Women in the Arts: Smita Patel Shares Artistic Journey with Leading Boston Cultural Institutions
“Initially I learned of our culture first hand at home in the UK as well as from the rural people in India, and fell in love with it.” Today’s woman dreamer, Smita Amin Patel, is a woman to know in the art world. She has developed shows and worked with many leading museums and cultural institutions, including the Peabody Essex Museum and the Boston Museum of Science. Originally growing up in London and then moving to the US after marriage, she wanted to preserve, share and highlight the value of her Indian Culture by showing her children how to learn and understand the beauty of their heritage. Growing up, her mother told her stories about the heroes and heroines of her culture pointing out the philosophical right and wrong from various perspectives while never missing performances of different Indian artists who came to London. This upbringing was the base which sparked her interest in arts and culture. Her best advice is “Volunteer and broaden your horizons in the art arenas. You will then meet people who will invariably mentor and guide you. The Art world is a multifaceted place, with broad and varying cultural directions.” Enjoy her inspiring story!
Tell us your story. You have done meaningful work in the art space and in education. You have also lived around the world. What inspired you to be the woman you are today?
Inspiration has come throughout my life from many sides, perhaps starting with my upbringing. I grew up in post war England, in the greater London area, where there were about 6 Gujarati families and I was the only Indian girl in my school. My only connection with Indian culture was when an Indian musician or dancer came to London, and my mother would take us to their performances. We lived in a Middlesex home, which had the most beautiful garden with a dazzling array of fruit trees, berries, and flowers! My father, a businessman, would travel back and forth from the UK to India and my mother, an avid gardener, managed our home, our schooling and was responsible for my love of nature. The other aspect was my mother’s Pooja rituals for the holy celebrations that took place at our home. She would tell us beautiful stories associated with all the rituals. My father molded me in many ways as well. He insisted that we try to speak in Gujarati in the home, as best we could. Secondly, his guidance on how to gracefully respond to unkind comments stemming from the “British Raj attitude” of some of my classmates also had a great impact on me.
Despite all of this, during my youth, I feel I missed out on many opportunities to learn more about my culture. I remember my parents hosting many interesting people from all walks of Indian life, but I was unable to keep up with the conversations that rapidly bounced back and forth between Gujarati and English. And based on generational norms, I never thought to interrupt in order to get a better understanding of the information being discussed and hence missed out on a lot of opportunities for cultural enrichment. I often felt as if I was on the outside looking in as there were always so many questions in my mind.
Perhaps the journey of finding answers to my questions started in the USA. When my oldest son was about 6, we enrolled him in Shishu Bharati. At that time, Shishu Bharti was a new and very small school with only a few desks and a few families involved. Students were taught 3 subjects - Indian culture, Gujarati and Hindi language. I would drive my son almost an hour each way, every Sunday morning for classes. After a few classes, when I asked the teacher how he was doing, she said “he is such a good boy, but the minute we start our Gujarati language class, he turns his little chair around, faces the window, and does not want to participate.” It was strange. It didn’t sound like him at all.
On the road back home, I asked him, “why would you do that Rahul? It is very rude”. His answer–“mummy, when she teaches the Gujarati alphabet, I don’t understand all the different versions of T and D. They all sound the same to me, so I don’t understand what she is saying, I don’t like it”. That is when I knew I had to get involved. I had to devise a way that he could better hear and pronounce the different sounds in order to learn the alphabet. In order to do so, I began to develop my own methodologies that would be more accessible for US-raised children to learn the nuances of the Gujarati language. And this further seeded my desire to learn more about our culture.
I started reading endlessly and as I learnt more about our Indian culture, I began thinking more about the ways to preserve it for the next generation. Shortly thereafter, I became the 2nd President of Shishu Bharti. I moved the school to a larger facility in Burlington, added more language offerings, and grew the student enrollment. That was my starting point. I read and researched endlessly. The more I learnt, the more I found there was to learn. Slowly but surely, I started making connections between the cultural motifs in classical and folk architecture, music, dance, and philosophy. My research projects took me to India, to wonderful teachers in cities and villages and to women in rural areas who could neither read nor write but who still communicated beyond vocal language with their embroideries. Their beliefs and lifestyles spoke volumes to me. Those were difficult days to travel. There were no maps, no roads, but a lot of dusty trails. Fortunately for us, Mr. Ghadhvi, a kindly Forest Officer, accompanied both my husband, Mahesh, and I and located the different communities for us. We had such enlightening conversations with the Forest Officer and the rural people we met. Their perspectives of themselves, their beliefs, their reasoning were so different from the ones that I had read about in books or were outlined by people who I met in the cities. The lessons learnt first-hand from the rural folk were priceless. I questioned my own perspectives, and became enamored by everything I saw and experienced and continued researching, learning, and making connections. But most importantly, I stopped assuming and taking anything for granted.
2. You have worked with many leading artistic organizations, including the Peabody Essex Museum and the Boston Museum of Science to name a few. What excites you about the art world?
The art world today has roles that are far reaching. They are safe places where one can not only see art but can also examine, without rancor, different perspectives and points of view. Art today has also become a tool for activism.
All cultures and arts of the world, whether classical or folk, have value and a grammar all of their own. Folk art of the world used to get side stepped often in favor of the “Classical” perhaps because the folk grammar involved was not properly understood. As the world becomes more connected, much is changing in the art world as well. There is more emphasis not just on the connections between, color, motifs, and design but also the beliefs and philosophies of the cultural base of a particular art piece. There is so much to absorb and learn about the cultural context before making value judgements on any piece of art.
My involvement with PEM and the art world started many years ago. At that time, there were very few Indian cultural organizations and performance offerings were limited. Furthermore, when we came to the North Shore area, the community we came in contact with were the patients and colleagues of my physician husband. I noted with interest the knowledge base and different points of view of those that we met, with those of the Indian community.
One of the people we met at that time on the Northshore was Evelyn Bartlett (interestingly, she was the first wife of Eli Lilly). She made a great impression on me and was the catalyst for my first involvement with a museum in the US. Here was a person whose kindness and thoughtfulness was mind boggling. An artist herself, her passion for art, culture, exotic fruits, flowers orchids, enriched me. We met her due to a hospital assignment. When we first came to Beverly, we were living on the hospital grounds. One day the doorbell rang and when I opened the door, a huge bunch of peace lilies faced me. She had come to visit me, and from then on took me under her wing. Lively conversations at her dinner parties covered religions, world cultures, philosophies, arranged marriages in India and America, dress modes, playing tennis in a sari, even the different weaves and embellishments of saris etc. all with the most wonderfully interesting and articulate people - artists, writers, individuals from Northshore’s first settler families - even museum directors such as that of Smithsonian. The conversations were enriching and definitely enlightening.
I was fortunate that she exposed me to many interesting people and places on the NorthShore, including the Peabody Essex Museum. It was one of the oldest museums in America and had so many cultures of the world represented there. There used to be floor display cabinets in the East India Marine Hall and while pointing to some beautiful Indian toys in one of them, she said, ‘India is here, take a look’. She was trying to alleviate a young twenty something year olds’ homesickness and this was how my association with PEM began. At that time not only did I still paint but helping at the museum gave me an opportunity to be a cultural ambassador. From that time onwards I produced many Indian cultural projects/programs for them over the years covering Indian Rituals, Dance, Costuming, Cuisine, etc.
3. What is your advice to young women looking to get more involved in the arts & culture in their communities?
If you want to get involved in any art or cultural organization/institute, the first step perhaps is to volunteer there, study it, and absorb its philosophy. You will come in contact with like-minded people who may not only broaden your horizon but also help pinpoint a more precise role for yourself. Art platforms have such varied focuses. You will be able to find a place somewhere in that broad spectrum that suits you best if you volunteer. You won’t know which area will excite you until you get involved and start exploring.
4. You have done so many amazing projects. What is one project that stands out and is close to your heart?
I do have to give two for they both expanded my knowledge base and were very impactful. One of the projects was going to Kutch and Saurashtra in the late 70’s, and learning first-hand, the culture and philosophies of the numerous communities there. It gave me the opportunity to evaluate, reason, and readjust my thoughts and values. Subsequently, it enabled me to share so many aspects of it through lectures, performances and discussions not just with the local American community of the North East but also with the Indian community at large, residing in numerous states throughout America.
The other project was the Brides of India Show for the Festival of India at the Boston Museum of Science. Not only did I research intensely to understand, absorb, and evaluate the belief systems and customs of the different communities of the numerous states of India, but also the significance of the color and design of each of the bridal attire worn, the significance of each and every piece of jewelry worn, as well as the rituals associated in the wedding ceremony. An unexpected, yet delightful, bonus were the connections and friendships made with the numerous different Indian communities residing here in the Boston area. All the lovely brides represented were young women from their respective Indian states/communities in the greater Boston area. Each bride was introduced with the background wedding music from her specific state while I gave my commentary on the finer points and meaning of their bridal attire, jewelry and significance of the rituals involved. Numerous states were represented including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Bengal, Gujarat, Kashmir and many more. Its impact on the audience was highlighted by the program receiving the Entertainment “Critics' Choice” in a Boston Newspaper for 2 weeks in a row. Additionally, the Boston Museum of Science had also accepted my suggestion for presentations of folk dances from different states and a weekend Mela as part of the programming for the Festival. There were stalls with artisans showing their crafts as well as music and dances from the different states of India. There were also Indian food stalls and various goods for sale. We even had one of the brides being carried in a Palkhi, accompanied with a Dholi player and the wedding party parade through the Mela and into the Museum. All of this in a beautiful outdoor area facing the Charles River…and all possible only with the help of friends and colleagues. It was a truly incredible experience that I will never forget!
5. Do you have a favorite museum?
This is like asking which finger on your hand do you like the most. Each one serves a purpose and teaches you something new, whether you are in Paris or Peru. What moves people to draw things, create things? Each museum showcases the artistry of the human mind. Every museum I’ve visited in the world has always brought joy, and that something special remains within me.
6. What would you say about the Future of Museums? Thoughts on how more museums are going digital?
Museums roles are expanding as they are visions of the human spirit, connections to our past and the possibilities of tomorrow.
As to digital technology use, rather than not being able to see an art piece at all, maybe due to distance, lack of funds or even politics, digital technology affords us a way to enjoy a glimpse – true, it is but a window, and nothing like experiencing in person, but still it gives us a taste – an accessible way of enjoying and appreciating art.
Digital technology can also be an educational tool. A research student with limited resources and funds can now look up something for a project on the other side of the country or the world and still study an art piece. However, it is also true that, the expansiveness and detailed texture of a very large object or a painting can only be fully appreciated in person (even with the advancements in Virtual Reality). I am reminded of going to the remote areas of the Kutch desert and the villages there. In particular, I remember seeing a woman with a couple of water Bedas on her head, her body swaying as she walked and the dust raising at her feet, and then comparing it to my own photo of the same. Both speak to me, but differently. Digital technology definitely has its place but seeing something in person brings meaningfully different nuances to our psyche.
7. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
Today perhaps my goals and dreams come from the side lines. There are so many organizations/institutes, some whose effort are unique while others seem duplicate, yet all asking for support. For me, I believe, it is only possible to be involved with intent and focus, with but a few. Today my role perhaps, is one that introduces my generation as well as the newer generation to causes that speak to me and hopefully will perhaps speak to them.
I remember when I was teaching dance, and I was in awe of the mothers who would drive their daughters for hours to attend my dance classes and the students too, who would regularly practice for hours. However, my Soor Nupoor dance school was not a business for me. What spoke to me was a need to share and promote my culture. So there were never charges for classes, costumes, events and performances (including the ones that were out-of-state). Instead of spending on new this, that or other for myself, all expenses were paid with my “glad money kheeti” as I called it.
Today I help on the sidelines. I make introductions and connect people because my dream is to have the next generation of bright, successful young women (including some of my former students) to now be the wheels that make a difference. And although there are many worthwhile causes in our community that we ought to pay more attention to, these wheels will only be successful if they move with intent, focus and stamina towards a cause that truly speaks to them.