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, December 24, 2014

Noche de Rabanos is much more than just radishes

There are lots of different parts to La Noche de Rabanos.  There are the major groups, rabanos, flor inmortal and totomoxtle figures (radishes, dried flowers and corn husk figures) and they get broken down into sub groups, like traditional or unique, natural or colored and sub groups for kids.

All-in-all, a beautiful and surreal scene.  Needless to say, it is a photographer's dream, well, really anyone's dream.  Where were you??
Flor inmortal figure doing embroidery... no doubt from San Antonino.
Back strap loom in dried flowers.
 And of course, Frida...
 and Diego.
There were some amazing pieces in the totomoxtle, natural corn husk, competition
 Cathedrals are always a popular subject.  These pieces can take many months to make.
 Wow... just... wow.
 Look at the detail.
And so much fun to see some of the same artists each year.  This woman has been competing for six years in the colored totomoxtle group.
 Flor de piña dancers.  So many, 34 of them, and each one unique.
 And the Virgins appearing in many renditions.
 Gorgeous and delicate work.... all in corn husks.
More in a bit....
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW, another great post. The photo's of the dried flower embroidery and back strap loom show the detail made by the talented artists. The corn husk work is also so detailed. We think the dried flowers and corn husk work is getting better every year and may eclipse the radish art.
Thanks again for posting and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year's in our favorite city of Oaxaca.
with peace,
Steve y Bev

December 25, 2014 at 10:12 AM
Christopher Stowens said...

Gracias.... it's a tough job having all this fun, but somebody's....

Feliz Navidad!

December 25, 2014 at 10:41 AM

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