Prepping for 1001 Desert Nights in Augusta
March 17, 2010
Tonight has been a flurry of activity.
I am trying frantically to get packed for a mini-vacation in Atlanta before I hit Augusta on Saturday for 1001 Desert Nights. My friends from Columbia, SC will be performing in the show, and I’ll be setting up near the front in the lounge section with my bamboo mat and comfy cushions.
As I am pouring over my supplies and trying to decide what to bring, I thought I’d take a moment to show off a new skill I am working on.
Behold!
Henna Spice Cookies!
Now technically they are just plain old ginger spice cookies that have red food coloring painted on top (no actual henna involved). But they are damn tasty, and fun. They go great with peach white tea, or vanilla soy milk. The original recipe and idea came from Heather Baird over at Sprinkle Bakes. I tried to do the cute little hand-shapes she has on her site, but alas my baking isn’t quite as up to par as my henna… Oh well. 
I’ve procrastinated enough for tonight, I guess. I’ll post some photos from Saturday’s event when I get back. Now I’m off to pack!
Spiritual Spring Cleaning
March 9, 2010
The temperature here in Savannah arched up to skim the upper 60′s today. The sun peeked out of the clouds like a forgetful friend who finally remembers to call and say hello. while a steady salt-scented breeze washed in from the sea. The Carolina Jasmine climbing up my back porch has awakened from it’s sleep and started to sprout tiny yellow trumpets of heady perfume. Our largest flower box is full of Jonquils, Narcissus, and Daffodils stretching brilliantly springy-green leaves to the sky with their blooms still hidden away, rows of little children hiding their heads in their shirts. And tucked in a corner of the yard, between the fence and garden box, our Banana Bush has bedecked itself in small fuzzy, brown teardrops, which will soon open and reveal tiny Magnolia-like blossoms that smell distinctly like sugary, candied banana slices. All in all, a perfect preview of a Spring yet to come.
I started this lovely morning with about an hour of yoga set to the sounds of newly returning birds and Slowdive’s Pygmalion (my dear friend Margaret always called it “whale music”). As I stretched and pulled my body through the asanas, I began to feel something gently stirring inside. As though some deeper inner me was finally waking from a long and fit-full sleep. And as I moved through the rest of my day I noted little moments of transcendence; The morning sun glaring cool and warm from the sidewalk leading to my office, the trill of song-birds outside my bedroom window during lunch, the cool chill of the shadows as the sun slowly set over Daffin Park.
As this oddly familiar inner me was stretching and yawning from its hibernation I was taking mental stock of my Winter months and how life had progressed while the sleeper was dreaming. What I have come away with are a number of realizations about myself. First, I am finally painfully aware of how inept I can be when it comes to being decisive. Second, I hide from the world and myself when things get difficult. Third, I never take my own advice. Fourth, I quit before I’ve truly begun. And Fifth, I obsess over what could or should be, and don’t deal directly with what is.
So in the spirit of the season, I have decided to do some spiritual spring cleaning. The first step of which is to finally start posting here again, and to update my site. I am also looking at creating a second site that deals with my photography and graphic design work. I don’t know how things are going to manifest but I know that change is a-comin’ and the revolution starts here.
Late Night Musings
December 4, 2009
So, I wanted to share a little bit about my other passion, belly dance.
Only a few weeks ago I officially passed my one year dance-iversary. The decision to take up this new art form was rooted in my love of dancing, my need for some physical activity, and the gentle encouragement of friends (who felt my natural rhythm and movement would lend itself easily to this style of dance). Out of this decision to explore the world of tribal fusion belly dance, I have found new friendships, new ways of relating to my body, new outlets for my creative spirit, and ,most importantly, I have found something that enriches my spirit.
My soul-body feels a primal, neolithic urge to dance. When the pounding of drums and the swaying of hips becomes a conversation in motion and sound, I feel connected to something greater than myself, something ancient. I do not mean it lightly when I say that dance enriches my spirit, because some of my most spiritual moments have been while I was dancing: my eyes shut to the world around me, my body ensnared by the beat, and my spirit transcending. Dancing is extremely personal for me, a devotional experience.
In the past year I have seen my body transformed by the push and pull of muscles I barely knew I had. I have felt the accomplishment of figuring out new ways of moving within my own skin, and I have come to a better understanding and appreciation of my own physicality. The “me” I have longed to see in the mirror is starting to stretch and yawn his way into being, and I am thrilled.
In January, I will perform publicly for the first time since I began my journey. I will be surrounded by friends and a supportive community of dancers, and I cannot wait to share with them what I have learned. I will be performing with my teacher and troupe director Deedee, my dear friend Alexandra, and my husband Eric, together we are Eclypse. I am amazed by what we have been able to do together, and excited to see what the next year will bring.
Me in a skirt!
December 1, 2009
Just a quick post to share my write-up in Skirt! You can read the article here (http://savannah.skirt.com/he%27s_so_original/charlie-snyder-shakes-it).
Why I Henna
November 4, 2009
As I have mentioned on this blog, I am going to be in the December issue of Skirt Magazine. When I did my interview for the short profile I was asked why I started doing henna. I answered as best I could, discussing my habits of doodling on scrap paper and writing on my feet, and how that evolved into my first attempts at henna. Yet, I felt a little like my answer had missed something. Then, when I saw one of the pictures a henna party client had posted to her face book, it hit me. This is why I started and continue to do henna.
The art of applying henna to another person is extremely intimate and personal. When I henna I am invading another person’s physical space, making physical contact with them, and leaving their body (in some small way) transformed. How often in our guarded and self conscious society do we get the opportunity to impact someone, much less a stranger, on such an intimate level?
Touch can be very soothing and healing for some people, and something that I have always found fascinating to watch is the moment at which my clients truly relax. I have noticed that when I start doing henna on a client’s hand that there comes a moment when they let go of the tension in their arm and hand, and become more open and free with themselves. The amount of time that it takes to get to that point isn’t as relevant to me, it is the joy of seeing someone get there.
In the last two sessions I’ve done, realising when I had reached that point was very clear. That first moment when someone presents their hand to me there is usually tension in the arm from the client trying to maintain hold or control of their hand, and for the first few minutes the conversation is usually minimal and limited to safe topics. But then comes the moment when their body unclenches, they rest the full weight of their arm in my hand, and they begin to talk more freely and open up. That is when you make connections with people. I have made some great friends while applying henna, and it is those connections that you make and those moments of realness (when someone opens up and trusts you with their hand or foot or whereever), which make henna so worthwhile for me.
Busy Little Bee…
October 22, 2009
I have been hennaing like a mad man lately. I am very excited by the work, and the excitement that it seems to be generating in people in town.
This weekend I’ll be driving up to Macon to drop Eric off for a weekend-long class for his library masters program. Afterwards, I’ll be spending my Saturday evening working on more designs.
I have been inspired lately, and want to make more of an effort to master the different styles of henna. I have a strong grasp of traditional mehndi design from India, but I have less experience with Arabic and North African patterns. The North African style uses lots of geometrics and representative figures which I’m not as familiar with. And I have always been fascinated by the elaborate floral patterning of traditional Arabic henna, but have never really tried it. I’ll post some designs as I get them drawn, but in the mean time, take a look at the new work in the Gallery.
Wow, What a Day!
October 18, 2009
I have been busy busy busy. My poor little hands are cramping and tired, and my butt is killing me from sitting on the ground most of the day, but the Savannah Pagan Pride Festival was a complete success. I have never hennaed so much in my life. I had solid lines for most of the 6 hours and did a lot of small and medium sized pieces. Here is a picture of my little set-up:
I’ll be uploading some new pictures Eric took of me actually doing some henna in the gallery page. Today has been truly exciting, and truly exhausting… time for a nap.
Crazy couple o’ weeks!!
October 15, 2009
Well, the last two weeks have been eventful… I have been slowly getting over some seriously weird respiratory issues (Not Swine Flu), and trying my best to stay on top of things creatively.
I am still working on a design for Cybelle’s “Pandora’s Box” dance, though it doesn’t look like she will get to perform this Saturday as originally planned. Whether I actually get to apply the design or not, I’ll be posting a scan of the design-plan once it is finished.
I am also working to get all my materials ready for Savannah Pagan Pride Day. I have a 10′x10′ canvas shelter that I am borrowing from my office, and a couple of bamboo rugs that I plan to use as flooring. I will also be bringing pillows and throws for seating and comfyness, and setting up some of my personal altar bits for decor and a little extra energy. I’ll post some photos of how it all looks put together.
I’m also very excited because Saturday I am having my photo taken by a photographer from Skirt! Magazine. They will apparently be featuring me as the “He’s So Original” guy for December. I’ll post links when it is actually finished and available in December, but for now, here is a shot of what I am thinking of wearing… thoughts?
I feel a bit like a can-can dancer with all the ruffles.
I am also in the early stages of planning a major creative project (I’m really excited about it).
Upcoming job… great party idea.
October 5, 2009
Well, thanks to my presentation at PK night, I landed a gig doing henna at a party. Now typically I wouldn’t blog about something like this, but when the hostess called to book my services I was completely in awe of the idea behind her party.
The entire party is going to be built around body issues and imperfections. The women involved are picking areas of their bodies that they are unhappy/dissatisfied with and are honoring those feelings through adornment. So we will be making art out of the parts that they feel the least pretty about. The hostess herself has a small scar that she wants incorporated into something “swirly.”
I am so pleased to be doing something like this. I really like this idea because it speaks to the potential healing properties of henna. Most all the cultures that practice henna have some belief that the plant and the art provide positive benefits or healing to the wearer. Here in the West where we are more disconnected from these sorts of ideas, there is still room to believe in the potential of art to change one’s perspective. Yet, sometimes changing your perspective about yourself is where healing really begins.
So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this will be an opportunity for me to positively impact someone’s self-image in a way that is fun and enjoyable.
PK Night Follow-up
October 2, 2009
I was too tired and loopy last night to post this, but I wanted to share something that I was introduced to at PK Night. SPACE Gallery was exhibiting stained glass works by Erica Rollings in the main gallery area just outside of the Black Box Theater where PK Night was held. The show was simply incredible. I can’t get over the complexity and inventiveness of Rollings work.
The show was broken into several series’ of works. As you walk into the gallery the first series you see is entitled Grammar of Ornament, which dealt with classical design elements from different various western cultures, including Greek, Medieval, and Byzantine. These pieces were beautifully rendered and while they were artfully done, it was sort of what I expect from stained glass — classical, elegant, and straightforward design.
For me, Rolling’s real genius became clearer as you moved on to her Anatomical series, which was just to the left of the first group. As I walked over to the large blue tree, and golden yellow sun that caught my eye I was struck by the abstractness and organic-ness of these pieces. When I began to broaden my focus to include the surrounding pieces in the series, I mentally noted how entirely different and abstract the series as a whole seemed in comparison to the earlier works. About that time, the “Clue Faerie” landed and I realized that I was looking at representations of anatomical structures. My blue tree suddenly came into focus as the endlessly branching Airway passages of a lung; my sun was transformed into the mad rush of sperm seeking to fertilize a lone Ovum. At this point I decided that whoever Rollings was, she was a genius and I was in “art-love” with her.
If you get a chance, I strongly encourage everyone to stop by SPACE and take a look at this show. Sadly it looks like it will only be up for today. So go now!!
Oh, and before I forget… one of my favorite pieces was Paisley. Needless to say, my “art-love” just went through the roof.
