lately, when i drink, i get terrible insomnia. i am exhausted and want nothing more than to sleep off the evening, but am wide awake. this night was no different...a few short hours of sleep, and then up early in the morning for a walk and some photos. i walked one last morning down to the cafe to pick up cds. for fear of getting them in trouble, i won't name the cafe name, but the owner has an enormous collection of music and for a little under $3 per disc, he'll make you copies of whatever discs you want. it was a total treat to go down there, listen to some music, pick out some discs, drink some coffee and just relax. i did this the day before, then came back early before class to pick up the goods. it was a good walk back, a nice morning, and though a bit tired, i was enjoying life.
today's class began by looking at contemporary mexican designers. viewing their work and hearing about their visions made me realize what a profound influence mexican art, design, culture has had on my own work. seems odd since i am not mexican. and i don't live in mexico. but i do live in san diego, and i did go to school at san diego city college, and i think there is a strong mexican/chicano influence there. it is a beautiful discovery, and one that is just furthered by this study abroad trip. people have asked me why i chose to live in san diego. i think the excitement of the border culture is a big part of it. and though i'll never fully be "mexican" and i'm sure i'll never fully understand what it means to be mexican, i can say that my work is surely a product of the living on the border. and i am very proud of that.
from class, we ventured out to a mask gallery and folk art gallery. these were located inside a beautiful bed and breakfast. the galleries were informative and the masks intriguing. wonderful insights into the culture through art. cultural beliefs that i didn't know...the distrust of the moors, who are almost always painted red, often with large and strangely shaped noses. interestingly, there were many masks of black people. apparently, though appearing uncomfortably racist at first, the informative cards next to the masks explained they were actually held in high esteem. apparently the negritos, as they were called, were slaves of spanish settlers. they had great knowledge of fishing and farming, and were respected by the native peoples for their knowledge of the land and their strength. it was an interesting viewpoint, and one i had not known. the other masks were just as interesting...skulls, bulls, saints, devils. famous folk characters. and all had been danced, which made them even more interesting. the folk gallery also had interesting toys and calaveras, as well as these beautiful cut-paper art works made from hand-made papers. they were some of my most favorite works from the trip, mostly for their graphic simplicity.
we left from there to do some shopping at akitsch, a really funky store that was closing. i got a lucha belt buckle, for crying out loud! too bad they weren't staying open. they had the most fun stuff i saw down in san miguel.
we had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant with the sweetest and funniest woman i have come across in a long time. she was chef, waitress, and hostess. oh, what a character! it took a long time, but was well worth it...a home-made tofu burger never tasted so good!
the evening ended rather quietly for me, with a bit of homework, some packing and some roommate time. i was happy to end it at this point. i still enjoyed the company most everyone on the trip, and yet, was looking forward to returning home.
