Oaxaca, Mexico. November 2014 - Part Two

The City of Oaxaca

On my first day in Oaxaca I came across a wedding celebration outside Santo Domingo: an off-key band blasting traditional Mexican music, lovely dancers in traditional dress, and a drone flying over Santo Domingo photographing the event.

It was the perfect contradiction that I find all over Mexico; the honoring of ancient traditions with the acceptance of whatever is new, in this case technology. You've got to love this country.

SPECIAL EVENTS, November 2014

Day of the Dead
I wrote of this in the last post, but failed to mention some of the street activities like the sand paintings and murals that I passed every day.

A special exhibit near Santo Domingo showcased food and crafts of the season. I got to watch a man make a molinillo (the wooden whisk used to froth Mexican chocolate) using a lathe and a chisel.

Book Fair: 34 Feria Internacional del Libro Oaxaca 2014
Tents filled with books, stages for readings and discussions, areas for storytelling and kid's activities . . . (www.filoaxaca.com) I wished I knew more Spanish. . .

A very cool stand for book display.

Music Festival: Instrumenta Oaxaca 2014
Free concerts every day for over two weeks. Internationally famous musicians. Beautiful music in gorgeous venues. (www.instrumenta.mx) No need to know Spanish.

Guest guitarist Thomas Muller-Pering with a Oaxacan symphony orchestra.

MUSEUMS

I have a special connection to the Museo Textil de Oaxaca. (www.museotextildeoaxaca.org.mx) 

Eric Chavez, the educational director at the museum, was one of the first weavers we met in Teotitlan del Valle in the late 1990s. At that time he was innovating with personal interpretations of traditional Zapotec designs and experimenting with natural dyes. Now at the museum, he gave us a special tour in English of the exhibit of the work of Irmgard W. Johnson, a U.S. woman who traveled in Mexico documenting indigenous textile techniques with meticulous notes, drawings and samples of the clothing. The temporary exhibit changed at the end of my stay and I was privileged to see another stunning presentation of textiles died with purple shellfish, cochineal, and indigo and an accompanying photo exhibit of the works of Rafael Doniz.

Another delightful museum that should be on everyone's list is the Stamp Museum, or as it is officially known MUFI Museo de Filatelia de Oaxaca (www.mufi.org.mx). It's open long hours and is free (as is the Textile Museum). You will find amazing displays and filing systems as well as delightful open spaces. 

Both of these museums receive funding from the Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation (http://www.fahh.com.mx/). This foundation also funded the previously mentioned music festival and book fair. Every city should be so lucky to have private money supporting public arts (and other civic causes).

STREET LIFE

There is always something happening in Oaxaca. And even when it appears quiet, the parks and the architecture and the people provide easy entertainment.

To be continued in a future post. . .

(A month of activities with a camera or two in my hand at all times has made this "summary" quite difficult. I will post more photos and thoughts later, but for now I will turn my attention to the holidays.)