Above left: Erica Ternes takes a break from inside the library and assists the Hennamen sisters and does a little art work of her own. Above: The three sisters take a break on a sunny day to admire their playful artwork. Left: Genesis and Harper Hennamen work together on squares, filling in the lines with fine, colorful sand. Lately there have been many pieces of Rangoli art made by quite a few area artists. Their work, which doesn’t last very long in the weather, is displayed on the sidewalk just outside of the Grand Marais library door. Staff photos/Brian Larsen
Trinity Hennamen was patient, carefully looking over the unfolding artwork in front of her. She had a handful of red sand, which she carefully poured from her cupped palm down a chalked white line. All of the red perfectly covered the chalk. She smiled.
Harper, meanwhile, was busy going between Trinity’s piece and the design her little sister Genesis was working on. In-between quick visits to her sisters Harper worked on filling the lines in for her Rangoli art piece. It wasn’t taking the three sisters long to make the sidewalk in front of the Grand Marais library a cheerful, bright, colorful place to visit.
Rangoli comes from the Sanskrit word Ranaavali, which is a combination of two words— Rang, meaning color and Aavali meaning creepers or lines. When translated, the words literally mean “colored lines.”
Once the intricate lines have been drawn on the ground almost anything can be used to color the lines: sand, colored chalk, flowers, colored powdered rice, rice flour, various beans, etc.
In India, Rangoli designs are a temporary floor art that people create and redo on a daily basis to bring good luck and happiness to a home.
Shakun Maheshwari brought Rangoli to the Grand Marais library through a cultural arts grant. She began her artistic life in her native India where she learned traditional folk arts from her mother and aunts. She attended North Hennepin Community College and completed a graphic design program. Today she travels, teaching, creating and demonstrating art.
As for Trinity, Harper, and Genesis, this will no doubt be the beginning of a new artistic adventure for them. Eager to learn and dedicated, the girls completed the line drawings Shakun had made in no time at all.
Before their work disappears, should you get the chance, go by and see the joyful, colorful creations made by the Hennamen sisters. It just might make your day.
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