Leslie Nelson

When she rescued her grandmother?s linen and napkins from her mother?s garage sale, Leslie Nelson stumbled upon her life?s vocation ? making quilts and fabric collages. A Professor of Art at the University of Wisconsin ? Madison, Ms. Nelson was in the State capital recently in a unique quilt-making venture. This time her canvasses were sarees on which she invited city residents to paint, to write, to stitch other pieces on and anything else they could think of to express themselves, to make her ?Indian Dream Quilt.?

Here, she talks about her impressions about Kerala. 

What memories will you be taking back with you about Kerala? 

I am entranced by the State. This is my first trip here which I took on the recommendation of my student, Ms. Susan Schyler, who is also here with me now. It is a wonderful place and I would like to make many more trips to Kerala. 

How was the response of the people here to your project? 

Overwhelming. At first, I had some apprehensions about using sarees as a medium because I thought it might be considered impolite but it was totally out of place, I found out. There were about 200 people of all ages who came to draw on my sarees. 
And its this warmth of the Keralites that is undoubtedly the best thing about Kerala. 

Have you had a taste of Kerala culture? 

Yes, I have. I?ve seen your famous Kathakali and some other art forms, I love the food here, I?ve had Ayurvedic massages almost every other day ? it?s been a great trip. And there aren?t many other places that preserve their traditional art forms as well as it is done here.

Why do you think the US tourist market has still not woken up to Kerala?

Well, a lot of Americans still don?t know enough about Kerala but recently I?ve seen articles in the newspapers about the State and I think awareness is growing. I?ll definitely go back and tell my friends that it is a wonderful place for a holiday.