Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 16:16:05 -0700
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Quake and Goro-Goro in Indonesia


Someone off line asked what is happening to puppeteers in the 
Indonesian quake.  The answer is things are not good right now and 
many areas where puppeteers live are in need.  Bantul the area at the 
epicenter has a number of puppet-mask artists.  I heard that Mas Pono 
who makes masks and does wayang orang is OK but has damage to his 
home and work area.  The stage area of Rama Sas (a great teacher of 
dance and music from the palace who died a few years back)  compound 
has collapsed and the wayang dance and other lessons and performances 
they do there will probably have to cease during rebuilding and money 
will be needed.  Joan Suyunaga, who is married to a wonderful gamelan 
maker, says they are OK but again a lot of damage to buildings and 
many people are stuck out in the rain. Hospitals are overwhelmed.

They were all waiting for the volcano to explode--but instead it was 
earthquake this time.  Right afterward there were rumors that a huge 
tsunami was coming even though Yogya is 20 kilometers from the 
sea--people started to try to get out but with volcano to the north, 
reports of Tsunami to the south, pouring rain and devastation, slow 
disaster  response from the central government, . . well, things have 
not been good.  One of the oldest buildings in the palace which 
housed a carriage that belonged to the first Sultan of Yogya 
collapsed.  This king is revered by local citizens and his reign name 
means something like the "lap of the world"  people are of course 
saying that a sacred carriage of a sacred king collapsing is a sing 
of the world out of balance-a volcano, the tsunami last year, 
corruption as Suharto-era people are let off the hook for 
prosecution--it all must be interconnected.

In the puppet show of central Java the narration that the puppeteer 
says about the world out of joint comes about midnight and  has 
references to earthquakes and thunder and all kinds of tribulation 
for the people.  It precedes the scene where the hero (who will help 
set things right) appears along with his clowns.  This is the 
goro-goro scene of the world in turmoil.

Well all the reports coming out of Yogya indicate that we are in the 
midnight of goro-goro, hopefully calm will be restored and those on 
the ground are doing their best.

  One of my graduate student No.e Parker is about to go over to Yogya 
for a Gamelan Festival and will be carrying donations the end of this 
month. She wrote today:

"I know that none of us are rich and can offer a huge amount of
   financial support, but the economy of the area is such that very small
   donations of $10 or $20 can have an amazing impact (that is enough to
   get food and water for a week for a family). "

She has a mailbox at Digital Arts And New Media, UCSC (SC, CA 95064). 
There are many charities--official and unofficial that have started 
to gather stuff.  Those who are interested can check out some on the 
Gamelan listserve which Jody Diamond runs out of Dartmouth and get 
reports from people who work with puppetry, music, dance are saying 
about the situation. Everyone is  still piecing the information 
together and figuring how money can get most directly to those in 
need.

-- 
Kathy Foley
Professor, Theatre Arts
Editor, Asian Theatre Journal
J-15 Theatre Arts
1156 High St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
  tel. (831) 459-4189
fax (831) 459-3552
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org