Artist Donna Backues Preserving Indonesian Batik in
America
Never lived in Indonesia for 18 years has made Donna
Backues, an artist from the United States, a love for Indonesia.
Ever lived in Indonesia for 18 years has made Donna
Backues, an artist from the United States, a love for Indonesia. Strong ties
with Indonesia continue intertwined after a woman who was born in 1962 returned
to America and settled in the area south of the city of Philadelphia, located
in the state of Pennsylvania.
"In 1989, I joined her husband moved to Bandung,
Indonesia, because my husband is no opportunity to learn Indonesian,"
recalls Donna told VOA reporter, Ronan Zakaria recently.
Artist Donna Backues in Philadelphia
Artist Donna Backues in Philadelphia
While taking care of her first child who at the time was
two months old, the alumni S2 of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in
Phiadelphia with a background in graphic design had the opportunity to learn
batik in a small batik factory in Bandung. Science continues digelutinya batik
until now.
"Small businesses that had Mr. Hasannudin that I
think it was also working as a professor of art at the ITB at that time. He is
the Pekalongan. I'm les of Mr. Hasannudin. Although he agrees, he is busy and
can not actually teach me. But he says if you want to participate, workers
there could teach me, "said the woman who currently pursue a profession in
the field of painting, illustration, design and often teach art.
Twice a week, Donna went to the factory to learn the art
of batik and batik for more than two years. "It also allowed me to learn
Indonesian, because at that time I could not at all," said the woman who
is fluent in Indonesian is laughing.
After eight years of living in Bandung, Donna and her
family decided to move to Tasikmalaya and live near Dadaha for ten years.
"In Indonesia, I am happy because there is a slow
paced of life. More relaxed. Plenty of time to chat with neighbors, "joked
Donna.
In Tasikmalaya he helped her set up and take care of a
foundation called Yayasan contribution Nuance Indonesia engaged in the field of
primary health, agriculture, production of import and export of handicrafts,
education, credit, and the arts.
"I love teaching art and there is also a unit of
handicrafts. So I can design products such as scarves. I do not batik scarfnya,
but I wrote and it's making batik design by the Lake in fact, "said the
woman who loves to cook chicken soup and this rendang.
In 2007, Donna decided to return to America, because her
two children have started great. Although according to Donna children prefer to
stay in Indonesia.
"There was one child who was adopted from
Jakarta," said the woman who like to paint and read this.
"Incidentally, he is more like an American, because he was little time to
come to America. But remember Indonesia, because he was 8 years old. But
perhaps the language he can understand a lot but less English, not like a
brother, "he continued.
Upon his return to America, Donna was not interested in
batik, because he does not have a large room in the house. "I just started
making batik in America when there are high school art teacher in a Catholic in
Philadelphia who asked me to teach his students to use the process," he
said.
He then followed the American Batik Design Competition
2013 organized by the embassy of the republic of Indonesia in Washington, DC in
2013. The prize is a batik tour with two other winners to Pekalongan. Since
then Donna often asked to teach batik and batik often exhibit and batik
workshops. Elements of Indonesia it show in his works.
"For example, a kind of scenery Indonesia emerged,
such as volcanoes or palm trees, which I use as a motive. May see yourself on
my website, www.donnabackues.com, "he said.
Artist Donna Backues in Philadelphia (photo / doc: Donna
Backues)
Artist Donna Backues in Philadelphia (photo / doc: Donna
Backues)
Donna batik works a lot of praise from the local US
communities. However, most of them do not know what it is batik.
"Most of the Americans never see the process of
batik from Indonesia. If I use the term batik too, usually they respond to me
to ask, what is batik? "Said Donna.
Donna achievement in producing works of art led to the
Art and Change Grant prize of 30 million dollars from foundations Leeway
Foundation in Philadelphia. Of the hundreds of people who signed up, he became
one of 30 winners who had chosen to get the funds.
"Every year an NGO named Leeway Foundation held a
sort of registration or 'Call for Women Artists," in order to be free of
the ideas of women in using the arts as an effective catalyst of social change
for the sake of society, "he explained.
The plan funds will be used to open a batik class devoted
to the Indonesian community in America.
"If there are people with one or two want to come
may. But it is important people of Indonesia. Because I can be an art and
change of Leeway Foundation Grant to conduct a special project for social
change. Positive change of society so I want to hold a large batik course for
children, adults Indonesian people living in South Philadelphia, "said
Donna. "The goal is to preserve the tradition of Javanese culture. In
order for Indonesian children can learn their traditions. Because in Indonesia
today, perhaps even more famous batik started among children, but in America
the children no opportunity to learn, "he continued.
Artist Donna Backues in Philadelphia
Artist Donna Backues in Philadelphia
As a teacher in America batik, batik equipment owned by
Donna quite complete. All the material he needs to be found on the Internet.
"I've got four skillet electric and electric wires,
also some canting and other equipment to prepare color. If there are schools or
other organizations that want to hold a workshop, they must be prepared with a
budget of materials, such as fabrics, fabrics, colors, night, dyes, and
possibly additional canting taste, "he said.
Living in America makes Donna longing for Indonesia.
Although in Philadelphia he could find a lot of Indonesian food, there are a
favorite food is he missed. "Rice tutug oncom. Raos linings! "He
closed the interview with VOA. (VOA)
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