A Burmese art symposium and photography exhibit will help provide education to people of Myanmar.
By:Hilary Parker
Since its establishment in 1993, the Cetana Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Princeton with members throughout the world, has been dedicated to education and to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. For over a decade, Cetana’s focus has been on educating the people of Myanmar by providing scholarships and other educational opportunities. Now, in addition to educating people from Myanmar, the foundation will educate people about Myanmar, with an upcoming symposium, "The Arts of Burma," April 1 at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton.
Many of Cetana’s members such as Lois Young, a founding member who spent the first 18 years of her life in Burma remember a time when the country was highly literate and schools were top-notch. After political changes in 1962, educational opportunities in Myanmar declined, taking the country’s literacy rates with them. Cetana was created to provide scholarships for students to study abroad and then return to Myanmar and use their newfound knowledge to affect positive change.
"One of the reasons for the art symposium is because people know very little about (Myanmar)," says Ms. Young, a co-chair of the event. "The goal was that people see another lens through which to see the country. The arts are often a way to learn about countries."
While the name "Burma" applies to but one of the myriad ethnic groups in the country, it is the historical name of Myanmar, and event organizers chose to use it since much of the symposium harks back to ancient times. And, since "Burmaphiles tend to know each other," according to Ms. Young, they were able to arrange an impressive line-up of presentations for the day-long event.
Catherine Raymond, the director of the Center for Burmese Studies at Northern Illinois University, will speak on "The Preservation and Protection of Burmese Buddhist Art." As she emphasizes the intersection of art and culture, Dr. Raymond will present the artwork from NIU’s extensive collection, giving visitors insight into the historical culture of Burma.
Two experts in the field of Burmese textiles, the husband-and-wife team of David and Barbara Fraser, will present a program on "Textiles of the Burma Hills. " Through the use of historical textile samples, they will explore the cultural implications of the woven masterpieces. Other presentations will include a presentation on the temples of Pagan the ancient capital of Burma by Lilian Handlin, a Harvard-based historian who summers in Pagan conducting research. She will be joined by Daw Tin Tin Aye, a Pagan native who once led guided tours throughout the historical city.
"We want to offer a taste of Burma," Ms. Young explains, and the symposium will do just that with a Burmese lunch provided by Rangoon restaurant of Philadelphia. As Ms. Young describes the foods, including the delicious curries and rice dished laced with delicate spices and perfectly prepared vegetables, she almost transports herself back to Burma, where she enjoyed such delicacies daily.
She still has the chance to enjoy authentic Burmese cuisine during the trips to Myanmar she takes with her husband, John, a Cetana boardmember. Once there, they meet with past, present and future beneficiaries of Cetana scholarships and stop in at the Cetana English Proficiency Center. Based in Yangon, the center boasts nearly 300 graduates in its seven years of existence, including many of the scholarship beneficiaries. In addition to these programs, Cetana also sends thousands of books and other educational resources directly to libraries in Myanmar through the Cetana Book Project.
While the foundation’s emphasis is not on tourism, it did bring 40 Americans to Myanmar through Cetana Tours. The trips ultimately benefited their primary goal, as the tourists quickly fell in love with the country and are now ardent supporters of the foundation and its mission.
In conjunction with the art symposium, Cetana has partnered with Princeton Public Library to coordinate an exhibit, "Burma Today: Photographs," that will be on view in the library March 27 to April 7, with a reception March 28. The works in the exhibit are by local photographers and document their recent experiences in Myanmar.
With all proceeds from the symposium going toward scholarships, the foundation is more than deserving of its name, "cetana," the Burmese word for goodwill. While the symposium will offer much to people here in Princeton, as it expands worldviews and opens minds, it will ultimately benefit the people who need it most the people of Myanmar.
"It’s a very rich country," says Ms. Young, "but the people are very poor."
The Arts of Burma will take place at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St., Princeton, April 1, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets cost $100, to benefit the Cetana Educational Foundation. On the Web: www.cetana.org. Burma Today: Photographs will be on view at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, March 27-April 7. Reception: March 28, 7:30 p.m. For information, call (609) 924-9529. On the Web: www.princetonlibrary.org.