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

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Penachos de Teotitlan del Valle

 
Penachos are the feathered headdresses that the dancers wear for the danza de las plumas.  Once again, I have to say that those in Teotitlan del Valle are more more ornate and beautiful than any others I have seen, but obviously I have not come close to seeing them all. 
 
Still, these are particularly gorgeous and require much time and money to make.  It is a great honor to be a dancer and it is a real commitment, in terms of time and money, from the family.  Here is Jose Isaac Vazques de los Angeles, Moctezuma's penacho.
And a closeup of the detail in the headband.  That's man himself.
This one is not only beautiful on the outside.
But it is the only one with this kind of amazing detail on the inside. 

2 comments:

Nightreading said...

This is one amazing headdress!!! I wonder what kind of feather is used for them (chicken,goose, dove or any special local bird), what kind of dye also - is it natural or synthetic? Who makes them - professional makers or someone in the family? It sure requires certain skill to make those. And the fabric inside looks so graphically elaborated, such a treat to a human eye to see those colors and patterns...

Anonymous said...

Tengo que trabajar en mis músculos del cuello ... Me pregunto qué tipo de ejercicios que debo hacer