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Dr Tetsuo Kashiwagi and his wife Michiko Kashiwagi seen with Agnes Tepa and Seyie Tepa during the release of the book.
In new book, husband-wife duo shares poetry and paintings
Kohima, February 4 (MExN): ‘Out of Wonder’, a collection of 105 poems written by Agnes Tepa accompanied with paintings by her husband, Seyie Tepa was formally released by Dr Tetsuo Kashiwagi, Director of Hospice & Advisor, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka Japan, who is also President of Japan Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation (among many other credentials) and his wife, Michiko Kashiwagi, Retd Professor & Former President, Osaka Christian College, Osaka on January 30 at their residence in Ibaraki city, Osaka, Japan.
The book event was organized by the President of the Nagas Japanese foundation, Mutsezo Tetseo. Releasing the 177-paged hardcover book, Dr Tetsuo Kashiwagi expressed hope that the book will bring pleasure and be a source of inspiration to its readers.
During the release, Agnes Tepa read two of her poems titled ‘Out of Wonder’ and ‘A new heaven and a new earth’ while Seyie Tepa shared about his painting entitled ‘Babe of Bethlehem.’
A review of Dr Brian M. Albrecht, President, MissionGO, Buffalo, New York included in the book, read that “Agnes touches on subjects that are derived directly from scripture. Her poems have a depth of meaning, which focuses you on your innermost feelings and thoughts. Intimacy with God, relationships, and Bible passages help us reflect on our life and how we are living it.”
Being in the Word of God his my life, he said that “I especially enjoyed the clever synopsis of the poems on “Jonah” and “God’s Good Earth” and other poems with a rich mixture of family relationships. I challenge you to select just one poem out of this poetry anthology. One that spoke to me was “I Gladly Live” based on Ephesians 1: 11-12, which seems to be the theme of “Out of Wonder”. I know that “Out of Wonder” will begin a discovery of the heart of Agnes’ work. And as Ruskin Bond once said about Agnes’ work, “deeply felt, and written with grace and a gift for lyrical expression,” you will receive a blessing as you ponder the various selections in this book.”
Meanwhile, in his review of Seyie’s paintings, Robin Temsu, Assistant Professor and HoD, Department of History, Sazolie College, Jotsoma said that “Seyie Tepa belongs to a rare breed of art chroniclers, who is able to transcend the obvious and articulate the schisms of his time, and ours, both in terms of ideas in the market place and the expression of The Word. His paintings reveal a deep sense of spiritual gratitude to his Maker. Besides being aesthetic, his paintings lure the audience to a world of wonders, not only assaulting their sensory perception but also provoking them to question their widely held dogmatic beliefs that are often left unchallenged. His subjects are profoundly socio-spiritual in context and message. Self-taught and original to the core, his works are bold, sensitive and outrageously enchanting. There is something for everyone to “think” and “ponder” in this latest work, which is collaboration with his lovely wife Agnes, an emerging poet in our creative landscape.”
Mention maybe made here that Agnes Tepa is a university gold medalist, a recipient of Governor’s gold medal and the first recipient of Mayangnokcha Award Trust North East Sun Running Trophy. She is also the author of ‘Adventures of Lhüsaku & Other Stories’ and co-author of ‘Echoes of Spring’. Her short stories also appeared in ‘Of Voices and Paper’ and ‘Raconteurs from the Hills’. She is a teacher educator and loves to bake.
Seyie Tepa, her husband, is a recipient of Governor’s Award for excellence in Art (2008) and North East Young Talent Award (2008). He has been painting for more than three decades. He and Agnes got married in 2009 and are blessed with three daughters, for whom the book is also dedicated.
“Out of Wonder” is the 29th publication of PenThrill Publication House and will soon be available in Kohima at Crossword, Chapru, Bible House, Gutouch and Fusion Store, Dimapur and www.ilandlo.com.
