The Magic of the Cities.

Zen promotes the rediscovery of the obvious, which is so often lost in its familiarity and simplicity. It sees the miraculous in the common and magic in our everyday surroundings. When we are not rushed, and our minds are unclouded by conceptualizations, a veil will sometimes drop, introducing the viewer to a world unseen since childhood. ~ John Greer

Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Robert Brady Museum II







Robert Brady Museum
House - Museum : Cultural Center

In the shadow of the Cathedral of Cuernavaca the Casa de la Torre houses a unique collection of fine and decorative arts from all over the world. The visitor will enjoy a house-museum created in a portion of a massive adobe and stone XVI century Franciscan Monastery.

This collection (more than 1,300 pieces) was assembled by Robert Brady (1928-1986). Born in Iowa with a career in the fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tyler Arts Center of Temple University and the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, he established residence in Venice, Italy for five years before settling in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1962.  [Brady Museum]

More images in previous post here.


music+image


Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments, I appreciate them all. Stay tuned.


Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Cloisters III







The Unselfconscious Process
One of the most confusing and paradoxical aspects of Zen is its view of the self. Zen says we aren't who we think we are. While we are seen to exist in the relative sense, in terms of the absolute, the dance and the dancer are considered to be one. Many spiritual traditions have seen similar truths, and claim that by losing one's life, life is indeed gained. By emptying we become full. While no doubt confusing for the novice, its implication for the photographer would be to forget oneself, as much as possible, when taking pictures. This, in fact, is a very common experience among musicians and painters, who often report "losing themselves" in their art. In a sense, the picture takes itself. In the words of Henri Cartier-Bresson, "you have to blend in like a fish in water, you have to forget yourself." The artist becomes the process of creation. When something bigger than the persona takes charge, when Life itself is given free reign unhampered by our premeditated ideas of what should happen, the resultant pictures can be quite remarkable.
John Greer. Artist's Statement (Fragment)


music+image

Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments, I appreciate them all. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Cloisters II

Head, perhaps an Angel. Limestone. France. Île-de-France, about 1250.





Altar Frontal. Catalunya, Spain. ca. 1225


music+image

Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments, I appreciate them all. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Robert Brady Museum








Robert Brady Museum
House - Museum : Cultural Center

In the shadow of the Cathedral of Cuernavaca the Casa de la Torre houses a unique collection of fine and decorative arts from all over the world. The visitor will enjoy a house-museum created in a portion of a massive adobe and stone XVI century Franciscan Monastery.

This collection (more than 1,300 pieceswas assembled by Robert Brady (1928-1986). Born in Iowa with a career in the fine arts at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tyler Arts Center of Temple University and the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, he established residence in Venice, Italy for five years before settling in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1962. [Brady Museum]


music+image

Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments, I appreciate them all. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Day of The Dead



The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls' Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl.

Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world; for example, it's a public holiday (Dia de Finados) in Brazil, where many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their loved ones who have died. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the Philippines, and similarly-themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.


T I M E
Modern man thinks he loses something-time-when he does not do things quickly. Yet he does not know what to do with the time he gains- except kill it.

One of the worst forms of mental suffering is boredom, not knowing what to do with oneself and one's life. Even if man had no monetary, or any other reward, he would be eager to spend his energy in some meaningful way because he could not stand the boredom which inactivity produces.
~Erich Fromm 





music+image

Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments and I appreciate them all / Gracias por su visita.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Pont des Arts





The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge in Paris which crosses the Seine River. It links the Institut de France and the central square (cour carrée) of the palais du Louvre, (which had been termed the "Palais des Arts" under the First Empire).
Between 1802 and 1804, a nine-arch metallic bridge for pedestrians was constructed at the location of the present day Pont des Arts: this was the first metal bridge in Paris. This innovation was due to Napoléon I, following a design of English manufacture. The engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Dillon initially conceived of a bridge which would resemble a suspended garden, with trees, banks of flowers, and benches.
In 1976, the Inspector of Bridges and Causeways (Ponts et Chaussées) reported several deficiencies on the bridge. More specifically, he noted the damage that had been caused by two aerial bombardments sustained during World War I and World War II and the harm done from the multiple collisions caused by boats. The bridge would be closed to circulation in 1977 and, in 1979, suffered a 60 meter collapse after a barge rammed into it.
The present bridge was built between 1981 and 1984 "identically" according to the plans of Louis Arretche, who had decided to reduce the number of arches from nine to seven, allowing the look of the old bridge to be preserved while realigning the new structure with the Pont Neuf. On 27 June 1984, the newly reconstructed bridge was inaugurated by Jacques Chirac – then the mayor of Paris.
The bridge has sometimes served as a place for art exhibitions, and is today a studio en plein air for painters, artists and photographers who are drawn to its unique point of view. The Pont des Arts is also frequently a spot for picnics during the summer.
The argentinian writer, Julio Cortázar, talks about this bridge in his book "Rayuela". When Horacio Oliveira goes with the pythia and this tells him that the bridge for La Maga is the "Ponts des Arts". This is a great allusion of Cortázar for one of his greatest novels, even one of the best novels ever written.
music+image
New York, Washington, Paris, Vienna, Eisenstadt, Venice, Firenze and Rome series try to continue in Sketches of Cities. (At Least Once A Week)
Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments and I appreciate them all.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Day of The Dead / El Día de los Muertos


Ver.2

Alebrije [aleˈβɾihe) are brightly-colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. Pedro Linares first used the term to describe his papier mache creations.

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls' Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl.

Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world; for example, it's a public holiday (Dia de Finados) in Brazil, where many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their loved ones who have died. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the Philippines, and similarly-themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.


T I M E

Modern man thinks he loses something-time-when he does not do things quickly. Yet he does not know what to do with the time he gains- except kill it.

One of the worst forms of mental suffering is boredom, not knowing what to do with oneself and one's life. Even if man had no monetary, or any other reward, he would be eager to spend his energy in some meaningful way because he could not stand the boredom which inactivity produces.
- Erich Fromm

music+image

New York City and Washington series continue in Sketches of Cities.

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments and I appreciate them all. Stay tune.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Betsabee Romero. A vuelta de rueda II


Carrito de Cuerda. Instalacion de Betsabee Romero. / Clockwork Little Car. Installation by Betsabee Romero.

music+image

Gracias por su visita / Thanks for visiting.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Cancun I






In the fall of 1968, the creation of the resort city of Cancun was nothing but a gleam in the eye of a young Mexican banker named Enrique Savignac. The young banker and a small group of optimists searched every inch of the exotic Mexican coastline in search of the ideal spot to built their vacation paradise.

The lost civilization of Quintana Roo was nominated the future location where the young banker's dream would soon become a reality. This thin sandy strip of land was basically molded and shaped by hand to create 15 miles of modern five star hotels along the white sandy shore that have been enticing the world ever since. Cancun has grown to be one of the most renowned resorts in the world

Cancun has a big international airport and you can get cheap flight from many cities of the world with a none stop flight, competitive airfares year round on regular and charter airlines. If your cheap airfare comes with 3 or 4 nights in a Cancun Hotel, snap it up. Extend your ticket and spend at least 3 days exploring the rest of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Then you can rent a car or take a bus, and head South and see the best of Mexico's Caribbean coast.,Virgin beaches, Mayan Ruins, beautiful reefs, cenotes and many natural wonders as Garrafon in Isla Mujeres, Xcaret and Xel-ha.
Cancun is a wonderful resort town with a lot to offer. It is a top location for a big city, shopping and partying,a wonderful experience. It is great for a little weekend get away - stay at a nice five star hotel, drink margaritas, dance at the night clubs, play, the golf courses, dineout, and relax or shop during the day.

Cancun offers a large variety of aquatic sports and tours, as the pirate night, the jungle tour, snorkeling, diving, fishing, parasailing, almost everything.
Cancun is the preferred place for high school and college Spring Break students, and they have a huge Spring jazz festival and many concerts, special events and Dj´s in some night clubs like the City . You will have a guaranteed good time, a splendid vacation.

music+image

Gracias por su visita / Thanks for visiting.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Rebozo


A mother wearing a Rebozo ( traditional Mexican shawl ). The women moved with grace and dignity; the babies moved with them, wide-eyed and mostly quiet. It seemed so different from most babies in western cultures--these mothers weren’t constantly doing things to entertain the babies or to stop them from fussing. And the moms were out and about, laughing, socializing, shopping, working, hauling things--with both hands free!

music+image

Gracias por su visita / Thanks for visiting.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

The Swing of Delight III



The Danza de los Voladores de Papantla (Dance of Papantla's flyers) is a ritualistic dance in Veracruz, Mexico performed by the Totonac Indians. Five men, each representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb atop a pole, one of them stays on the pole playing a flute and dancing while the remaining four descend the pole with a rope tied by one of their feet. The rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four flyers, symbolizing the 52 weeks of the year.
This dance is thought to be the vestige of a pre-Hispanic volador ritual common not only in ancient Veracruz but in western Mexico as well.
According to legend, a long drought covered the Earth so five men decided to send Xipe Totec, the God of fertility a message, asking them for the rain to return. They went to the forest and looked for the straightest tree, cut it, and took it back to their town. They removed all branches and placed it on the ground, then dressed themselves as feet/birds and descended flying attempting to grab their God's attention [Wiki].
El Juego del Volador es una tradición mexicana que, para algunos antiguos pueblos indígenas como los olmecas y totonacas, era un ritual sagrado con un gran significado astronómico y religioso. También se práctica en el occidente de Guatemala. Consiste en que cuatro personas (simbolizando los cuatro puntos cardinales) se atan a un tronco alto y giran colgados alrededor de él 13 veces cada quien, sumando en total 52 vueltas, que eran los años que duraba un siglo astronómico para los indígenas. Aunque se suele conocer como Danza de los Voladores de Papantla, la evidencia arqueológica ha demostrado que se trata de un ritual muy antiguo y no circunscrito a la cultura totonaca. Se conocen representaciones de cerámica procedentes de Nayarit que parecen probar que el ritual existía por lo menos desde el Período Preclásico de Mesoamérica. En la actualidad sigue siendo celebrado por los grupos nahuas y totonacos de la Sierra Norte de Puebla y el Totonacapan veracruzano. Algunos grupos de indígenas de esas regiones se han trasladado a diversos puntos de la República Mexicana, como el Museo Nacional de Antropología en la Ciudad de México, donde hacen una breve representación del ritual indígena. En la celebración acompañada de danzas y música se utiliza un tronco o "palo volador" donde se ajustan varias piezas: una pequeña base, una cruz, un pivote que unirá y posibilitará el giro, y una escalera. En los extremos de la cruz se colocan cuerdas que sujetan a los danzantes voladores simbolizando los puntos cardinales, norte, sur, este y oeste. A más de 12 metros en lo alto de la estructura, se sitúa el caporal, personaje que toca un tambor y una flauta, y coordina el ritual. Cada señal que el caporal hace es un tipo de acrobacia, en una de ellas cada danzante volador disfrazado de ave saltan al vacío y giran 13 veces cada uno de ellos, con un total de 52, que representa los años que representaba un ciclo indígena. Finaliza cuando los participantes empiezan a abrir el circulo hasta tocar el suelo.


Gracias por su visita / Thanks for visiting.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Colonia Roma / Roma District


A culture space at Colonia Roma.
Fodor's Review: Recently, bookstores and cafés have helped transform this old neighborhood into the capital's full-blown arts district. The Galería OMR (Plaza Río de Janeiro 54, Col. Roma. www.galeriaomr.com. ) is tucked away in a typical Colonia Roma house, with an early-20th-century stone facade and quirkily lopsided exhibition rooms. This active gallery has a strong presence in international art fairs and art magazines. It's open weekdays 10-3 and 4-7 and Saturday 10-2. A short walk from OMR, Galería Nina Menocal (Zacatecas 93, at Cordoba, Col. Roma. www.ninamenocal.com. ) specializes in work by Cuban artists. The gallery is open weekdays 10-7 and Saturday 10-2, but the small staff is not always particularly welcoming to tourists who just want to take a look around. The Casa Lamm Cultural Center (Av. Alvaro Obregón 99, at Orizaba, Col. Roma. www.casalamm.com.mx.), a small mansion and national monument, nurtures artists and welcomes browsers with three exhibition spaces, a bookstore, a wide range of courses, and a superb café and a great restaurant that offers delicious international cuisine. Galería Pecanins (Av. Durango 186 at Plaza Cibeles, Col. Roma.) may be small, but it's a significant local presence. It's open weekdays 11-2 and 4-7.


Gracias por su visita / Thanks for visiting.