Oaxaca-The Year After: You missed it!

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.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

You missed it!

However, you still have a month to see the amazing exhibit of folk art from the collection of Rosa Blum Perez. The opening was last night at the Biblioteca Henestrosa (115 Porfirio Díaz) and the place was crowded as people came to see these amazing pieces created by a wide selection of the area's artesanos.

A classic from Miguel Santiago from Arrozola

The exhibition is entitled "Manos que crean y Ojos que leen - Los Libros a Través del Arte Popular" "Hands that create and Eyes that read - Books through Popular Art." All the pieces have books and reading as the theme. The artists came up with some of their best work in years and I'm sure that was because it was for Rosa, who has been so instrumental in the folk art world for so many years. I think it took her six years to commission and assemble the collection.

From Jesus Sosa Calvo from San Martin Tilcajete.

Also from San Martin, one of her famous pigs, by Maria Jimenez.

Not only were there many lovers of art at the museum, but many of the artesanos and their families were there to bask in the glory of their works and to get some much needed public love and appreciation. It made for a joyous evening.

Ceramics from Demetrio Aguilar from Ocotlan