In Which India Comes to Us

First, it dropped through the mail slot in the form of India, a new CD from Putumayo. Admittedly, when I cued it up I found it a little too easy listening for my taste. But I let it play, and like so many things that evoke India, I was totally roped in. I drove across downtown with Satish Vyas’ Homeward Journey playing and I completely forgot where I was. I’m not sure that critics are going to find anything new or groundbreaking on this disk, but if, like me, you’re a sucker for the seductive ambiance of an imaginary, quiet India, there’s nothing not to like about this disk. Get yours from Amazon.

Then, Indian went into our eyes and wow, did it leave me a little overcome with wonder. There’s an absolutely breathtaking collection of Indian paintings up at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park.

If you’re still reading this (WHY you are not on your way there RIGHT NOW, I do NOT know), I will tell you that the color is unbelievable, saturated blues and weird flat silvery graphite and bright orange and oh, it’s spectacular. And there are multiples of dancing girls, hundreds of them, in outfits that do not repeat. There are tiny walled palaces bursting with greenery and monkeys in shorts and dieties with lots of extra hands for holding on to their attributes and elephants in finery and all of it, so fine and delicate and really, it’s a breathtaking collection.

If you wanted to go, I’d go with you, so much do I want to see it again. I bought the catalog so I can look at those stunning paintings over and over and over again.

There’s a rather nice interactive slideshow, but you should go see the work in person. Try to go on a weekday when it’s a little less crowded so you can stand, gobstruck by color and pattern, in front of each painting for as long as you need.

Hey, just so all your senses get satisfaction, you might want to follow the whole thing up with Indian food. Sure, there’s decent Indian food in Seattle, but my personal favorite remains Udupi Palace on the east side. That’s one place I can’t recommend for weekdays, lunch time, unless you like overhearing the chatter of software jockeys, but if you can shut that out, the food is fantastic. What the hell, go for the buffet. If you inssist on staying on the Seattle side, the words spinach naan evoke quite the reaction around our house – head to the University District to Taste of India. Did I mention the spinach naan?

And hey, thanks again to  Tour Saver for the 2:1 at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. We used our freebie to take an economically challenged friend to see the art. Thanks, Scott!