Padharasa Art Studio Salatiga: The Spirit of Art in the Early Age

In an adorned house on Jl. Pasar Anyar, the echo of gamelan music never fades. There, an 83-year-old Mbah Sarjono—often called Mbah Jono—has been preparing the future generation of Indonesia's wayang plays through Padharasa Art Studio.

Padharasa is not just a name, but represents the spirit of preserving the art of children and youth puppetry that continues to be nurtured today. Mbah Sarjono opened this space in 2012 for children and youth to grow love towards pedalangan and karawitan. Besides a place to train, this studio serves as a garden for young bloods to grow, find their talents, and unite with this nation's cultural heritage.

Padharasa is now legal and acknowledged by the government. With his brother, Mbah Suparman, who has been loyally accompanying Mbah Sarjono in karawitan since before 2000, they have brought this studio to life without expecting any returns.

3 years after it was built, their hard work paid off. In the National Children's Dalang Competition 2015, Padharasa made Salatiga proud by coming in 2nd place, outperforming other participants from 23 provinces.

Loving the culture equals taking care of the space. By direct permission from the mayor, in 2019, Mbah Jono chose Rumah Budaya as the new home for children to train. There, the sound of gamelan echoes, the shadow of the puppets dances, and traditions are being planted in the youth's soul.

"If we are determined to learn, there is nothing that we cannot do. I guarantee!" --Mbah Jono motivates.

Mbah Jono believes that every child is gifted. His job is simply to ignite that small fire into a big flame. He doesn't force everyone to come, but looks for interested children. Children and tourists from Semarang, Karangjati, Grabag, Magelang, and even from Sulawesi and America came to Padharasa to learn.

From playgroup kids who have never heard of wayang, to high school students who are ready to perform, all are mentored from the basics: introduction of gamelan instruments, understanding wayang characters, and performing on stage. Some of them have been successfully accepted into famous art schools such as SMKI Solo and Yogyakarta.

Mbah Jono's students often perform at prestigious events, such as the Head of DPRD Salatiga's birthday party, where several Padharasa students who were still in elementary school performed confidently.

Mbah Jono doesn't only teach the techniques. He shapes their characters: paying attention to each child's ability, guiding them based on their shortcomings. "I don't want any of my students to become stupid," says Mbah Jono faithfully. "Each of them must be smart."

He not only teaches, but also creates. One of his songs, "Gugur Gunung", teaches us about cooperation. Salatiga's slogan, "Salatiga Kota Beriman," is taken from one of his song lyrics. Also, through his "Enting-Enting Salatiga" song, he was awarded by the Mayor of Salatiga a few times.

The newest award comes from the Indonesian Ministry, which rewards him with a national medal and 100 million rupiahs -- an appreciation for his lifetime dedication to preserving the culture of Indonesia.

Now, in his old age, Mbah Jono no longer pursues worldly things. He just wants to be grateful for the talent and family that God has blessed him with, pray for his children and grandchildren, do good things, and prepare himself to return to the Creator.

Mbah Jono has a message for this generation:

"Don't let our culture die. Wayang kulit and karawitan belong to Indonesia, second to none in this world."

In Padharasa, wayang is not just for a play. It is living inside the children's laugh, the tinkling of gamelan, and hope that never goes out.

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Sanggar Pandharasa Salatiga: Menanamkan Jiwa Seni Sejak Dini

Di sebuah rumah sederhana di Jl. Pasar Anyar, gema suara gamelan tak pernah benar-benar padam. Di sanalah, seorang kakek berusia 83 tahun, Mbah Sarjono, dengan penuh kesabaran dan cinta, membentuk generasi penerus pewayangan Indonesia melalui Sanggar Padharasa — Pawiyatan Pedalangan Anak dan Remaja Salatiga.

Didirikan pada tahun 2012, Sanggar Padharasa bukan hanya nama, tetapi mewakili semangat pelestarian seni pedalangan anak dan remaja yang terus dijaga hingga kini. Mbah Sarjono membuka ruang belajar bagi anak-anak dan remaja untuk mencintai dunia pedalangan dan karawitan. Sanggar ini bukan hanya tempat berlatih, tapi juga taman bagi bibit-bibit muda untuk tumbuh, menemukan bakat, dan menyatu dengan warisan budaya bangsa.

Sanggar Padharasa kini telah berbadan hukum dan diakui pemerintah. Bersama adiknya, Mbah Suparman yang sejak sebelum tahun 2000 sudah setia mendampingi di bidang karawitan Mbah Sarjono menghidupkan sanggar ini tanpa pernah mengharap balasan materi.

Tiga tahun setelah berdiri, kerja keras itu membuahkan hasil. Pada Lomba Dalang Anak Nasional 2015, Sanggar Padharasa mengharumkan nama Salatiga dengan meraih Juara 2 Nasional, mengungguli peserta dari 23 provinsi.

Mencintai budaya berarti juga memelihara ruangnya. Atas izin langsung dari Wali Kota, Mbah Jono memilih Rumah Budaya yang beralamat di Jl. Gilingrejo sebagai markas baru tempat anak-anak berlatih sejak tahun 2019. Di sanalah gamelan berbunyi, wayang bergerak, dan tradisi ditanamkan dalam jiwa-jiwa muda.

"Kalau mau belajar dan berminat, tidak ada yang tidak bisa. Saya garansi!" — begitu motivasi Mbah Jono.

Mbah Jono percaya, setiap anak membawa bakat dari Tuhan. Tugasnya hanyalah menyalakan api kecil itu menjadi nyala besar. Ia tak memaksa, melainkan mencari anak-anak yang memang tertarik. Anak-anak dan turis dari Semarang, Karangjati, Grabag, Magelang, bahkan dari Sulawesi dan Amerika datang berguru ke Padharasa.

Dari anak TK yang belum mengenal nama wayang, hingga remaja SMA yang siap pentas, semua dibimbing dari dasar: mengenal instrumen gamelan, memahami karakter wayang, hingga tampil di panggung. Beberapa bahkan sudah sukses diterima di sekolah seni ternama seperti SMKI Solo dan Yogyakarta.

Tak jarang, anak-anak didikan Mbah Jono tampil dalam acara-acara bergengsi. Seperti saat ulang tahun Ketua DPRD Salatiga, beberapa anak dari Sanggar Padharasa, masih belia di usia SD, mengisi acara dengan penuh percaya diri.

Mbah Jono sendiri tak hanya mengajarkan teknik. Ia mengajarkan karakter: memperhatikan kemampuan tiap anak, membimbing sesuai kebutuhan mereka.

"Saya tidak mau ada murid yang bodoh," katanya penuh keyakinan. "Semua harus pintar."

Mbah Jono tak hanya mengajarkan seni; ia juga menciptakan. Lagu-lagunya seperti "Gugur Gunung" mengajarkan gotong royong, sementara Slogan Salatiga Kota Beriman diambil dari lirik ciptaannya. Lewat lagu "Enting-enting Salatiga", beliau beberapa kali dianugerahi penghargaan oleh Wali Kota Salatiga.

Penghargaan terbaru datang dari Kementerian Indonesia, yang menganugerahi beliau medali nasional dan hadiah Rp 100.000.000 — penghargaan untuk dedikasi seumur hidup dalam melestarikan budaya bangsa.

Kini, di usianya yang senja, Mbah Sarjono tidak lagi mengejar dunia. Ia hanya ingin mensyukuri bakat dan keluarga yang diberikan Tuhan, mendoakan anak-anak dan cucunya, berbuat kebaikan tanpa pamrih, dan menyiapkan diri kembali kepada Sang Pencipta.

Satu pesannya yang pak Jono harapkan dari generasi sekarang:
"Jangan biarkan budaya kita punah. Wayang kulit dan karawitan adalah milik Indonesia, tak ada duanya di dunia."

Di Sanggar Padharasa, wayang tak sekadar dimainkan. Ia dihidupkan dalam tawa anak-anak, denting gamelan, dan harapan yang tak pernah padam.

Penulis: Sheila Florenzia
Penerjemah: Alexander Paruda Gaman