A starved dog scratching fleas; a bear with its paw in a honey pot; a snake constricting a wincing jaguar; a startled cat; a woman with braided locks and an armadillo’s body. Every hand-carved and painted wooden figure, or alebrije, that the workshop of Jacobo Ángeles and María Mendoza produces is remarkable. The realistic and flowing movement, fanciful stance, or familiar pose, strikes a chord with each figure’s popular characterization. Continue reading Alebrijes Unrivalled in Oaxaca: Artisans Jacobo Ángeles & María Mendoza→
Since practically the minute Carminia Magaña set foot in Huatulco, Amigos de la Música de Huatulco has been enchanting audiences from across the municipio of Santa María Huatulco with concerts, performances, and art events. An accomplished painter herself, the petite, silver-haired dynamo arrived in Bahias de Huatulco in 1998. Having lived in Mexico, Europe, and the United States, she was looking for the kinds of cultural activities she had always used to fully experience particular places and people wherever she was. Continue reading Music’s BFF in Huatulco: Carminia Magaña and Amigos de la Música de Huatulco→
After dying in obscurity and being buried in an unmarked grave over a century ago, José Guadalupe Posada, must smile with some irony this time of year at his enduring popularity as Dias de los Muertos begins again. Whether you recognize the name, the work of Posada, who was born the seventh son to working class parents of Indian descent in Aguascalientes in 1852, has left an indelible fingerprint on the Mexican culture and continues to shape art, design, politics and spirit in the country. Continue reading THE ARTIST BEHIND THE SKELETONS→
With its unique ability to manipulate light stained glass has an “ah inspiring” quality which made it popular for decorating churches over many centuries. It fell out of favor during the Reformation, when churches across Europe were stripped of their ornamental attributes, and did not regain its popularity until the late 19th century during the “Arts and Crafts” movement. Continue reading GREAT GLASS→
The well-known Mexican author and philosopher Leonardo da Jandra is certainly no stranger in our midst. Although born in Chiapas in 1951, da Jandra has spent over 20 years in Huatulco where he lived with his wife, the painter Agar García. A large part of those 20 years was in Cacaluta, where part of the Parque Nacional de Huatulco and Laguna Zanate is located. He left for Mexico City in 2008 after being told by the authorities that his house was on private property (Cacaluta is also where massive development is underway on properties owned by Fonatur (Fondo Nacional de Turismo)). Among his more well known books about the Oaxacan coast are the trilogy La Almadraba, Huatulqueños, and Samahua. Other works include La Hispanidad, Fiesta y Rito. Though not available in English, those of us non-native speakers that enjoy Spanish literature will find his books challenging, with somewhat complicated sentence structure, extensive vocabulary, and colloquialisms. Not light reading. Continue reading Leonardo da Jandra→
A fascinating part of our trips in Mexico has been the opportunity to visit villages known for having artisans who create distinctive crafts utilizing locally available materials. In many of these villages, techniques for producing these handicrafts have been passed down from generation to generation, but the final creations vary over time and from one artisan to the next. The shopper’s challenge is to identify the most appealing ones, as no two are identical. Continue reading Craft Centers in Mexico→
For the past three years, Huatulco audiences have thrilled to the fabulous sound of the David Rotundo Blues Band. They perform two benefit concerts annually for “Un Nuevo Amanacer”. We all love his music, but who is David Rotundo? Continue reading David Rotundo Plays the Blues→
Have you ever thought about taking up a new instrument, but thought maybe, you were a little too old to learn something so complicated? Not true. Actually, learning to play an instrument, at any age, has dozens of mental and physical benefits. Continue reading Play Your Way to Health and Happiness→
Professional bass player Steve Webster sits on a bench in a downtown park, explaining “being at home in Toronto, I kept dreaming of coming back to Oaxaca; I needed to be here.” But it took becoming burned out over the course of more than three decades, first touring Canada, the US and Europe with rock bands, and then going to the office and feeling the daily pressure to produce TV commercial jingles, for him to come to that realization. Continue reading From Billy Idol & Alannah Myles, to Paul, Lila and Oaxaca: A Musician’s Journey→
Horacio Franco, the Honorary Artistic Director of Amigos de la Musica Huatulco, is known throughout the Huatulco community for his musical virtuosity, extraordinary generosity, and involvement in teaching the youth of this area to love music. His concerts here, ranging widely over the repertoire of music for the recorder, are attended year after year by enthusiastic audiences. And his educational programs are presented on the local radio and in schools. Continue reading The Pied Piper: Maestro Horacio Franco→
By Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D.
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