drag

"To define gender as exclusively male and female is to limit the infinite possibilities of being. Whenever anyone has attempted to fit a neat little label on me, my inner punk diva forges to the forefront in protest. Gender is fluid. It shimmers with ambiguity. It is confusing, not confining. It is dangerously delicious. It is a constantly evolving choice. It is mutable and malleable. Gender is a balancing act. Gender is drag. It is an inside job of attitudes and behaviors not limited by the costume of appearance. Gender encompasses a spectrum of options and a kaleidoscope of desires and delights." Maureen Fischer - actor and drag king (above is my stencil tribute to MF)

fiesta

Always a fiesta in town. Last night the tradional flaming toros, cherry bombs, music and dancing.

propaganda

I'm thinking this morning of propaganda and the wierd disturbing pycops operations that the US wages. How come this stuff isnt widely published?

tgvg day reminders

"We have to remember that land in America was largely acquired dishonestly by outright theft and by breaking treaties with the first peoples of this land. American History that only considers the false myths as truth will always diminish the past and present lives of Native American Indians."
Robert Two Bulls

"Is it because as Americans we have a deep need to believe that the soil we live on and the country on which it is based was founded on integrity and cooperation? If we dare to give up the “myth” we may have to take responsibility for our actions both concerning indigenous peoples of this land as well as those brought to this land in violation of everything that makes us human. The realization of these truths untold might crumble the foundation of what many believe is a true democracy. As good people, can we be strong enough to learn the truths of our collective past? Can we learn from our mistakes? This would be our hope." Deconstructing the Myths of “The First Thanksgiving”
by Judy Dow (Abenaki) and Beverly Slapin

cruz

portraits

Continuing my stencil work. My stuff will be on display in an exhibition at the biblioteca just off the Alcala for a month. Groovy eh?

artshow

I'm happy to report that i had my very first showing at a gallery tonight. Corner of the Alcala (tourist walk) and Morelos in the centro historico. First photo is view right outside the gallery, and my pieces are the three there in the upper right pic.

plantains, chiles and tamarind candy

My friends K and T brought over some very ripe (black) plantains the other night. Fried up they made for an excellent dessert. I could eat them every single night! and Speaking of food, here are a few of our favorite things. •Fresh passionfruit/maracuja juice from the pochote market. •Coffee at Nuevo Mundo cafe (on M.Bravo 206) where i sometimes meet my intercambio (language exchange) partner and friend G. •Sausages and sauerkraut from the germans who sell their goods at the organic market every friday/saturday. •Fresh tortillas from the tortilleria •Mangos (the small yellow ones, or ataulfo). •all the varieties of chiles! •and the cayenne dusted tamarind candies. Here are some market scenes above

elote

Here's a little painting i did on a small metal comal plate. Corn, comal, tortillas and sun. We have a tortilleria around the corner from us where you can buy fresh tortillas daily. yum!

obra

Here are two pieces i'm working on. 45cm x 45cm.

blur

Only rarely does something comes into sharp visual focus - because life is also movement, emotions, and sensation.

1910

Nov 2oth is the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

stencils

My very first stencil. Thanks to Miguel for letting me use your mug! By the way, check out this work by LoganHicks- simply amazing. He is a stencil guru. and when i get home, i want to do some stencils on vinyl.

Maguey

Lovely photo that M took last night - thought i'd throw it up here. These maguey/agaves are in front of SantoDomingo church which is just three blocks from our house.

retablos

Here are a couple of retablos from the early 1900s.

poem

Here's a little art/poem collaboration between me and Lars L.

cerro fortin

View from the top of CerroFortin here in Oaxaca. Great spot to excercise and birdwatch.

mutualism

Oh yes- I have discovered a little ant-aphid mutualism going on in my potted plant. Check these guys out. These ants are feeding on the aphid plantsap waste. yum! and do you know that in some cases ants tend colonies of aphids (which includes protecting them and moving them around from plant to plant).

oaxaca scenes

Here are some photos I’ve taken throughout my time in Oaxaca (just over 8mos now) : A weaver in Teotitlan, interesting transportation in Tlacolula, carved gourds for sale, tejate mixing, tlayudas at the pochote organic market, and parade during guelaguetza.

TLRs

Old cameras are so cool, esp TLRs. Check out this miniature digital Rollei TLR. So crazy.
And these Hasselblad cameras make me drool.

contactsheet

Was feelin the creative vibe. put together this montage which includes zocalo night shots.

muerto

Well as you can tell from my latest sets of photos that it's day of the dead here in mexico. Oaxaca has been filled with flowers and candles. We made our own altar here at the house. On the altar, we placed photos of our loved ones who have died along with flowers, fruits, candies, chocolate, and copal incense.

velas

Some evening scenes during day of the dead. Glow of candles on the altars at night and a walk through the panteon general (cemetary).

smokin

phonecall

altar