During my first visit to Bhutan in 2006 I was invited to come back the following year to teach nuns to make cloisonne enamels to augment their exceedingly spare income. Governmental changes in the near future would make this need even more urgent and an exclusive skill such as making cloisonne enamels would benefit them greatly. Pilgrims, visiting the remote monasteries and nunneries, could buy these small items; while low cost of the product coupled with its labor intensive nature and its adaptability to traditional iconography were all attractive features for this experimental proposal.

Please click on the enamel images above to view the very first works these nuns ever produced.
I present to you:

Second to Nun

When I was able to find a sponsor to pick up my transportation fees, I began planning in earnest. Tools, materials and kiln would have to be collected and hand carried to Bhutan the following spring for teaching the accepted four nuns from scattered regions throughout the Kingdom of Bhutan. We would meet in the capital, Thimphu, and we would all be the guests of the Ministry of Home & Culture for a four week workshop.

When I came in April, there were seven nuns quietly & politely awaiting me in the classroom at the Department of Culture. An additional person as translator would speak the three required languages for the duration of this workshop.

What followed would be the most amazing experience I have ever encountered in my nearly 40 years as a teacher (both college and private). It is a teacher's dream to be offered students who are quiet and respectful. But these nuns were well beyond just that. They were exceedingly focused and listened with such dedication and precision that the class yielded amazing results in record time. Out of the seven nuns I had four genius's--a stunning bonus. The other three were utterly competent technically & would only need to copy set designs to share in the limelight.

But what surprised me the most was their way about them---yes, they were shy and soft spoken and respectful as any nun might be--but they were more than that. I saw Yehshey drape arms around classmates as I lectured, I heard soft giggles, I witnessed them helping one another without prompting and they always referred to eachother by their title, "Anim". We began as strangers but became close through gentle mindfulness and sincerity.

They even taught me words in Dzonghka with patience and humour....and we enjoyed eachother. At one point I used a new word -- "map." If I had said "MAAP," it would have meant the color "red." As it was, I had said the softer word for "husband". I was told, instantly, by Monlam that she did not want a husband, but the red( enamel color) would be very useful. The whole room burst into giggles.

And my whole month there was as spontaneously joyful as that... I was honored to be breathing the same air.

I am very proud of them.

Keep in mind that these ladies had no drawing or jewelry training and had never handled sissors, tweezers or wire. Indeed when they were told to attend class, they didn't have any information of what we would be doing.

-Diane

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