5/18/10
5/14/10
5/13/10
al-Fatihah...
...(in the kufic script) from the Holy Qur'an. Al Fatihah translates roughly as 'The Opening" or "The Prologue". It is the first sura of the Qur'an.
Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts and consists of a modified form of the old Nabataean script. Its name is derived from the city of Kufa, Iraq. although it was known in Mesopotamia at least a 100 years before the foundation of Kufa. At the time of the emergence of Islam, this type of script was already in use in various parts of the Arabian Peninsula. It was in this script that the first copies of the Qur'an were written. (from Wiki-pedia)
It is my favorite form of the Arabic calligraphic scripts.
5/12/10
An Avowal
I have always perceived the Azawakh through the antipodal prism of passion and abstraction.
Over the past several years, primarily out of an admittedly obsessive compulsion, I have attempted to raise awareness of the unique and extraordinary qualities of the Azawakh. Through visual displays and contextual references, I have alluded to the aesthetic and moral ideals that have driven the evolution of my thinking about and understanding of them.
Part of my mission has been to pro-actively and subliminally influence others' perceptions: I wanted others to see them the way I saw them. Without reservation, I shared my fascination and admiration for them. Without doubt, some part of my motivation stemmed from innate selfishness, because a world without Azawakh, as I understood, admired and loved them, was simply unacceptable to me.
It was perhaps egoistic that I perceived myself to be an integral part of the struggle to maintain the omneity and type of the aboriginal Azawakh. The bottom line: I was ever only a part of a community and continuum of breeders, owners and enthusiasts. Though my approach to breeding and raising the dogs may have appeared unorthodox by western standards, as anyone who knows me knows, I have never been a fan of standards.
Maybe like many people, and especially artists, my need to share what I had accomplished was partly an extension of a need to share some part of myself. To me it made perfect sense, if until now only subconsciously: if people loved my dogs then by default they loved me as well.
There exists always the challenge to reinvent, redefine and refine one's aesthetic. But within this challenge lies the seed of unjustifiable nihilism. When one begins to see everything in black and white--when one believes there is only one truth--much is missed. And when self-assurance--the absence of doubt--approaches arrogance, much is lost.
Had I been telling only my story--one shaped by my personal experiences with the Azawakh--I would not have told it. Naturally the larger story of the Azawakh eclipses my own.
I will always see each and every Azawakh as intrinsically valuable, regardless their attributes.
As well, each represents a different shade of color on a priceless if attenuated genetic palette, and each a familial thread of the warp and weft of the carpet of ancestry and ascent of a primordial yet noble race of dogs.
I want to believe that I never enthusiastically embraced exhibitionism. If my desire to inform and teach is hubristic and mundane, it is nonetheless firmly rooted in an even more intense and pure desire to learn, Insh'Allah.
Can I still learn?
Life is a test.
Al hamdullilah.
Over the past several years, primarily out of an admittedly obsessive compulsion, I have attempted to raise awareness of the unique and extraordinary qualities of the Azawakh. Through visual displays and contextual references, I have alluded to the aesthetic and moral ideals that have driven the evolution of my thinking about and understanding of them.
Part of my mission has been to pro-actively and subliminally influence others' perceptions: I wanted others to see them the way I saw them. Without reservation, I shared my fascination and admiration for them. Without doubt, some part of my motivation stemmed from innate selfishness, because a world without Azawakh, as I understood, admired and loved them, was simply unacceptable to me.
It was perhaps egoistic that I perceived myself to be an integral part of the struggle to maintain the omneity and type of the aboriginal Azawakh. The bottom line: I was ever only a part of a community and continuum of breeders, owners and enthusiasts. Though my approach to breeding and raising the dogs may have appeared unorthodox by western standards, as anyone who knows me knows, I have never been a fan of standards.
Maybe like many people, and especially artists, my need to share what I had accomplished was partly an extension of a need to share some part of myself. To me it made perfect sense, if until now only subconsciously: if people loved my dogs then by default they loved me as well.
There exists always the challenge to reinvent, redefine and refine one's aesthetic. But within this challenge lies the seed of unjustifiable nihilism. When one begins to see everything in black and white--when one believes there is only one truth--much is missed. And when self-assurance--the absence of doubt--approaches arrogance, much is lost.
Had I been telling only my story--one shaped by my personal experiences with the Azawakh--I would not have told it. Naturally the larger story of the Azawakh eclipses my own.
I will always see each and every Azawakh as intrinsically valuable, regardless their attributes.
As well, each represents a different shade of color on a priceless if attenuated genetic palette, and each a familial thread of the warp and weft of the carpet of ancestry and ascent of a primordial yet noble race of dogs.
I want to believe that I never enthusiastically embraced exhibitionism. If my desire to inform and teach is hubristic and mundane, it is nonetheless firmly rooted in an even more intense and pure desire to learn, Insh'Allah.
Can I still learn?
Life is a test.
Al hamdullilah.
Taylalt and Bomboukou
Taylalt (Idi Illaman Afelahlah X Tiwul) and Bomboukou (Tigidit Fasiqqi X Tiraout) are owned by Skye and Josh Bauermeister and are only temporarily in my care. Afelahlah was bred by Brigitte Washington Hamitouche, Tigidit Fasiqqi by Alberto Rossi, and Tiraout was a gift to me from a family in the Sahel. My mother and father are devoted to them...but, unable or unwilling to pronounce their exotic names, have nick-named them Brillo and Bobo, respectively. Brillo for 'brindled' and Bobo...well, self-explanatory. I have always intensely disliked nick-names. But well, I know my parents don't mean any disrespect. And the dogs don't know. And its also rather amusing.
Altinai Asylmuratova
Azawakh, Asil Arabian horses, classical ballet...for me they are all variations on a theme.
Asylmuratova is one of my all time favorite Russian ballerinas (although she is by blood Turkic, not Russian). Her name translates literally as 'pure-in-the-blood of Murat': her father. She was trained at the greatest school for classical ballet in the world: the official school of the Mariinsky (formerly Kirov) Theater in Pyotr (formerly Leningrad). She was one of the greatest of the lyrical ballerinas and one of the last of her 'line'. The Mariinsky of today is a different world; one whose purity of heritage has been irreparably compromised by western influences. There is no going back. But well, all things change. We are lucky to have these records of the past. And it is still the greatest school and theater for classical ballet in the world.
The plot line of this excerpt from La Bayadyerka should not be considered allegorical; there is no vague symbolism. I was just remembering this film today and decided to post it for others to enjoy.
(sorry for all the reposts...each time I reread it I see another grammatical error...remember, English is not my first language!)
5/11/10
Tawzalt and Azelouan
Thank you to Brian Reiter for these images of his Azawakh: Tawzalt (Aslam X Semteende) and Ettebel Azelouan (Tombouktou's Qulood X We Wille Dari). Brian and his family (and Azawakh) recently moved from Washington, D.C., to Accra, the capital of Ghana, Africa.
A nice reminder that, whether messing up a bed or sleeping peacefully on a couch, Azawakh can't help but to be both beautiful and fascinating.
5/9/10
Ok...
...so I had a moment. I was so furious last night I couldn't see straight anymore. But last night's sleep and some coffee this morning have helped me to calm down. The wise words of Ulla Keller reminded me of something very important. Ulla and I don't know each other, I am sad to say, but she posted a comment to my blog this morning, part of which read: hatred and revenge are only obstacles to one's own happiness.
I am hot-blooded by nature: alert, stubborn, fierce when roused. But I am also the opposite: weary, flexible, and well, peace-loving.
Maybe it's a bi-polar thing. I mean medicine can only mask just so much.
I have to let it go. Yes, hyenas are irritating. But truly it is hatred and revenge that are the real enemies.
My real friends know me. And wise people can see. That's good enough for me.
Al hamdullilah.
I am hot-blooded by nature: alert, stubborn, fierce when roused. But I am also the opposite: weary, flexible, and well, peace-loving.
Maybe it's a bi-polar thing. I mean medicine can only mask just so much.
I have to let it go. Yes, hyenas are irritating. But truly it is hatred and revenge that are the real enemies.
My real friends know me. And wise people can see. That's good enough for me.
Al hamdullilah.
5/8/10
The Cleansing
Although ownership of my dogs has been transferred to Mimi Drake, this should not be misconstrued to mean there is a direct line of succession from me to her.
[this paragraph was deleted out of respect for the innocent]
[this part was deleted out of respect for the friends I lost] The best lessons are often the hardest learned; from this point forward trust must be earned, it will not be given freely out of some blind belief in the intrinsic goodness of others.
[this paragraph was deleted out of respect for the innocent]
There is of course goodness. I am thankful for that.
al hamdullilah
[this paragraph was deleted out of respect for the innocent]
[this part was deleted out of respect for the friends I lost] The best lessons are often the hardest learned; from this point forward trust must be earned, it will not be given freely out of some blind belief in the intrinsic goodness of others.
[this paragraph was deleted out of respect for the innocent]
There is of course goodness. I am thankful for that.
al hamdullilah
5/6/10
bismillah
To Whom it May Concern: I am honoring a request that I not post to my blog whether there has been any closure or fulfillment of any agreement between me and any other individual regarding the transfer of ownership of my Azawakh.
I have also removed any posts referencing the aforementioned issue. Hopefully by now everyone has forgotten it anyway. But anyone having any questions regarding is more than welcome to contact me.
Furthermore:
Though a large part of me has been left behind, mash'Allah, the rest of me will move forward, Insh'Allah.
A new phase of my life has begun, al hamdullilah, and, even if what has happened has indelibly changed me, it has not altered my course: I will breed Azawakh again, Insh'Allah.
I will never again use the names Al-Ifriqiya or Idiiyat-es-Sahel.
I am thinking about a new name: n'Aidhan wa n'Tafouk.
Azawakh n'Aidhan wa n'Tafouk.
I think it has a nice ring to it. And I think it sounds hopeful.
fee aman Allah
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