The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Monday, March 29, 2010

Oaxacan Restoration - Yanhuitlan and Teposcolula

No, this isn't about the roads and streets, I will spare you that. However, it is truly impressive to watch the restoration work that seems to be a constant here. Incredible progress has been made and the results are beautiful. Most of the churches I pass by have a fresh look to them with stonework replaced and the interiors cleaned and restored. I will post shots of some of the city's churches, but wanted to start with these two from the mixteca alta, about an hour north of the city in Yanhuitlan and Teposcolula.For earlier posts and more of the story check here and here.I have been visiting this fascinating area for a few years. I remember sneaking into the church in Yanhuitlan a couple of years ago. It was closed to the public and was dark, dusty and full of birds. Now, look at it.The work is really remarkable. The church is huge with very high ceilings. The scaffolding looks to be at least 25 meters high as workers restore the painting over the main altar. Plaster is painstakingly re-gilded. The work is scheduled to be completed in July. Work going on inside and out.Yanhuitlan has such an interesting history. When the Spanish arrived in the early XVI century, there were 100,00 mixtecas living there. Now, the village has less than 800 inhabitants and the church is not really used. It does have this amazing stone retablo.So Yanhuitlan is basically unused, quiet and a bit sad.
Not so in Teposcolula, where the church is also under restoration. Started at roughly the same time as Yanhuitlan (16th cent.) this church is always alive and in use. There is restoration work both inside and out proceeding at a fast clip with lots of workers. The finished organ loft. Again, this is a very large structure. The columns are probably 10 to 15 meters tall. The stonework is remarkable, all cut and fashioned on site.The baptismal font in a side chamber.Recently cleaned and restored retablo.Plus, lot at Teposcolula's Municipal center. Does your city hall look so fine?Well worth the visit. Almost no one goes to either place. Put it on your list.

No comments: