F.A.T.E. - the First American Theistic Exibition
F.A.T.E. - the First American Theistic Exibition
Combine India's ancient Vedic wisdom and doll-making artistry with America's multimedia technology... and you get an unforgettable spiritual experience.
The inspirational seed for the First American Theistic Exhibition (just opened at the Los Angeles Radha-Krsna temple) was planted in India more than forty years ago by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the grand-spiritual-master of the Krsna consciousness movement. It was then that he developed an impressive diorama exhibit to present the philosophy of Krsna consciousness clearly and convincingly to all classes of people. That original theistic exhibition, consisting of dozens of dioramas, still draws hundreds of thousands of viewers on its annual tour of India.
When His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada came to America in 1965, he brought with him his spiritual master's dream of an American theistic exhibition. To fulfill that dream, Srila Prabhupada asked some of his own disciples to go to India and learn the art of making "dolls," the figures displayed in a diorama. Now, by the grace of Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada, those disciples have returned to America and developed a unique and fascinating multimedia presentation of Krsna consciousness: the First American Theistic Exhibition.
The director of F.A.T.E. is Baradraja dasa, one of the first devotees Srila Prabhupada sent to India to learn the doll-making art. After becoming proficient, Baradraja has spent most of the last three years making dioramas and training others in the technique. He sees his assignment as a special favor from his spiritual master…
"I was working as an artist," Baradraja relates, "doing paintings for Srila Prabhupada's books at ISKCON's press in New York. As a devotee I had been painting for three years, and I was also doing art editing for BACK TO GODHEAD magazine. Then, in March of 1973, Srila Prabhupada came to New York. At that time I told him, 'Srila Prabhupada, I want to preach.' He looked at me like I was a lunatic. 'What are you doing now?' he said. 'You are not preaching? This painting is not preaching? Please understand, this is preaching. If you do not do this painting, then who will? No, this is very important preaching.' So that was the end of that-painting illustrations for Srila Prabhupada's books was preaching.
"A few days later, all the artists were talking with Srila Prabhupada in his quarters. (This was at the old Brooklyn temple.) He was asking about the various paintings we were working on, and there was a lot of discussion. Then suddenly he said something that surprised everyone; no one knew what to say. 'I want someone to learn how to make dolls,' he said. What did he mean? Of course, none of us actually knew what he was talking about. He just kept speaking of 'dolls.' He told us that these dolls were made in India. 'These doll makers are very expert. I want one of you to learn from them.' It was a complete mystery. What were these dolls? Srila Prabhupada looked around the room. He looked at all the artists. Then he turned to me and said, 'Baradraja, you will go.'
"Well, I began to feel a very strange combination of emotions. In my heart there was both horror and joy: joy at having a chance to go to India, horror at the idea of having to make dolls. At the time, I thought of myself in quite a vain fashion-as an artiste, one of good taste and aesthetic judgments. The idea of making dolls seemed really outlandish. But aside from my feelings, I knew the importance of the spiritual master's order. Here was an opportunity for spiritual advancement, and my wife and I were both eager and thankful for our new service to Srila Prabhupada. Practically speaking, this order to make dolls was the first real spiritual challenge in my whole life as a devotee. It was the first time that Srila Prabhupada had actually asked me to do something I didn't want to do. It was a very exciting time."
About this time Srila Prabhupada began to inspire other disciples to take up the mission of preaching Krsna consciousness through dioramas. He wanted these disciples to go to India, learn the art of doll making, and then return to the West and assemble an American theistic exhibit. In a letter to Adi-deva dasa, Srila Prabhupada wrote: "In London there is a museum-Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum-and people are lining up for blocks just to see some mundane dead bodies. You should go to India and learn how to make dolls. Then we will have our own museum, and simply by seeing our exhibits people will make spiritual advancement."