|
|
|
|
I've been visiting people in this welcoming Himalayan community since living there in the 1980s and have now decided to sell blankets and shawls on their behalf from my Prudhoe gallery.
I buy from one extended family in a small village, Noli, in the Dhualadhar region, who weave traditional designs from simple looms at home – not unlike clan tartans, I always think. Blankets and shawls are made from sheep the people have reared and wool they've spun, cleaned and woven themselves.
Gaddi tribes were nomadic - now they settle in villages, but they still move with their livestock to pastures in upper hills during summer and to the foothills in chilly winters. The Gaddi use blankets for bedding, protection, and even as emergency makeshift tents when they're living in the hills with their sheep.
The Noli villagers sell the woolen goods they create to live - an important supplement to their farming income. It was great to catch up with old friends I haven't seen for a number of years. Their hospitality was second to none.
|
|
One large blanket takes two months to weave and I spent some time in their homes, seeing them work and even trying a little weaving myself (which I was absolutely useless at!). I've been visiting this region for many years and the warmth, generosity and hospitality of the local people has been very humbling. It is a tough, but beautiful region.
The blankets are large and very strong and warm - perfect for summer picnics, bedding and wrapping yourself up in when it's breezy or cold.
Gaddi people have great stamina, walking for miles in the hills with heavy loads on their backs, and visiting them involved lengthy trekking. Spending time with them again gave me an even deeper respect for these people, who survive in such tough conditions, yet are so gracious.
Double Handwoven Blanket; £95, Pure Bahri Sheep's Wool; Weight Around 4 kilos; 3.75 x 1.3 Metres Approx
|
|
|
Single Handwoven Blanket, £85, Pure Bahri Sheep's Wool; 2.4 x 1.53 Metres Approx
|
|
|
|
Gaddi Shawl; £30; Pure, Handwoven Bahri Sheep's Wool; 1 x 2.2 Metres Approx
|
|
|
Gaddi men and women use their shawls to protect their heads and bodies in cold weather, like the woman in my painting, above. In this country, these strong shawls are also warm enough to serve as small picnic blankets, or to wrap around yourself as you sit outside on summer evenings when the sun goes down.
'Woman at a Window, Barra Bangal,' Limited Edition Print Run of 250; Signed and Numbered by the Artist, Paul Stangroom; Prints are Normally Mounted, Backed and Cellophane Wrapped, unless you Specify Otherwise; Unframed; Available in 3 sizes – A2, A3 and A4, from £45
|
|
|
|
On a personal level, my visit to the Himalayas last month was both physically and mentally invigorating - certainly the most trekking I have done in some time. I came home with many ideas, rekindled by this visit, for new paintings and also a new series of different and smaller Windows works. I also have plans for landscapes and portraits of some local people.
|
|
- If you like Noel's poetry, you may enjoy reading our hardback book, 'In the Pause of Passing,' which is a superb introduction to my work and Noel's writing.
-
- Paintings by Paul Stangroom, Poems by Noel Connor, £25 Plus P and P, 64 Pages Long, 260 x 325 mm. Introduction by Paul Stangroom, Forewords by Noel Connor, Anne Stevenson, Robert Picciotto and Tim Healy. First Edition of 1000 Copies. Published by Whin Sill Press
|
|
|
|
Follow me on Facebook, Paul Stangroom Fine Art and Twitter @PStangroom for up-to-date news of the gallery and my paintings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
