 |
| Boy playing with Kite Pic: Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Dr. Alice Kandell hiding behind a Sikkimese soldier to take a photograph of a Chinese soldier along the Nathu-La Pass |
 |
| Khyentse Rinponche Pic: Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Lepcha Man and Woman standing near Singhik Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Lepcha man in traditional bamboo hat and woven clothing holding knife in Singhik Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Lepcha women in traditional clothing in Singhik Pic Dr.Alice Kandell |
 |
| Mt. Kanchenjunga, third highest mountain in the world Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Nepalese family outside of clay home Pic: Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| People herding yaks along a mountain path to higher grazing land Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Person crossing river on a wooden bridge Pic: Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Prince Palden (Second from Left) making silly faces with friends Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Rumtek Monastery seen from across courtyard Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Selling Rice in Gangtok Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Singlay Lama & grandchildren sit in haystack near Singhik Pic: Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Suspension Bridge over River Pic:Dr. Alice Kandell |
 |
| Two Men secure wood logs on Yak's back Pic: Dr. Alice Kandell |
Dr. Alice S. Kandell, of New York City, New York, is a child
psychologist formerly affiliated with Mt. Sinai Hospital. Additionally, Dr.
Kandell is an author and professional photographer, having published books on
subjects ranging from Mountaintop Kingdom: Sikkim to children's books such as
Max the Music Maker and Ben's ABC Day. Dr. Kandell is also Vice President of
the Board of the International League for Human Rights and President of the
International Vocal Arts Institute, whose faculty is affiliated with the
Metropolitan Opera. She also performs in non-singing roles with the
Metropolitan Opera in New York. She received her Doctorate in Child Psychology
from Harvard University.
Dr. Alice S. Kandell first visited Sikkim
in 1965 to attend the coronation ceremony where Hope Cooke, a close friend from
Sarah Lawrence College, became the first American-born queen. The Chogyal
(king) Palden Thondup Namgyal asked Dr. Kandell to use photography to document
the indigenous cultures of Sikkim and to show how he and Hope were improving
education and local businesses. With this special access, Dr. Kandell created a
visual encyclopedia of Sikkimese life as it was before India absorbed the kingdom.
Dr. Kandell returned to Sikkim many times,
while also completing her doctorate degree in child psychology at Harvard
University and establishing her career in New York City. Growing political
struggles between India and Sikkim brought the photography project to a close
in the early 1970s. During a final trip in 1979, she photographed the wedding
of Princess Yangchen Dolma.
Her collection grew to more than 15,000
color slides and black-and-white photographs taken while traveling extensively
through a country the size of Delaware. Dr. Kandell went high in the mountains
to meet farmers and traders who allowed her to photograph their families and
homes. She attended Buddhist religious ceremonies, captivated by the music,
masks, and dances. She captured formal and informal scenes with the royal
family in Gangtok as well as artisans with their crafts, children in schools,
and the remarkable landscape.
Two books published in 1971 feature these
photographs-- Mountaintop Kingdom: Sikkim (with text by
Charlotte Salisbury) and a book for children called Sikkim: The Hidden
Kingdom. Dr. Kandell also wrote and illustrated articles about Sikkim forRedbook, Holiday, Scholastic,
and The Saturday Evening Post.
During an exhibit of Sikkim photographs at
the Camera Club of New York in 1971, Dr. Kandell said, "I tried to use my
camera to communicate the warmth and openness of the people of Sikkim. I wanted
to capture the beauty that is everywhere." A second exhibition was held at
the Asia Society in New York, sponsored by the International Center of
Photography, in 1975.
Inspired by her experience in Sikkim, Dr.
Kandell went on to assemble a major collection of Budhhist art and religious
objects. This Tibetan shrine with original paintings, sculpture, and furniture
is now at the Smithsonian Institution. She also retained her connections to the
Sikkimese people. In 2010, Hope Cooke joined Dr. Kandell at the Library of
Congress to describe their work in Sikkim. The webcast from this program, "A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim," can
be viewed online.
Note:
The details about Dr. Alice S Kandell are collected from ‘Biography of the
Photographer’ that is available on the website of Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov
Posts
