Posted in Creativity, Culture, Parks & Plazas, Travel & Tourism, tagged camouflage, culture, Mexico, monos, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Plaza de la Danza on February 10, 2014| Leave a Comment »
A mono in camo, seriously???
I guess it really is a jungle out there. But, it isn’t easy to stay hidden when your buddy is laughing at you.
Just another day crossing the Plaza de la Danza on my way to the market. As I keep saying, you just never know what you will uncover walking the streets of Oaxaca.
Posted in Buildings, Churches, Creativity, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Cathedral of Oaxaca, La catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, religious statuary, statues on February 5, 2014| 5 Comments »
It’s amazing how sometimes light, shade, and a pristine backdrop can come together to highlight something you have looked at hundreds of times, but have never really seen.
Early last week, on a stunningly clear blue sky day, I passed the La Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption) and stopped dead in my tracks.
The flag must have been what initially caught my attention — it’s not an everyday occurrence — but what held my gaze were the three gals atop the Cathedral.
I wondered, are they new?
Once home, I scrolled through old photos I’d taken and sure enough there they were in every photo of the Cathedral’s facade.
Hmmm… How could I have missed their imposing presence?
Now to find out who they represent. (You can take the librarian away from the reference desk, but you can’t take the reference questions away from the librarian!) Anybody out there have any answers???
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged bar stools, Eartha Kitt quote, Fred Astaire video, La Condesa Oaxaca, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, restaurant on January 17, 2014| 2 Comments »
And now for a little levity…
Seen through the window of La Condesa restaurant and bar in Oaxaca.
I love to tease men with my legs. — Eartha Kitt
I keep waiting for the bar stools to break out into a tap dance routine. A friend posted this video on Facebook yesterday of Fred Astaire tapping and drumming — at the same time! I wonder what he would have done with these stools?
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Travel & Tourism, tagged art, Gorilla Gallery, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, urban art, Yescka on January 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Urban artist, Yescka, at work on December 20, 2013 at Gorilla Gallery in Oaxaca…
Live action painting from the back of the glass, a devilish Virgen de Guadalupe emerges…
From the back and from the front, La Virgen is finished.
Yescka then turned to one of the gallery’s windows; outside looking in and inside looking out.
Like street art, these works are not forever. In a month (or so), the virgin will be disappeared and another artist will come to Gorilla Gallery to create another ephemeral masterpiece.
Gorilla Gallery is at Crespo 213 and is open on Thursdays, from 2:00 – 8:0 PM.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged arts, graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, urban art on January 3, 2014| 4 Comments »
In 2014, don’t…
or do, what feels good.
(In Oaxaca, on Berriozábal at the corner of Reforma.)
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Fuego Nuevo 2013, Mexico, Mixtec, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, theater, Victor Hugo quote on December 29, 2013| 2 Comments »
To contemplate is to look at shadows. — Victor Hugo
From last night’s “Fuego Nuevo” performance by the Ballet Folklórico Tradicional del Estado de Oaxaca at the Plaza de la Danza. Using music and dance, this “espectáculo” tells the story of the beginning of a new cycle in the Mixteca culture.
(FYI: For those in Oaxaca, it’s free and repeats tonight at 7 PM.)
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Holidays, Parks & Plazas, People, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged artisans, Café Café, Christmas, dried corn husks, Elpidio Adrián González López, Mercado Antiguo en la Plaza de las Armas 1885, Mexico, Night of the Radishes, Noche de Rabanos, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, Totomoxtle on December 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Despite of the name, Noche de Rábanos isn’t just about carving radishes. The creativity and ingenuity of the gardeners and artisans of Oaxaca in several other categories are also on display — Flor Inmortal (dried flowers), Totomoxtle (dried corn husks) Natural, and Totomoxtle Decorated, as well as two Children’s categories.
First place in the Totomoxtle Natural category went to Elpidio Adrián González López and his amazing creation, Mercado Antiguo en la Plaza de las Armas 1885.
If you missed it December 23 on the zócalo, or want to see it up close and personal, head over to CaféCafé, on the corner of Porfirio Díaz and M. Bravo.
It will be on display until January 6, 2014.
h/t Jane & Ken
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged artisans, carving, Christmas, Mexico, Night of the Radishes, Noche de Rabanos, Oaxaca, photographs, photos on December 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Holidays, Parks & Plazas, People, Travel & Tourism, tagged Adrián Antonio Flores Peña, artisans, carving, Christmas, Mexico, Night of the Radishes, Noche de Rabanos, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Quebrantahueso on December 23, 2013| 2 Comments »
This morning I walked down to the zócalo to watch artists at work — it’s Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes). This December 23 “only in Oaxaca” tradition has been a mainstay of the holiday season since 1897. I know, who would have thought radishes could elicit such creativity? But, they definitely do! Here is Adrián Antonio Flores Peña working on his piece, Quebrantahueso (bearded vulture).
More to come… I just have to weed through the 300+ other photos I took!
UPDATE: Adrián Antonio Flores Peña won first place in the “Free” (as opposed to “Traditional”) category.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged graffiti, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, Winter Solstice on December 21, 2013| 2 Comments »
It may be the Winter Solstice, but here in Oaxaca my doors and windows are already open and I’m looking at a clear blue sky and an 85° F temperature forecast. Ahhh…
This is about as close as we get to Old Man Winter…
Mural on a wall along Niños Heroes, Oaxaca
Happy Winter Solstice to all in the northern latitudes and happy Summer Solstice to those south of the equator.
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Music, Travel & Tourism, tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, Consolamentum, Jason Pfohl, Matria Jardín Arterapéutico, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, Taj Mahal, Take a Giant Step lyrics, urban art on December 10, 2013| 2 Comments »
The walls of Oaxaca remind me of words sung by Taj Mahal…
Excerpt from mural in Jalatlaco on Callejón de Hidalgo at Aldama
From Consolamentum installation by Jason Pfohl at Matria Arterapéutico.
Remember the feeling as a child
When you woke up and morning smiled
It’s time, it’s time, it’s time you felt like that again
There is just no percentage in remembering the past
It’s time you learned to live again and love at last
Come with me, leave your yesterday, your yesterday behind
And take a giant step outside your mind
Listen to Taj Mahal’s version of Take a Giant Step by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, religious pilgrimages, Virgen de Juquila, Virgin of Juquila on December 7, 2013| 7 Comments »
No doubt, tomorrow I will be awakened, long before the crack of dawn, by the cracks and pops of cohetes (rockets — all bang no bling) and the seemingly non-stop clangs and bongs emanating from the bell towers of the countless churches that surround me in Oaxaca city’s historic district. And, I’m sure, I will hear the sounds of a procession — December 8 is the feast day of the Virgin of Juquila (La Virgen de Juquila).
Flatbed truck on Constitución in Oaxaca city, Dec. 6, 2012.
According to legend, in 1633, when a fire burned the small Chatino village of Amialtepec to the ground, a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary was rescued amidst the ashes. She was undamaged, save for her light skin color, which was permanently darkened by the smoke, causing her to more closely resemble the Chatino people, who live in this remote mountainous region. Local priests declared her survival a miracle and she has been venerated ever since and her image appears throughout Oaxaca.
Image of La Virgen de Juquila along highway 175.
In 1776, the Bishop had a new temple built for La Virgen de Juquila in the nearby, but larger, village of Santa Catarina Juquila. Today, pilgrims continue to come, not just on her feast day, often making the arduous journey up into the mountains by bicycle or even on foot. They go to La Capilla del Pedimento in Amialtepec to fashion images from its clay soil — replicas of wished for items (cars, houses, healed body parts, etc.) to lay at her feet.
Side of a building in residential neighborhood of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca
According to this morning’s Noticias, the Archbishop of Antequera Oaxaca has called upon Catholics, as part of tomorrow’s feast day, to pray for reconciliation and peace in Oaxaca. That’s a tall order. The miracle of her survival has given La Virgen de Juquila the power to bestow miracles — such is the faith of her believers. We shall see…
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, urban art on December 4, 2013| 4 Comments »
Are you willing
to stick your neck out?
Currently sticking her neck out on Matamoros, between Tinoco y Palacios and Crespo.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged All Things Must Pass, cemetery, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, George Harrison quote, Living in the Material World, Mexico, Oaxaca, panteón, photographs, photos on November 30, 2013| 1 Comment »
Last night, flipping through my Cablemas channels, I happened upon Martin Scorsese’s 2011 film, George Harrison: Living in the Material World. I’ve seen this beautiful documentary before, could watch it many more times, and how could I resist, on Black Friday night, the wonderful irony of the title? I’m sure George is chuckling somewhere.
Yesterday marked the twelfth anniversary of George’s death (no doubt the reason it was being shown) and, as I watched and listened to Olivia describe the importance George placed on preparing for one’s death, I couldn’t help but reflect on Día de los Muertos. All things must pass; death as a part of the journey of being. And, some of this year’s Muertos photos seemed to be ready to let go of most of their color…
All Things Must Pass
by George Harrison
Sunrise doesn’t last all morning
A cloudburst doesn’t last all day
Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning
It’s not always going to be this grey
All things must pass
All things must pass away
Sunset doesn’t last all evening
A mind can blow those clouds away
After all this, my love is up and must be leaving
It’s not always going to be this grey
All things must pass
All things must pass away
All things must pass
None of life’s strings can last
So, I must be on my way
And face another day
Now the darkness only stays the night-time
In the morning it will fade away
Daylight is good at arriving at the right time
It’s not always going to be this grey
All things must pass
All things must pass away
All things must pass
All things must pass away
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged art, Mexico, Oaxaca, painters, photographs, photos, street art, urban art on November 25, 2013| 5 Comments »
A neighbor and I were standing on the upper terrace of our apartment complex, watching the guys paint the dome of Iglesia de San José (a future blog post), when I looked to the south… Hmmm, I’d never noticed the art on the side of that tall yellow building — and neither had she. I whipped out my little Lumix and took this photo at 12:25 PM.
At 12:26 PM, I was about to take a second shot when the guy, his staff, and the little church at his feet, began climbing up the side of the building. Whoa!!!
By 12:27 PM, they were gone…
At 4:02, while composing this blog post, I got up from my desk to take a look at the building again — trying to figure out where exactly this banana yellow 3+ story building is located. Imagine my surprise when I saw the guy and his staff back on the side of the building AND his twin on the far right.
What the @#$% ??? Unable to curb my curiosity, I took off in search of my on/off/on again friend. At 4:34 PM, walking south on Tinoco y Palacios (which becomes, J. P. García), I found him at 308 J. P. García (almost to Las Casas), hanging out above Veana (one of my “go to” shops for kitchen ware).
At 4:35 PM, from across the street, I stood on the sidewalk gazing up at this reappearing painting on the side of the building. ¡Un milagro!
At 4:36 PM, I still don’t understand… What was it we saw earlier today? A stencil? Artists, can you enlighten me? All I can say is, I am VERY glad this painter is fastened to a harness. Of course, I’m hoping it’s not just being hand-held by the two guys on top of the building!
People often ask, “What do you DO all day?” This is as good an answer as I can come up with!
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 