2024 10 Oaxaca with Michael deMeng Siete

 Wednesday, October 30, 2024

After breakfast in the hotel today I took a walkabout in the Xochimilco neighborhood near the church and cemetery.

To get to this barrio you have to cross the Pan American Highway.

When I first came to Oaxaca some of these works of art were pristine but over time tagging ruins the art. I am not a fan. 

Back at the hotel I make another visit to the ofrenda in the workshop. 

We were ready to leave at 9:30 a.m. for our excursion to San Bartolo Coyotepec. That means it is time for 

OUT THE WINDOW #5

When we arrive in San Bartolo Coyotepec we are early for our first stop and intrigued by the school comparsa across the street in a park. 

Our first stop was the MEAPO (Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca). The first exhibition that I found was the absolutely gorgeous masks made in the village of Santiago Juxtlahuaca. Apparently the master craftsman from this region is Alejandro Guzman Vera and he is a carver, mask maker, painter and musician. 

The rest of the museum is equally full of interesting art. 

Miles Davis

Slash

The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci 

Occasionally I will admit to being confused by the translation

Someone had left the art they were making to dry in the sunny courtyard

After our stay in the museum we were able to walk over to the nearby church.

WALKABOUT #8

A second comparsa from one of the local schools arrived in the park across the street from the museum so we dove right in.

Translation: I want AMLO to continue

Next we visited the studio of Adelina Pedro Martinez, a barro negro (black pottery) artist. This type of black pottery has been done for generations in this village and Adelina is a descendant of one of the makers who is passing the skill on to a younger generation.

While we watched Adelina made this angel to be turned into a bell like the finished sample below. 

While Adelina demonstrated to our group her six-year-old grandson also worked. 

His finished project

How typical: a dog makes his stand while the cat just thinks, "WTF is the matter with you?"

I think this Buzz needs a Toy Story 6

The tourista feeding frenzy

Lunch was at the Villa de Zaachila.

Our drivers were a bit surprise at the size of their lunch order.

We were able to do something many cannot: travel to Cuilapan de Guererro to wander around a beautiful abandoned monastery. 

I keep checking out the ofrenda to see if it is "finished."

The hotel's ofrenda

The sunset view from my room tonight

At 6:30, some of us walked up into the Xochimilco barrio looking for celebratory happenings. 

The flowers for Dia de los Muertos are arriving

We decided to get drinks and food at Victoria before walking back home along the aqueduct.