Artwallah is not your Mama-ji's typical Indian party...if it had been, the food would have been a lot better, the music louder, and the place more packed with old people who are somehow related, talking about other people's marriages, gold jewlery and pickle recipes.
A celebration of art and culture, Artwallah, curiously at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, skews towards the youthful, underground side of South Asian life in the U.S.-- the indie Indians if you will. Thus present were a smattering of groovy Gujaratis, new-wave New Delhians, punk Punjabis, rockin' Rajasthanis, hoo-ridin' Haryanayans, tuned-in Tamils and utterly-progressive Uttar Pradeshinans, along with their neighbors in the subcontinent, such as bangin' Bangladeshis and savvy Sri Lankans (yes, we really could do this all day).
What Artwallah lacked in attendance (and great food), it certainly made up for in the spirit of both those attending in support of the community and the sheer camaraderie of celebrating South Asian heritage together...(CONTINUED BELOW)
Amongst lackluster shopping, the absence of devices like a henna booth, plus...ahem, mediocre food and art exhibits, were a few rare treasures that made the day a success.