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

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

A Broom in the System

No, not one of my favorite authors, David Foster Wallace's "The Broom in the System."  No, this is a broom in the system, the street sweeping system. And if you have ever seen the army of sweepers in the city and the incredible work they do with these simple handmade brooms, you know what an amazing system it is.  The owner of this one was down at the other end of the park he was working on, so I took advantage of the chance to see one up close and personal. 
 
I see people in the markets selling the individual twigs, but never a whole broom.  The sweepers take great pride in making their own, an art in itself, but it is how they use them that is the real art.  They can generate concentrated swirls of air that move the debris better than if they had a gasoline powered blower.  As I say, it is an art.  Look at how nice the work is.

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