Oaxaca-The Year After: More Oaxacan magic...

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, June 17, 2017

More Oaxacan magic...

I'm headed back mañana after a month of house maintenance in El Norte. I also got a chance to touch base with some old friends, pieces from my collection of carvings. I feel very blessed to have experienced what was probably the golden age of alebrijes or carvings, the 90's up until 2006. Yes, there is wonderful art being produced now, but several of the old masters, the originators, have passed. Oaxacan woodcarving was hot in the international art world and people were enjoying and taking advantage of the acclaim and creating many masterpieces. Like this mask of Medusa by Margarito Melchor of San Martin Tilcajete.

The mask is two feet tall and even the back is remarkable.

Margarito and his son, Margarito, are still carving wonderful masks and a must see if one visits the village.

For many years I commissioned music stands from anyone who would make one. Here is a beauty by one of the grand masters, Isidoro Cruz, also from San Martin Tilcajete.