Art fair gives chance at rebirth

The lively sound of Tibetan folk music wafted through the auction rooms, where art buyers bid on sumptuous pieces of framed artwork while rubbing shoulders with young families learning about Tibetan prayer techniques and nibbling on savory meat and vegetarian dumplings. \nOutside, young girls and boys performed authentic Tibetan dances while small groups wandered through an outdoor marketplace of exotic metalwork and delicately-woven clothing. \nThe Tibetan Cultural Center held their first annual Tibetan Art Fair Sunday afternoon, drawing in people from across the United States in a celebration of culture and art. The event marks one of the first public events the center has held since Arjia Rinpoche, the new director and president of the Tibetan Cultural Center, was named to the post by the Dali Lama in January.\n"The goal is to preserve our culture and religion and show our beautiful arts to people," Rinpoche said. \nThe new director has been busy building back up the Tibetan Cultural Center's outreach efforts. For the center, the art fair is a form of spiritual rebirth.\nThe all-day event, which started at 1 p.m. at Deer Park Manor, ended late in the evening with a private dinner and musical program hosted by Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, the newest board member of the Tibetan Cultural Center. People traveled from all over Indiana to come to the event. Among the public events held in the afternoon was an auction of artwork from the private collection of Rinpoche and John Mellencamp. Fine jewelry, textiles, handcrafted pottery and framed photographs from Mongolia were also displayed and sold. In addition, there were young contortionists, folk singers and the Mount Kailish Cultural Troupe, a group of Tibetan-Americans from Chicago who performed religious dances for the audience. \n"I've never done this before," said Ming Mar, a 17-year-old junior from north Chicago. Mar, who is currently looking at colleges and plans on becoming a doctor, said he has enjoyed the opportunity to get in touch with his heritage by learning and performing dances like the Tashi Sholpa. \nBesides teaching others about their culture, Tibetan-Americans are intent on educating others about the plight of Tibet, which is currently under the control of the Republic of China. \n"It's really hard to get the word out," said Barbara Lantz, singer and author of the book "Return of Chief Joseph." Lantz, an advocate for the Nez Perce Native American tribe, who, like many other tribes in the United States today, are still struggling to buy back their original land, brought members of the Nez Perce tribe from Idaho for the art fair. They performed a traditional display of Native American drumming.\n"I wanted to bring them out to this festival because there's such a similarity between their (the Nez Perce and the Tibetans) stories," Lantz said. "It's important to get this kind of stuff out because people don't know about it."\nRinpoche said he was pleased by the positive reaction the event received and was encouraged to continue doing outreach in the community.\n"We saw we should have more events and activities to benefit the center and the local community," he said. "That's our motivation."\nThe proceeds from the auction will benefit the Kumbum Chamtse Ling Temple and the Tibetan Children's Camp at the Tibetan Cultural Center.