Update - January 25, 2009
Hello all
Haruko and I went out to San Augustine Etla to see Adan and Lorena yesterday and we are going to house sit for them for 10 days starting on Tuesday...when they get back we will search for another place to stay. In the meantime Lorena is asking around a little more and I am sure something suitable will show up Their place is stupendous...a n incredible view of the mountains and trees all around...birds, quiet!!! and no traffic. Did I say peaceful...it was the first time I took a breath and could relax. I can see trails going up the hills as well so I am already happy.
I was totally calm in only the few hours we were there--it is a good place. Thanks goodness for getting out of the city at last. So just a few more days here in the city now and we are gone to the hills. I think they have Internet and we will be able to stay in touch. Haruko and I are both working on ideas and I am following the political scene ...all is well.
We went to CASA--the art residency in Etla and heard from Lorena that the director and her staff all just quit. This was her contact there that was going to help us get in to CASA so even if we had organized something with them it all would have fallen apart...funny how things work out. Lorena and I are going to try to meet with the new woman in charge and see if there is any way we can stay or work there. The facilities are incredible--like Banff in many ways but empty and so wrought with political red tape that no one is working there and no one with any sort of dignity or drive will stay WORKING There...a sort of white elephant. Which is so unfortunate because the place begs to be full of artists and inspiration. We are both doubtful but we will see...everything is so officious.
Right now we are able to work in Adan and Lorena's studio which is going to be fantastic, their studio is incredible--an open air space with a tall roof and lots of space.
Ah well....Ad an and Lorena have the idea to have a residency in their property as well and are doing a lot of community work which is really in line with what LLAMA and I am doing. I am excited as I see this as a longer term project more and more--between these guys and what is happening in Hidalgo state with Cesar as well.. The women working with corn...there is a local family of Zapoteca women who have decided to not marry and continue with their ceramic career...big changes for these people. Adan is helping them create new images and forms to sell to tourists.
This is where the exchange comes in. And learning from each other. They don´t speak much Spanish...Zapotco...so I am keen to meet them and see what comes of it.
Adan is going to introduce me to his gallery owner friend in Mexico city as well you never know--it would be so good to have work here. People are buying--there are wealthy people and the gallery owner has connections. Slowly...the network grows.
Back to Oaxaca city now --We did see a military truck complete with camo and full face masks, drive thru the streets and disappear in the early evening--machine guns pointed out towards the street. I asked George(the American ex pat self proclaimed anarchist) about it and he says it is just a show of power to remind people they are there...sort of scary in a subversive way. Please don´t worry--these events are not escalating, they are just local small scale protests. Interesting to watch however.
I think things are going to go really well with the project, especially after talking to Lorena. There has been a lot going on for both of us but I am so much more excited about things after being here that short time and seeing the potentials.
Anyway...
Enough rambling for one morning...we have been out for our coffee and now I am going to get to work. i am helping the local protesters in the zocolo translate their documents into Englisher so they can hand them out to the tourists...
ok more later.
xo all
Joyce