Focus on Mexico Blog

The Maestros del Arte, which runs from November 10-12 this year, is a visual feast for the eyes...so many artesanias, so many friends to meet and greet and so many bargains to be had. We headed to Ajijic early for the amazing gathering of some of Mexico's best artists. Pictured here, Jacobo Angeles Ojeda, an extremely talented young woodcarver of folk art animals and creatures called alebrijes, showing one of his most beautiful pieces.

We like to get there early on the first day of the show to grab some of our favorite pieces, which go fast. And, there's always a line at Jalisco's Centro de Integracion Tapalpa, A.C, a very special school whose children create animals and sculptures of whimsical and imaginative design made of papelmalecho (papier-mache).

All the money raised from the raffle goes to Amor en Accion, Brazos Extendidos AC. (Love in Action, Open Arms A.C.) is this year's recipient of the money raised from the Feria Maestros del Arte raffle. This group provides care for 30 children, 10 of them attend the nearby afternoon elementary school, 4 attend pre-school, 3 attend school for children with special needs, and the smaller children remain at the shelter where they are provided with care and diverse recreational and educational activities.

One of the places we visit in Guadalajara is the Instituto Cultural de Cabanas, near Tapatio Plaza. It was formerly an orphanage from the 1800s. Today its domed ceilings are covered with massive murals painted by Orozco, depicting the history of Mexico.

Orozco reached the summit of his art with the frescos he painted in this building. They include a historical panorama of Mexico showing the pre-Hispanic world of the great Indian civilizations, the Conquest, visions of the downtrodden, public service as opposed to demagoguery, the perils of alienation and dictatorship, the Revolution, creative activity and a man engulfed in flames, evoking a Promethean theme which had appeared in his previous work. The twenty-foot-high figures stare down at you, including Aztecs, severe Spanish Conquistadors, innocent looking priests, and leaders of the Mexican Revolution such as Hidalgo and Allende.

When we go to the Ballet Folklorico, one of the more popular and most famous dances of Michoacan is El Baile de Los Viejitos or Dance of the Old Men.

This was a chance to mock the Spanish ruling class by doing a dance hunched over like old men with canes. They would wear a mask looking like an old European (pink face with white hair). The masks are usually gap-toothed and the dances mimic old men with hunched backs and walking canes. This stance is alternated with bouts of lively leaping and dancing, in a "world turned upside down" type of comedic presentation. The dancers leap about with little grace, which gives rise to much laughter at their manner.

Focus on Mexico's last night with the group is traditionally held at La Bodega. However, we made a few changes during this program, because on Tuesday night, La Bodega was having a Tecalitlan Female Mariachi Dinner Concert. Female mariachis? Yes, although they have been a rarity in the past, this is beginning to change. Whether performing in nightclubs or headlining in concert halls, all-female mariachis are becoming a fixture in the male-dominated mariachi industry.

These young ladies were awesome. They were not only wonderful to listen to, but quite expert at the various instruments they were playing: guitars, trumpets, violins, vihuela (small guitars), and guitarrones (large six-string versions of the vihuela). The ladies wore a skirted version of the traditional traje de charro, which is the riding suit worn by the Mexican horseman. They had great stage presence and even came into the audience to share their wonderful voices up close and personal with us. It was a great evening of listening and dancing.

Sue Ochs even had the presence of mind to grab the tip money collected by a not-so-steady-on-his-feet concert goer and deliver it to the young ladies as an extra thank you for the marvelous evening.

During our first group in January, we spent one of our evenings at La Bodega dining and dancing to the wonderful music of Carol Bedford. Bill and I have lived at Lakeside now for three years, and I can't believe this is the first time we've ever heard Carol sing. That's Bill and me dancing, and Carol in the background.

I can't believe I didn't get a better picture of her! Carol is a local singing star in the area and I read on one web site that "she is blessed with "Perfect Pitch," and after listening to her this night, I DO believe! She sings a variety of music, but being a fan of ballads, I loved her renditions of Anne Murray and Emmy Lou Harris, as well as many others...too numerous to mention. I think she even sang a Patti Page song, and beautifully, I might add, but having been blessed with a poor memory (never can remember if or why I'm mad at someone!), I just cannot remember all the music she sang. I just know I enjoyed the evening thoroughly. And, since many of our participants bought CDs and danced the night away, I am positive they enjoyed themselves also.

One thing I found out recently and that many people don't know about Carol is that she was not only California's Country Music female vocalist of the Year, for two years in a row, but that she was a lawyer and a family court Judge in San Diego. Can't wait to hear her again. So glad you're at Lakeside, Carol. Looking forward to another show soon! And this time, I'll be sure to take a better picture!