Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘street art’

Walls are watching

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , on June 13, 2017| 4 Comments »

Walking along the sidewalks of Oaxaca…

P1260601

P1260602

P1260698

P1260188

I get the feeling I’m being watched… by Oaxaca’s revolutionary street art.

Read Full Post »

Riding to the rescue?

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 29, 2017| 2 Comments »

We live in perilous times…P1250005

The signs are everywhere…P1260098

This guy can’t be the only one riding to the rescue.P1250841

We all must do our part.

Save

Save

Read Full Post »

Bus doesn’t stop here

Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Signs, Transportation, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 27, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Sorry folks, the bus doesn’t stop here.  Why?  You ask.  Doesn’t red mean “stop”?  Not here.  Not now.  There is DANGER; this edifice is in a bad state!

P1260143

And, make sure to produce, disseminate, and teach about the dangers of buildings in hazardous states of disrepair.  As Mother Nature has reminded us twice within the past week, this is earthquake country.

Save

Read Full Post »

Cats

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 7, 2017| 7 Comments »

“What’s your name,” Coraline asked the cat. “Look, I’m Coraline. Okay?”
“Cats don’t have names,” it said.
“No?” said Coraline.
“No,” said the cat. “Now you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are, so we don’t need names.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline

P1250132

The problem with cats is that they get the exact same look on their face whether they see a moth or an axe-murderer. — Paula Poundstone
P1250353
“Curiosity killed the cat,” Fesgao remarked, his dark eyes unreadable.
Aly rolled her eyes. Why did everyone say that to her? “People always forget the rest of the saying,” she complained. “‘And satisfaction brought it back.” — Tamora Pierce, Trickster’s Choice

Read Full Post »

Cultivating creativity

Posted in Agriculture, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 31, 2017| 4 Comments »

It’s good to be back in Oaxaca — land of mezcal.  Even the walls sing its praises.

P1240784

And, they are not alone — so does National Geographic, with their article, A Mezcal Boom Spurs Creativity.

Save

Save

Save

Read Full Post »

The best gallery is the street

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on February 18, 2017| 5 Comments »

Yes, we know… ephemeral it may be; effective it is.

p1230429

As do the artists of Gabinete Grafico, who bring their woodcut art to the streets.

p1230929

p1230920

p1230933

p1230930

p1230931

And yesterday, Gabinete Grafico’s artists inaugurated a brick and mortar gallery at Calle de M. Bravo 216 in Oaxaca city.

Read Full Post »

Signs of the times

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Politics, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on February 2, 2017| 2 Comments »

The walls of Oaxaca are speaking…

p1240788

p1240495

p1240782

p1240466

No comment necessary.

Read Full Post »

Missing the color

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 29, 2016| 12 Comments »

I’m still on the East Coast, now outside of Boston.  It’s cold (not freezing, thank goodness), dark by 4:30 PM, and colors are bland.  Today, as we dashed down an alley, dodging raindrops, from parking lot to restaurant, I caught a brief glimpse of a mural on the side of a building, but it seemed rather lackluster compared to the walls of Oaxaca.

p1220930

Calle de Tinoco y Palacios, Oaxaca de Juárez — Oct. 31, 2016

p1230278

Calle de Ignacio López Rayón, Oaxaca de Juárez — Nov. 9, 2016

p1230279

Emiliano Zapata (corner of I. López Rayón), Oaxaca de Juárez — Nov. 9, 2016

While I LOVE (I think that’s what the last one says) seeing my family and appreciate (more than a little) paper towels that don’t disintegrate, drinking water from the tap, and plumbing that can handle toilet paper, I’m homesick for Oaxaca.  Soon!

Save

Save

Save

Read Full Post »

If the walls could talk…

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 17, 2016| 2 Comments »

The US election results had come in and, with mixed feelings, I was preparing for a trip up into the belly of the beast, to visit family.  A mural seen shortly before I left, on the wall of contemporary art space La Curtiduria on 5 de mayo in Jalatlaco, seemed to speak to me.

p1230273

Today, after hearing of the death of Mose Allison, another musical great I had the privilege of seeing in person several times, I’m thinking the wall could very well have been singing…

Your Mind Is On Vacation
by Mose Allison

You’re sitting there yakkin’ right in my face
I guess I’m gonna have to put you in your place
Y’know if silence was golden
You couldn’t raise a dime
Because your mind is on vacation and your mouth is
Working overtime

You’re quoting figures, you’re dropping names
You’re telling stories about the dames
You’re always laughin’ when things ain’t funny
You try to sound like you’re big money
If talk was criminal, you’d lead a life of crime
Because your mind is on vacation and your mouth is
Working overtime

You know that life is short and talk is cheap
Don’t be making promises that you can’t keep
If you don’t like the song I’m singing, just grin and
Bear it
All I can say is if the shoe fits wear it
If you must keep talking please try to make it rhyme
‘Cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working
Overtime

Read Full Post »

Art walk, Oaxaca style

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , on October 12, 2016| 2 Comments »

Street art in Oaxaca comes, goes, and appears anew…

p1220634After being away for a month…

p1220635

New art greeted me on the walls and poles of Calle de Tinoco y Palacios…

p1220633_crop

As I made my way up the hill on Monday’s grocery shopping trip to the Mercado Sánchez Pascuas…

p1220631

One of the delights Oaxaca brings to the mundane…

p1220637

And, being car-less, one of the joys of errand walking!

Read Full Post »

Two years and counting…

Posted in Creativity, Culture, People, Politics, Tragedy, Violence, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 26, 2016| 2 Comments »

It’s been two years since that tragic night in Iguala, Guerrero when busloads of students (normalistas) from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers College were violently attacked.  Six students were killed, 25 were injured, and 43 disappeared.  It’s been two years of agony for families and friends.  It’s been two years of questions and discredited answers for the people of Mexico.  And, it’s been two years of artists around the world doing their part to not let us forget.

p1190763

p1190767

p1190768

p1190769

p1190766

p1190765

p1190772

p1190773

p1190778

p1190777

p1190776

p1190775

p1190781

Images of some of the missing by Asamblea de Artistas Revolucionarios de Oaxaca (ASARO) seen June 18, 2016 on Av. Morelos in Oaxaca, including 18-year old Cristian Tomás Colón Garnica from Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca.

Read Full Post »

God and resistance…

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Education, Labor, Politics, tagged , , , , , , , on August 16, 2016| 2 Comments »

Murals seen in mid July on Garcia Vigil, between Independencia and Morelos.  A month later, they have been painted over, but in Oaxaca, god and resistance never die…

P1200168

P1200169

P1200172

P1200174

P1200175

P1200396

P1200404

The public school fall semester is scheduled to start Monday, August 22 and, as you can see from the Oaxaca-The Year After blog post, for good reason, no one is holding their breath.

So, while we wait, take a deep breath, exhale, and watch Lila Downs performing Dios Nunca Muere live HERE.

Save

Read Full Post »

Hearts and flowers

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »

A pause in the Guelaguetza action…

I was last on Callejón de Hidalgo about a month and a half ago and a new (to me) mural charmed me.  I’ve been meaning to post photos, but there has been way too much going on and they got lost in the pictures shuffle.

P1190669

Murals are usually a “no-go-zone” for graffiti.  However, yesterday, walking with friends, I again found myself on that lovely little lane, but was dismayed to discover someone(s) had tagged Peter Cottontail and his tree-lined neighborhood with graffiti.

P1190666

I don’t know who you are, Mainy-Dauer, but I want you to know your mural made be smile.

P1190667

I’m glad I have the above photos to remember it by.

 

Read Full Post »

Let’s dance

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Education, Music, Protests, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 1, 2016| 9 Comments »

Oaxaca quote of the day, as posted on Facebook by my friend and neighbor, J:  “Antes, no salía sin checar el clima.  Ahora no salgo sin checar los bloqueos.”  Translation:  “Before, I didn’t go out without checking the weather.  Now, I don’t leave without checking for blockades.”

Mexico’s Interior Secretary, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, is refusing further dialogue with the CNTE (teachers and education workers union) until the blockades are lifted, the CNTE is vowing to intensify its actions around the country, and rumor has it that masses of vacant hotel rooms in Oaxaca (thanks to large-scale cancellations) are being filled by federal police.  There’s a dance going on in Oaxaca, I don’t know the steps, but in the meantime, let’s put on our red shoes and dance the blues.

P1190859

Let’s Dance
by David Bowie

Let’s dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues

Let’s dance to the song
they’re playin’ on the radio

Let’s sway
while color lights up your face
Let’s sway
sway through the crowd to an empty space

If you say run, I’ll run with you
If you say hide, we’ll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower

Let’s dance for fear
your grace should fall
Let’s dance for fear tonight is all

Let’s sway you could look into my eyes
Let’s sway under the moonlight,
this serious moonlight

If you say run, I’ll run with you
If you say hide, we’ll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower

Let’s dance put on your red shoes
and dance the blues

Let’s dance to the song
they’re playin’ on the radio

Let’s sway you could look into my eyes
Let’s sway under the moonlight,
this serious moonlight

 

Read Full Post »

Halftime in Oaxaca

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Education, Labor, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 24, 2016| 2 Comments »

It’s halftime in Oaxaca and all is quiet.

P1190801

Local vendors are selling food, drink and paraphernalia. Though El Financiero is reporting that grocery chain Soriana is temporarily closing some of their stores in Oaxaca and Chiapas, blaming blockades and security concerns.

P1190802

The teams have retired to their respective locker rooms to tend to the wounded and bury the dead (literally).

P1190805

Mascots continue to fire up their supporters in a war of Tweets, Facebook posts, and media talking heads…

P1190810

As fans (fanáticos en español) await the resumption of play.

P1190807

But, all most Oaxaqueños want is a peaceful and fair end to this infernal battle.  Let’s hope something can be worked out when negotiations resume on Monday.

During this lull, English speaking readers might want to check out Dave Miller’s blog and/or listen to an interview with Laura Carlsen (Center for International Policy) for background on the issues involved between the education workers and the government.

Save

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »