SNEAP Year 18 Fieldwork: Lao Temple Carving
SubjectPortrait of
Silaphone Nhongvongsouthy
(Laotian)
SubjectPortrait of
Howard Phengsomphone
(Laotian)
SubjectPortrait of
Xiao Phommachack
(Laotian)
SubjectPortrait of
Somchan Onsopha
(Laotian)
Date2015 October 18
Mediumborn digital photography
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.392.1-.34
DescriptionPhotographs of a visit to the Wat Lao Ariyamettaram Temple in Morris, Connecticut to discuss the upcoming apprenticeship in Buddhist temple building and masonry with the resident monk.
2015.196.392.1: Image of people seated in front of monk Khoutavong. On the left are temple members with Silaphone Nhongvongsouthy and Howard Phengsomphone is on the right.
2015.196.392.2: Image of resident monk Khout with visiting monks from Rhode Island who would be his apprentices in temple building and masonry.
2015.196.392.3: Image of one of the visiting monks from Rhode Island holding carved and molded masonry made by Khout.
2015.196.392.4: Image of a floral molding made by Khout.
2015.196.392.5: Image of a statue of a carved deity made by Khout on the grounds of the temple.
2015.196.392.6: Image of a zoning location survey for proposed improvements to The Lao Buddha Ariyamett Aram Temple on East Street in Morris, Connecticut.
2015.196.392.7: Image of a blueprint showing proposed improvements to The Lao Buddha Ariyamett Aram Temple, including the roof, foundation, and soffits.
2015.196.392.8-.11: Images of temple decorations made of wax.
2015.196.392.12: Image of visiting monks from Rhode Island, Xiao and Somchay, at the side door of the temple. All the carvings have been created by Khout.
2015.196.392.13: Image of two statues carved by Khout on the grounds of the temple.
2015.196.392.14: Image of a dragon decoration at the front entrance of the temple.
2015.196.392.15: Image of the decorative front entrance of the temple.
2015.196.392.16: Image of visiting monks from Rhode Island, Xiao and Somchay, at the shrine of Buddha at the entrance to the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.17: Image of the statue of Buddha at the entrance to the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.18: Image of decorative elements of the temple.
2015.196.392.19: Image of the decorative gateway at the road, Rt 109 in Morris.
2015.196.392.20-.21: Images of decorative features at the front entrance to the building.
2015.196.392.22: Image of a deity statue at the side entrance to the building.
2015.196.392.23: Image of devotional shrines and statues outdoors.
2015.196.392.24: Image of a devotional shrine on the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.24: Image of the new house of worship on the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.26: Image of a carved and painted deity.
2015.196.392.27-.29: Images of masonry carvings being prepared for a new building that Khout was constructing.
2015.196.392.30: Image of the altar with a statue of Buddha and carved floral decorations inside the new house of worship.
2015.196.392.31: Image of a close up view of the pedestal on which the statue of Buddha rests.
2015.196.392.32: Image of a vase with flowers next to a pa khuane, decoration made of bamboo leaves. There is a note on vase written in Lao language.
2015.196.392.33-.34: Images of the altar with a statue of Buddha and carved floral decorations inside the new house of worship.
NotesSubject Note: The Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is a CCHAP initiative since 1997 that fosters the sharing of community-based traditional (folk) artistic skills through the apprenticeship learning model of regular, intensive, one-on-one teaching by a skilled mentor artist to a student/apprentice. The program pairs master artists from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut with apprentices from one of the other states, as a way to knit together members of the same community or group across state lines. Teaching and learning traditional arts help to sustain cultural expressions that are central to a community, while also strengthening festivals, arts activities and events when master/apprentice artists perform or demonstrate results of their cooperative learning to public audiences. The Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program at the Connecticut Historical Society manages the program in collaboration with the Folk Arts Program at the Massachusetts Cultural Council and independent folklorist Winifred Lambrecht who has a deep knowledge of the folk arts landscape of Rhode Island. Primary funding for the program comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, with support also from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, the Institute for Community Research, and the Connecticut Historical Society.2015.196.392.1: Image of people seated in front of monk Khoutavong. On the left are temple members with Silaphone Nhongvongsouthy and Howard Phengsomphone is on the right.
2015.196.392.2: Image of resident monk Khout with visiting monks from Rhode Island who would be his apprentices in temple building and masonry.
2015.196.392.3: Image of one of the visiting monks from Rhode Island holding carved and molded masonry made by Khout.
2015.196.392.4: Image of a floral molding made by Khout.
2015.196.392.5: Image of a statue of a carved deity made by Khout on the grounds of the temple.
2015.196.392.6: Image of a zoning location survey for proposed improvements to The Lao Buddha Ariyamett Aram Temple on East Street in Morris, Connecticut.
2015.196.392.7: Image of a blueprint showing proposed improvements to The Lao Buddha Ariyamett Aram Temple, including the roof, foundation, and soffits.
2015.196.392.8-.11: Images of temple decorations made of wax.
2015.196.392.12: Image of visiting monks from Rhode Island, Xiao and Somchay, at the side door of the temple. All the carvings have been created by Khout.
2015.196.392.13: Image of two statues carved by Khout on the grounds of the temple.
2015.196.392.14: Image of a dragon decoration at the front entrance of the temple.
2015.196.392.15: Image of the decorative front entrance of the temple.
2015.196.392.16: Image of visiting monks from Rhode Island, Xiao and Somchay, at the shrine of Buddha at the entrance to the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.17: Image of the statue of Buddha at the entrance to the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.18: Image of decorative elements of the temple.
2015.196.392.19: Image of the decorative gateway at the road, Rt 109 in Morris.
2015.196.392.20-.21: Images of decorative features at the front entrance to the building.
2015.196.392.22: Image of a deity statue at the side entrance to the building.
2015.196.392.23: Image of devotional shrines and statues outdoors.
2015.196.392.24: Image of a devotional shrine on the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.24: Image of the new house of worship on the temple grounds.
2015.196.392.26: Image of a carved and painted deity.
2015.196.392.27-.29: Images of masonry carvings being prepared for a new building that Khout was constructing.
2015.196.392.30: Image of the altar with a statue of Buddha and carved floral decorations inside the new house of worship.
2015.196.392.31: Image of a close up view of the pedestal on which the statue of Buddha rests.
2015.196.392.32: Image of a vase with flowers next to a pa khuane, decoration made of bamboo leaves. There is a note on vase written in Lao language.
2015.196.392.33-.34: Images of the altar with a statue of Buddha and carved floral decorations inside the new house of worship.
As part of the Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program Year 18 (2015-2016), Khoutavong was a mentor to two monks, Xiao Phommachack and Somchan Onsopha, from the Smithfield, Rhode Island Lao temple who learning to build, restore, and decorate Laotian spiritual statues and buildings. Over an intensive few weeks, the young monks from Rhode Island gained skills of designing, molding, casting, cutting, and applying that will help them to revitalize the older structures at their temple. This apprenticeship was coordinated by Silaphone Nhongvongsouthy, a cultural leader in the Laotian community in Rhode Island. She facilitated the public presentation of the group’s learning at Lao Buddha Ariyamettaram Temple in Morris, Connecticut.
Biographical Note: Khoutavong Yongchaiyuth, traditional Lao ceremonial woodcarver, serves as the resident monk of the Wat Lao Ariyamettaram Lao temple in Morris, rural northwestern Connecticut, having moved there from the temple in Danbury. Khout has been a monk since he was fourteen years old, and in the temple in Laos he learned woodcarving, sculpture, stonemasonry, and painting. He was brought to the U.S. in 1999, by the resident monk in Danbury to build decorative stone and woodwork, and he practices the same traditional crafts in Morris while he serves the New Britain and Hartford Lao mmunity. Khout was also invited to St. Petersburg, Florida to build a temple and carve several sculptures, which took him only a month. He would like to pass on his knowledge to Lao Americans, and was a mentor to the young monks in the large community in western Rhode Island, in Year 18 (2015-2016) of the Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.
Subject Note: Wat Lao Buddha Ariyamett Aram Temple, Morris CT is a center for the Lao community and their Buddhist worship, situated on several acres of land in rural northwestern Connecticut. Founded in 2002, the temple has beautiful statues of deities and traditional figures as well as several buildings for worship and community gatherings, many of those decorated and constructed in traditional fashion by the resident monk. Khoutavong Yongchaiyuth, traditional Lao ceremonial woodcarver, serves as the resident monk of the Wat Lao Ariyamettaram Lao temple in Morris, rural northwestern Connecticut, having moved there from the temple in Danbury. Khout has been a monk since he was fourteen years old, and in the temple in Laos he learned woodcarving, sculpture, stonemasonry, and painting. He was brought to the US in 1999 by the resident monk in Danbury to build decorative stone and woodwork, and Khout practices the same traditional crafts at the temple in Morris where he serves the spiritual needs of the Lao community. CCHAP has documented activities at the temple over many years, including New Year festivals, the water ceremony, temple dedications, and led a cultural tourism group to visit the temple in 2006. CCHAP connected the temple and community to a 2007 WNPR project on health care in Connecticut ethnic communities. As part of the Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program Year 18 (2015-2016), Khout was a mentor to two monks, Xaiyo and Somchay, from the Smithfield RI Lao temple who came to the temple to learn how to build, restore, and decorate Laotian spiritual statues and buildings. Over an intensive few weeks, the young monks from RI gained skills of designing, molding, casting, cutting, and applying that helped them to revitalize the older structures at their temple. They presented their learning at a festival at the temple in 2016.
Subject Note: Pah Khuane, originally made from banana leaves, are ornamental sculptures used in ceremonies and celebrations as a focal point for gathering people together and encouraging health and healing. They can also be an altar piece for a wedding ceremony, or given to people coming out of hospital to replenish their spirit. The strings are symbolic of bonding, as in Lao Buddhist ceremonies the monk will tie a string around someone’s wrist as a sign of spiritual connection.
Additional audio, video, and/or photographic materials exist in the archive relating to these artists.
Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
Status
Not on view
Khoutavong Yongchaiyuth
2010 April 18
2016 July 22
