008: I have been meditating on whether to remove old postings. My perspective in some entries is that of "other" in the countries I was visiting. My orientation and voice have shifted a great deal. For the time being I have decided to leave all postings in the blog. Some of the postings in question have received praise over time, and some, although

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1158423776001057302006-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:002008-01-17T04:14:07.346-08:00

The following message was added in early 2008: I have been meditating on whether to remove old postings. My perspective in some entries is that of "other" in the countries I was visiting. My orientation and voice have shifted a great deal. For the time being I have decided to leave all postings in the blog. Some of the postings in question have received praise over time, and some, although

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1158171205090098552006-09-13T11:13:00.000-07:002006-09-15T09:33:14.120-07:00

Here are a few things I'm working on: phase one of a web page for a local NGO called READ (this is in draft form) finding out about art schools here in India scoping out the computer contracting situation here, for a few interested parties back home learning about Indian sculptors

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1158042325078452582006-09-11T23:25:00.000-07:002008-01-17T04:11:48.706-08:00

The following message was added in early 2008: I have been meditating on whether to remove old postings. My perspective in some entries is that of "other" in the countries I was visiting. My orientation and voice have shifted a great deal. For the time being I have decided to leave all postings in the blog. Some of the postings in question have received praise over time, and some, although

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1156294409936934692006-08-22T17:53:00.000-07:002006-09-11T23:55:08.060-07:00

My dear friends at CircleCenter in Fairfax, California, USA are staying connected via a network that I hope to expand upon during my travels. Please visit CircleCenter, and create a profile (look for the login link).

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32986088.post-1155967749557422302006-08-18T23:04:00.000-07:002006-08-18T23:34:51.803-07:00

In a couple of weeks I am going to India. I will be living in Sathyamangalam in the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu. I am going to India in order to do my own art, and to allow an inward journey for a vision I am stewarding, to co-create a global art project in appreciation for water. As of this writing I plan to be there for two and a half months, returning in mid-November of 2006. Most of this

Liza Behrendthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05484064034905151556noreply@blogger.com0