ART AND WALK ABOUT, 9.7.18

This is the owner of the shop/factory, a friendly guy who for reasons one can only guess showed us around his entire place--up & down funny little stair cases & cross uneven floor boards--including the basement where he had removed walls and replaced them with elaborately carved wooden beans and posts.He is 68 years old and he does all of the wood and block carving that you will see. Every book behind him is printed with the wood and metal blocks he etches (I think
he said on zinc) or in wood. They also make the paper on which everything is printed and bind the books. 

I am unsure if this is something produced here, but I loved the image and the colors. 

These women are making greeting cards and other things by hand.
The women on the far right is a French artist who is working here to learn the craft. 

The plate on the left was carved by the shop owner. I think I missed something in the translation; it seems unlikely (impossible) to have carved every letter. There must be some process of type setting that I missed.
At any rate this factory produces the plates and then prints the books on the paper that they make.

The factory owner said that he had this press made, I'm assuming to help flatted the paper stock. 

This guy was working away printing fairly rough playing cards
on the factories paper stock. 

Carved plate and printed image. 

A stack of colored paper made here.  

An example of the printing done and what the room full of ladies are producing. 

Paper slurry work area. 

Paper pulp drying in the sun. 

The following photos are misc items from our days walk around the town.

This loom produces beautifully colored cloth for women's traditional dress.
As I post this, sadly, I realize I did not photograph the women who makes these items.
She had a warm smile and seemed happy that we were interest in her work.  

The bolts of cloth that she makes. 

This and the two following photos are taken along the festival route (see figures below)
and are laid out for, hmmm, I'm not quite sure, but they are wonderfully colorful and tempting. 

Again, as with the loom lady, I did not photograph the mask maker.
To enter the shop I had to bend low to get into a tiny space, perhaps 7' x 10'
with wall, ceiling, and floor covered with masks, so that it was nearly
impossible to move without hitting something. 

 

My new friend. 

There is a person inside the figure. The yellow
shirted guys help hold it up and walk along
with what must very heavy piece. They stop along the
route at places set aside for them. 

 

Cakes of  yeast I am told, to make a fermented alcoholic drink. 

Also yeast for making the same drink. 

Amit is on the right closest to the camera and is enjoying a quick lunch with friends as we stopped in to say
hello on our tour. Like Amit and me they are all amateur photographers. This photo was
taken with a fish eye lens lent to me for a moment by the man who's back faces the camera. I want one!  

Corn drying in the sun. 

After drying, the corn is taken off the cob, dried more and stored. 

Carving masks. 

The guy above is carving masks like these. I'm not certain
where the painting gets done, but I would
have liked to see that process too. 

Part of the Kathmandu Valley. 

 The following are misc images that ~ I think ~ I have not already posted.