Balinese Artisan

The Balinese seem to make an art out of even very simple necessities of everyday life. Fruit salad in serve with flowers strewn on top, and coils of pigs' intestines are used on temple decorations. While painting, sculpture, carving, and music are the province of men, the creative activity of women is channeled into the making of lavish offering to the gods. At almost any festival you can see spectacular pyramids of flowers, fruit, cakes up to two meters high, fashioned with such love and adoration that this compositions could only bw meant for god.

Artistically, Bali is a melting pot of cultures and traditions. The Balinese have a natural capacity for absorbing different cultural elements to blend them with their own, to produce dynamic new hybrids. Over the years, Bali has been the recipient of numerous influences; Chinese, Buddhist, Indian, Hindu, Javanese, and most recently, Western.

For centuries, artists and craftsmen in Bali worked under the patronage of the priests and ruling classes, decorating palaces and temples. The artists themselves were anonymous, never signing their work and usually living close together in artists' 'villages'.

Generally the artists did not have much room for personal expression, as their designs followed strict aesthetic and religions guidelines. With the arrival of European artists at the start of this century, this soon began to change, and artists started developing their own individual styles.

Balinese Religion

Although the Balinese are Hindu, their religion is very different from that of the Indian variety. They do have a caste system, but there are no untouchables and occupation is not governed by caste. In fact, the only thing that reflects the caste system is the language which bas three tiers; 95% of all Balinese are Hindu Dharma, and speak Low or Everyday Balinese with each other; Middle Balinese is used for talking to strangers, at formal occasions or to people of the higher Ksatriya caste; High Balinese is used when talking to the highest class, the Brahmana, or to a pedanda (priest). It may sound complicated, but most of the words at the low and medium levels are the same, whereas High Balinese is a mixture of Middle Balinese and Kawi, the ancient Javanese language.

Although the Balinese worship the Hindu trinity Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, these are seen as manifestations of the Supreme God - Sanghyang Widhi. Other Indian gods like Ganesh (the elephant-headed god) often appear, but more commonly one will see shrines to the many gods and spirits that are uniquely Balinese. Balinese believe strongly in magic and the power of spirits, and much of their religion is based upon this. They believe that good spirits dwell in the mountains and that the seas are home to demons and ogres. Most villages have at least three main temples; one, the Pura Puseh or 'temple of origin', faces the mountains and is dedicated to the village founders, another, the Pura Desa or village temple, is normally round in the centre and is dedicated to the welfare of the village, the last, the Pura Dalem, is aligned with the sea and is dedicated to the spirits of the dead. Aside from these 'village' temples, almost every house has its own shrine, and you can also find monuments dedicated to the spirits of agriculture, art and all other aspects of life. There are some temples, for example, Pura Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung, that are considered especially important and people from all over Bali travel to worship there.

Offerings play a significant role in Balinese life as they appease the spirits and thus bring prosperity and good health to the family. Every day little offering trays (canang sari) containing symbolic food, flowers, cigarettes and money, are placed on shrines, in temples, outside houses and shops, and even on dangerous turns in the road.

Festivals are another great occasion for appeasing the gods. The women bear huge, beautifully arranged, pyramids of food, fruit and flowers on their men give a blood sacrifice in the form of the cockfight. There are tradition dances and music,and the Gods are invited to come down and join in the festivities. The festivals are almost always very exciting occasions, and well worth observing, if you are in the area. One crucial thing to remember: should you wish to join in celebrations or enter a temple, there are a number of rules that have to be respected. Please see "AWord of vice" for Rules.

Balinese Peoples

Life in Bali is very communal with the organization of villages, farming and even the creative arts being decided by the community. Although the local government is responsible for schools, clinics, hospitals and roads, all other aspects of life are placed in the hands of two traditional committees, committees, whose roots in Balinese culture stretch back centuries.

The first, Subak, concerns the production of rice, and organizes the complex irrigation system. Everyone who owns a sawah, or padi field, must join their local Subak, which then ensures that every member gets his fair distribution of irrigation water. Traditionally the head of the Subak has his sawah at the very bottom of the hill so that the water has to pass through every other sawah before reaching his own. The other community organization is the Banjar, which arranges all village festivals, mariage ceremonies and cremations, as well as a form of community service known as Gotong Royong. Most villages have at least one Banjar, and all males have to join one when they marry. Banjars, on average, have a membership of between 50 to 100 families, and each Banjar has its own meeting place called the Bale Banjar. As well as being used for regular meetings, the Bale is where the local gamelan orchestras and drama groups practice.

About Bali

With a reputation as being one of the most beautiful and diverse tourist spots in Asia, Bali attracts over 1,000,000 visitors a year from all around the world.

Geographically, Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok and is one of more than 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian Archipelago. Bali is small, stretching approximately 140 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south. Running east to west and slightly off center, are a string of volcanic mountains, the tallest recently active being Gunung Agung, which reaches 3,142 in at its highest point and last erupted 1963.

Lying just 80 south of the Equator, Bali boasts a tropical climate with just two seasons a year and an average annual temperature of around 280C. The rich volcanic soil and healthy monsoon season make this island extremely fertile and a range of crops are grown here. The wide, gently sloping southern regions play host to Bali's famed terraced rice paddies, among the most spectacular in the world. In the hilly, northern coastal regions, the main produce is coffee, copra, spices, vegetables, cattle and rice.

The Balinese people have strong spiritual roots and despite the large influx of tourists in recent years, their culture is still very much alive. The main religion is Agama Hindu Dharma, which arrived in Bali with the spread of Hinduism through Sumatra and Java during the 11th century. Although originally from India, the Balinese religion is a unique blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese and ancient indigenous beliefs, with customs that are very different from the traditional form of Hinduism practiced in India today. With the arrival of Islam in neighboring Java during the 15th century, a large number of courtiers, artists, musicians and craftsmen fled to Bali, creating an artistic renaissance.

Naturally creative, the Balinese have traditionally used their talents for religions purposes and Most of the beautiful work to be seen here has been inspired by stories from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics. The incredibly colorful cremation pyres and the everyday offerings to the Gods, placed inside every shop and business, are made with precision and an eye for beauty.

The majority of Bali's population of 3,000,000 live, for the most part, in tight village communities with large extended families. The largest towns are; the regional capital Denpasar, population 250,000, and Singaraja in the north. The main tourist area is Kuta, situated near the airport. During the tourist boom of the 70's, this small village became a major attraction because of its famed white sand beaches, the surf, and stunning sunsets.

Today, Kuta is a major hustling and bustling resort town, with hundreds of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Those in search of a little peace and quiet tend to head for the more sedate resorts of Sanur and Candi Dasa, on the east coast, or Lovina in the north. Another major resort on the southern-most peninsula of the island, Nusa Dua, caters for the more up-market crowd, and is home to almost all of the bigger 5-star hotels, as well as one of Bali's golf courses, the Bali Golf & Country Club. The central village of Ubud, in the hilly region of Gianyar, bas also recently blossomed as a tourist attraction and is now considered to be the artistic and cultural center of Bali.

Dynamic Drawing & Painting Retreats & Workshops

Dynamic Drawing & Painting Retreats & Workshops
with Kate Carson & Leo Howell

• Jan 19-22, 2007 - at Gaia-Oasis, North Bali
• March 16 - 17, 2007
• May 18 - 21, 2007
• Sept 14 - 17, 2007
• Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2007

We are offering Weekend Art Retreats, One Day Art Workshops and on-going Evening Art Classes to Adults.These Art courses are designed to help kick start & inspire your creative potential in a fun, friendly & non confronting atmosphere. Experienced artists will add fresh new dimensions to their style. Beginners & skeptics will be amazed.(see testimonials)

Workshops and Retreats are held in gorgeous natural Balinese settings. Evening Art Classes are held in Studio Kita in Seminyak.
All courses include tuition in drawing & painting techniques and methods given by Kate Carson & Leo Howell, both passionately devoted to art, artist materials, delicious food and refreshments, fun, music & laughter!

For more information on how to book a retreats or join our weekly classes in Seminyak or contact Leo at O8180566293, Kate at 081338023675

What You Can See and Do in Bali

Bali's natural attractions include miles of sandy beaches (many are well-known amongst surfers), picturesque rice terraces, towering active volcanoes over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) high, fast flowing rivers, deep ravines, pristine crater lakes, sacred caves, and lush tropical forests full of exotic wildlife.

The island's rich cultural heritage is visible everywhere - in over 20,000 temples and palaces, in many colorful festivals and ceremonies (including tooth filings and cremations), in drama, music, and dance.

You can experience Bali on many different excursions and guided tours by coach, private car or "Big Bike", by boat or by air plane: seeing Bali's beaches and rice terraces, the famous Besakih Temple on the slopes of holy Mount Agung, Lake Batur and it's active volcano, Ubud, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu from a helicopter is a really special experience. For helicopter tours and private charters (3 to 6 passengers) please contact the Balivillas.com Service Center at 703-060 as soon as you arrive.

Most full day tours by car (about 8 to 10 hours) cost about US$30 to US$40 per person, half day tours US$20 to US$25. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no meals. Which guide and driver you choose can make or break your day: be warned that those who offer very low prices tend to waste your time by showing you hardly any more than those shops which pay them a commission on your purchases.

Find Hotel and Travel Information Here!