Not too many years ago, the characterizing quality of the Jabulani Village in Zimbabwe would have been it’s thriving community of gifted artisans known for their wood carvings of some of the country’s most breathtaking creatures.  These carvings, made from a single piece of local Mucwa hardwood and some standing as tall as 15 feet, are carved using the most simple tools, but each is intricately detailed and finished into a prized piece of art.  Not long ago, these artists would have been the face of the Village – but now, the economic crisis with it’s 234 million% inflation rate, a nation being plagued by rampant AIDS, Malaria, malnutrition, untreated illnesses and infections has made these remarkable carvings take a back seat to the simple idea of survival.

This small village of around 500 lives in the bush of Zimbabwe with no electricity or running water.  With each member usually taking in at most one meal a day, and disease ravaging the country, the future of the village looked rather bleak until a small group of Orange County women took it upon themselves to make a difference.  The Ndebele Art Project began with plan to start a pre-school and community water project.  With these initiatives in place, the last three years have focused on an expanding list of goals including a medical clinic, installing a windmill and six water tanks for clean water, emergency provision of food, distribution of clothing and shoes, nutrition and first aid supplies, and now focusing on the cultivation and maintenence of a garden to both sustain the villagers nutritional needs but also provide surplus produce for local sale.  Though the funding for these projects come from private donations, another huge source for their efforts is the now annual Hope and Possibility benefit – with this years event taking place this weekend.

The Ndebele Art Project is a non-profit organization located right here in Orange County.  This organization began with the hopes of restoring the community to it’s former state of prosperity. I had the opportunity to speak to one of NAP’s volunteers, Mire Molnar, about her experience working with the project.  Mire first joined the board in 2008 and produced the first Hope and Possibility event on the rooftop of The Camp in Costa Mesa. Since then, her passion for the villagers has increased thremendously and driven her to continue working for their greater good even from a continent away.

“Traveling to [Zimbabwe] and meeting the village was life changing.  The people I met and the family we stayed with was so happy and full of grace it made me feel so ashamed of how much I take for granted.”, says Mire.  Indeed, with a culture like Orange County, it is difficult to imagine what it would be like to live without the easy access we have to the finer luxuries our society has to offer.  Even in the midst of terrible hardship and an unsure tomorrow, these courageous people seem to possess what we all are looking for – freedom.  “They live in the moment and cherished each other in such a tangible way.”

When Mire returned from her trip, she discovered that NAP didn’t feel like a charity – it felt like a trade situation.  “They were offering our spirits a place to be free and heal and we were offering them all the skills we have within the realm of organization and project completion.”   And the trade continues on.  With this small village shining as a beacon of hope and freedom of spirit, NAP continues to fuel the flame by continuing their funding efforts.  And now, they offer the chance to get involved to you.

On July 19th, NAP will hold it’s Annual Hope and Possibilities event at Memphis in Santa Ana.  A portion of the profits, as well as a silent auction, poker tournament, and opportunities for pledges will go towards upcoming and ongoing projects in the Jabulani Village.  Dinner and silent auction will be held from 5-9pm, with the poker tournament and dj party running from 7-1am.  Reservations can be made by calling 714-564-1064.  You can also benefit NAP by shopping through their online mall at http://shop.napafrica.org/shop

“There are so many places in the world that need extra attention, extra love and extra healing,” Mire adds.  “Find the people that you have a connection to and live your life WITH them. Include them into your thoughts your budget your projects.”

Photos by Todd Puchalski.

You may have read recently about the fascinating new archaeological discoveries in Egypt: Cleopatra’s tomb, a new cache of mummies in the Valley of the Kings, ancient gold jewelry in Luxor. Equally wondrous findings, however, are being carried on every day, not in the sands of ancient Egypt but in the dusty storage bins of museums around the world: ancient papyrus documents that record the words and deeds of millenia ago.

The ancient Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphs, pictographic representations of the sounds of their language. It is these hieroglyphs which bring us back to Orange County. Saturday, May 16, the Orange County Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE-OC) will present for the first time a workshop on the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs at the Heritage Park Library in Irvine. The workshop will be presented by Dr. Elizabeth Waraksa, whose impressive credentials include a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies (Egyptian Art and Archaeology) from Johns Hopkins University, a fellowship at UCLA’s Young Research Library for a Web portal of resources relating to the ancient Near East and Egypt. She is also assisting with collection development, providing reference and instruction, and together with the Digital Library Program, working on the all-digital UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology.

OCAC spoke with Robin Young, President of ARCE-Orange County Chapter, about the Chapter and also with Dr. Waraksa about the upcoming workshop.

William Dean (WD): Robin, can you give us a little background about ARCE in Orange County? Is there a lot of enthusiasm and support for ancient Egyptian studies in our area?

Robin Young (RY): ARCE OC is the largest of 12 regional chapters of the American Research Center in Egypt, based in Cairo and San Antonio, Texas. Our membership covers six Southern California counties, and we are proud to number quite a few Egyptologists among our membership.

Our chapter was founded in 2002, and over the years has hosted many big names in Egyptology, notably Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr. Mark Lehner. Every month, we offer a free lecture, normally at the Norma Kershaw Auditorium at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, one of our partners. Many of our speakers are featured in specials on the Discovery and National Geographic channels on TV. Between one to two hundred persons attend each month. Our mailing list numbers about 1100 persons with a wide demographic spread.

Roughly twice a year we host special seminars, classes or visits to museums accompanied by an Egyptologist. Our hieroglyphs class on May 16 is being held at the Heritage Park Library in Irvine because we can set up tables so the students have plenty of room to draw the figures of the hieroglyphs. On December 5, at the Bowers, we are offering a seminar by two of the foremost Eighteenth Dynasty experts, Drs. Donald and Susan Redford, Interpreting Amarna, the Reign of the Heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten.

In January of 2010, the chapter is operating a tour to Egypt, with emphasis on visiting special archaeological sites not normally open to the public.

Membership in ARCE supports excavation and preservation of Egyptian antiquities.

There is huge interest in Southern California for Ancient Egypt. Several million people attended the King Tut exhibit in Los Angeles a few years back, and the Bowers enjoyed record attendance with the British Museum show which closed in early 2008. Ancient Egypt remains part of the curriculum in California schools, and many people continue that interest throughout their adult lives.

WD: Dr. Waraksa, it seems that interest in the culture of ancient Egypt is constantly being “re-born” through various means, including new archaeological finds as well as popular culture such as movies and documentaries.. What are some of the challenges presented to “keeping it real” and dispelling some of the myths and inaccuracies portrayed by “Hollywood”?

Dr. Elizabeth Waraksa (EW): You are absolutely right that all of the new archaeological finds reported in the news keep interest in ancient Egypt running high; the news coverage is also a useful reminder that only a fraction of what remains from ancient times has been uncovered. Popular culture definitely adds to the high level of interest. For Egyptologists, all of this coverage is largely boon, because it opens up opportunities to talk and teach about ancient Egypt to folks who have already encountered aspects of the culture online, in the paper, on television, or in the movies. As you say, it can sometimes be challenging to counter popular opinion – I often have to assure people that scarab beetles are not flesh-eating bugs after all! – but most often I regard inquiries about ancient Egypt as opportunities not only to correct a mis-stated or exaggerated fact, but to direct interested folks to a more nuanced – and sometimes, more interesting! – understanding of the culture.

WD: What are some of the most fascinating and surprising things still being learned about Egyptian hieroglyphs?

EW: Some of the most fascinating recent discoveries have been “lost” beginnings to well know texts written on papyri. For example, in 2003 Richard B. Parkinson of the British Museum published the previously unknown beginning of a piece of ancient Egyptian literature known as “The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba.” Many museum and other Egyptian collections still contain a significant number of as-yet untranslated texts, so there will no doubt be more discoveries to come.

WD: When you present a workshop such as this, how do you — briefly — connect the culture of ancient Egypt with the pictographic writings? Are they strongly linked?

EW: It is absolutely crucial when teaching the Egyptian language to discuss exactly what the glyphs represent, because each sign is intimately related to the Egyptian worldview. Among the most common hieroglyphs are everything from a simple house plan to parts of the human body to the flora and fauna of the country – not to mention all of the signs associated with water, constant reminders of the Egyptians’ dependence on the annual flooding of the Nile. The signs used to write the Egyptian language are taken straight from daily, as well as religious, life in ancient Egypt, and I think that one of the most engaging parts of the language for beginners is learning to recognize and distinguish between the glyphs.

WD: Do you recommend attendees “brush up” on their studies or is the workshop directed toward both aficionados and the general public?

EW: This is the first time I am offering this workshop for the ARCE-OC group, and it is open to both ARCE-OC members and members of the public. No prior knowledge of the language is necessary, although I know that many people will have either taken formal courses, or performed some self-study, before taking the class, so deep is their interest in ancient Egypt. I always look forward to introducing newcomers to this fascinating – if sometimes daunting! – language.

WD: How did you initially select this area of study yourself? What inspired you to become an expert in Egyptian hieroglyphs and what are some of the personal rewards you’ve gained from such studies?

EW: I became interested in Egyptology all the way back in seventh grade, when my Social Studies class completed a unit on the ancient world and I learned about the pyramids at Giza and Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tut’s tomb. From that moment on, I was hooked. For the rest of middle school and throughout high school, I wrote as many ancient Egypt-themed essays as I could – for example, in an essay for my high school Latin class, I compared Cleopatra and Livia. I also specifically researched colleges that offered a major in archaeology. Most fortunately, I was accepted to the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for college, and then for graduate school. I believe that I held onto that initial feeling of wonder and curiosity throughout my studies, which made them thoroughly enjoyable.

During my doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins, I was fortunate enough to be able to teach the year-long course, Introduction to Middle Egyptian (hieroglyphs) for five years. My students were both undergraduates and fellow graduate students, and I enjoyed every minute. Especially rewarding were the days when, after some weeks of study, my students and I would visit a local museum so that they could apply their newly-acquired language skills by reading Egyptian texts inscribed on actual monuments. Also personally rewarding for me during graduate school was the opportunity to excavate at the Temple of Mut, part of the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, with the Johns Hopkins Expedition. Not only was it a daily thrill to be excavating at a temple precinct, but my dissertation project on ceramic female figurines also sprung from that experience, which made me all the more dedicated to my topic.

By the way, if your readers would like to learn more about the ongoing Johns Hopkins Expedition to the Temple of Mut, they can visit the online dig diary, Hopkins in Egypt Today, at http://www.jhu.edu/egypttoday.

The workshop will be held at the Heritage Park Library, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, on May 16. Contact the ARCE-OC at their website: http://www.arce.org/chapters/orangecounty/events/u89 for more information.

1.  Phonetic guide to hieroglyphs
2.  Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs carved in stone
3.  Dr. Elizabeth Waraksa surveys an archaeological dig in Egypt (Photo courtesy of John Hopkins University)

There are many benefits to riding a bike.  During the work week, those fortunate enough to live within a reasonable cycling range enjoy the diminished stress of traffic, the decrease in upkeep costs for a commuter vehicle, and the added benefit of being that much more in shape than the average nine-to-fiver.  Imagine… instead of a morning filled with blaring horns, stop and go foot work on the gas and brake (lets face it… more on the latter), and the alternate shifting of the eyes from the clock to the car in front of you – some people enjoy a morning gliding down the streets with only the occasional traffic light to get in their way, while the morning sun graces their skin and the fresh air brushes past them as they peddle their way to a better day.

On the weekends, bike riding can be a tremendously enjoyable way to be active in the great outdoors, whether conquering a challenging trail or enjoying quality time with the family.  No matter what your location in Orange County, there is an open invitation from a trail near you.  Just think: at a moderate 13mph pace, a twenty-something can burn on average 250 calories per half hour of bike riding…or 550 burned while at a 20mph race pace.

Or you can race for the sake of donating $10,000 to charity.

This January, the Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (DPCCF) donated a check totaling this amount to the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley, the funding of which came from the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling run during 2008.  Now in its third year, and with a soaring reputation, the organization is set to do it again.

According to their press release, “This premier event attracts cyclists and fans from across the country to the picturesque harbor community of Dana Point.  The Grand Prix, a criterium style race, also hosts a public race and five youth events, adding a family atmosphere to the exciting professional appeal.”  The challenging course is a tight, L-Shaped course which cyclists young and… not quite so young, will race through on Sunday, April 26, 2009.  The sport of Cycling is an ever increasingly popular sport, with self-proclaimed enthusiasts in the tens of millions (60 million in the states alone) and a near even split of male-to-female ratio.

In addition to contributions to the Boys and Girls Club, the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling will raise donations to be given to the 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton.  So, what can you do to help?

In events like these, there is always the chance for involvement.  The organization can put together customized sponsorship packages which can address the goals of the individual or company interested in donating to the cause.  As well as personal donations, the event calls for volunteers as well.  What a great way to spend a weekend with the family – volunteer to spend a day in the gorgeous Dana Point Harbor, assist in a high-class sporting event, and do something good to benefit the Boys and Girls Club and the Marines of Camp Pendleton.

For more information on volunteering, visit the website at: www.danapointgrandprix.com

Diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic. In 2008, the United States housed about twenty-four million Americans with Diabetes. In Orange  County alone, we have approximately two hundred thousand diabetics.  I can guarantee you that at least one member of your family or friends live with it. But what can you do about it?  The Light Gallery in Costa Mesa recently hosted an exhibition to help raise awareness and money towards the research and the eventual eradication of diabetes.  Thirty one different artists from LA and Orange County came together to host a group art exhibition from their perspective of Type One Diabetes. The show was entitled Pre-Existing Conditions. Each of the artists are effected by Diabetes in some way.  Whether they are Diabetic, or have a close friend or family member who is, each one of these artists share in the hope that one day, Diabetes will no longer effect anyone.  It was a noble cause and an amazing night of art.

The gallery was jam-packed; we were sandwiched in like sardines.  This ‘one night stand’ art show had so many powerful pieces that the walls were completely littered with different works.  Mixed media installations, acrylics, photography and even digital art were all on display. Each piece had a different take on what Diabetes meant to each artist and you could really feel the honesty and earnestness in all the works displayed.  It was as if no one was holding back.  It was really nice to let each piece entice you and speak directly to your core.  One of my favorite canvases of the night was by Anthony Ausgang, whose modified canvas was entitled “What my father saw” (right). It really spoke to me.  Anthony used a canvas he had found and modified to represent the loss of eyesight that his father had been stricken with after living with Diabetes.  It was one of those pieces that really jump right off the white walls of the gallery.  Since most of his canvas had been painted black, it immediately stood out and continued to draw large crowds throughout the night. It was such a simple execution, yet it was a very deep, inspired piece of art.

Just a few canvases down, Scott Aicher’s “Evening Drift” was painted on a panel of wood. It was a vibrant acrylic piece that had a reminiscent, sci-fi, nineteen fifties feel to it. It reminded me of Ed Roth’s work, yet a little more other-worldly.  It was vibrant in color and so infectious.  It was begging you to get lost in all the minor details. This was also another favorite of the evening.  Scott’s father and uncle were Diabetics.

Last, but certainly not least, Zoey Stevens (who is Diabetic) had a few works to show. Both of his art pieces were acrylic on canvas, yet it was hard to tell because his work is so lifelike.  He really understands how to capture characters in his paintings.  Something that struck me was how he captures the eyes in all of his paintings.  Since they say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, he really uses the eyes of his characters to give his paintings the soul that makes them seem so lifelike.  He really has a unique style and his painting entitled “The Man in Black” was such a great take on that famous photo of Johnny Cash. This one catches the same amount of attitude from Johnny, with a pricked finger in place of the ‘bird.’  Without a doubt, this painting had everyone talking and seemed to be the feature piece of the show.

Pre-Existing Conditions will be traveling to other locations in six other cities.  It will stop in various cities like the Brett Wesley Gallery in Las Vegas, PRAVUS Gallery in Phoenix, Terra SF in San Francisco and eventually will end up at it’s final stop in Los Angeles.  As the show travels it will pick up new artists and art pieces along the way.  So if you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.  All the proceeds from sales will be donated to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund).

www.jdrf.org
www.zoey.com
www.ausgangart.com
www.totallybitchen.com
www.thelightgalleries.com
www.pre-existingcondition.blogspot.com

You don’t have to called Sean or Caitlin to get into the festive feeling for St. Patrick’s Day in Orange County, but it never hurts to wear a “wee bit o’green”..  Whether your roots are deep in “the auld sod” of Erin or elsewhere, you can partake of the famous Irish hospitality, do a little jig (or watch professionals kick up their heels), spin some blarney, and get your green on over the mid-March weekend.

The entertainment ranges from Lord of the Dance step-dancing to “Sexiest Kilt” competitions (See Muldoon‘s below), Irish pipe bands to rowdy rousing folk songs (sing along!), sheep dog contests, and good old fashioned friendly mingling among smiling faces.

Even the House of Blues in Anaheim, 1530 South Disneyland Drive, trades its Delta roots for shamrocks by hosting The Fenians popular band for St. Paddy’s Day.  Call 714-779-2583 for tickets and showtimes.

For the best family fun, you’ll want to head out to the Orange County Marketplace at the OC Fairgrounds in Newport Beach for the 3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival on March 15th featuring the Aniar Academy of Dance (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) the Claddagh Dance Academy (1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)  On the ACE Stage Wake the Bard will perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more adult-flavored celebration, there’s bound to be an Irish pub nearby from the list below.

Muldoon’s Irish Pub
202 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660-7505
949-640-4110
Essential Irish and British brews are on tap. The menu features such staples as fish-and-chips, Irish stew, bangers and mash and Irish soda bread..

Gallagher’s Pub & Grill
300 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92648-5109
714-536-2422
A popular spot for Surf City locals and visitors with more than 20 beers on tap; menu is varied and includes authentic Irish meals.

Irish Mist                                      Hennessey’s Tavern
16655 Pacific Ave                      213 Ocean Ave
Sunset Beach, CA 90742        Laguna Beach, CA 92651
562-592-4782                            949-494-2743

Hennessey’s Tavern                Branagan’s Irish Pub
34111 La Plaza Map                213 N Harbor Blvd
Dana Point, CA 92629             Fullerton, CA 92832
949-488-0121                           714-447-3544

Patsy’s Irish Pub                                        Shamrock Bar & Grill
28971 Golden Lantern Ste 108              2633 W. Coast Hwy. (Tustin Ave.)
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677                       Newport Beach, CA 92663
949-249-2604                                            949-631-5633

…and if you really get the Irish spirit, you’ll want to mark your calendar now for the annual Irish Fair and Music Festival June 20th and 21st, held at Irvine Meadows Fairgrounds, 8800 Irvine Center Drive (Just follow the VerizonWireless Amphitheater signs into the Park, just three minutes off the 405 Freeway)

Irish toast tip:  Remember to say Sláinte! to your neighbors when you sip your pint o’ Guiness or green beer.

A Bit o’OC Irish History

Genealogically- speaking, Orange County’s population boasts of some 8% Irish ancestry so it’s not surprising that some of the county’s more famous historical personages came here from The Emerald Isle.  One of the most notable pioneers, James Irvine, was born in County Down, Ireland on December 27, 1827.  After a stint as a Gold Rush miner and merchant, Irvine went into partnership with the Flint Brothers, Thomas and Benjamin and their cousin, Llewellyn Bixby, and purchased the old 125,000-acre (510 km2) Rancho San Joaquin in 1864.  James’ son, also named James, owned nearly a third of the land in present day Orange County, California.

Judge Richard Egan was another pioneer who hailed from Ireland and planted himself firmly in local history as a county commissioner and was instrumental as a planner for the first public highway system here.

John Wayne, of course, is one of the most famous icons of OC history.  His original family name was Morrison and his father was of Irish, Scotch-Irish, and English descent.  Wayne starred in one of the best known “Irish” movies “The Quiet Man“, directed by John Ford.  Not surprisingly, Ford — who was born John Martin Feeney — was the son of Irish-speaking parents in a Irish Catholic immigrant community in Portland, Maine.

Wayne was governor of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport and today you can sip your Irish whiskey at Duke’s Place, a lively bar that pays homage with numerous photos of the star in his mariner-theme films or just give a tip o’ the hat in homage as you drive past John Wayne Airport.