A little craft enjoyed by All!

When I was sorting the art supplies I found a large bag of wine corks. We turned them into little necklaces.

The kids really enjoyed it.

 

I'm talking to Junior. He was raised in Ohio, so he speaks English and Spanish. He's a really nice boy. I wish he came to all of my classes so he could be my translator. But, I got the impression that he is put in this position a lot. Fair-enough.
 

I think I am asking for the Spanish word for mouth. But, I still don't remember it...tsk tsk.

What a nice bright room to teach in!

This girl was very shy and very hesitant to try.

Sonrisa! (Smile!)

 

Learning the word smile was muy necesito! Muy necesito isn't perfect Spanish, but if I say 'very necessary' to most Spanish people, they would understand.
Sonrisa por favor! as I am talking a photo. Most kids are not used to having their photo taken. I always show them the photos. They all giggle and want to see themselves.
These kids were all at the breakfast program, and I taught a little art project on mosaico. On the board I drew a spiral, but my demonstration was the letter G para Gail. I tryed to explain that they can do anything design they want. Tu decide! You decide. A few kids started to draw the letter G. I caught them and one-on-one they understood. But one guy, I didn't catch him... His was the letter G. When I told him, we both laughed. J para Jose!

CBC Radio Interview::Mainstreet with Karen Mair

Karen Mair contacted me last week via Facebook and arranged a Radio interview about my artsy journey in Mexico. We skyped last Monday and it aired on Wednesday. How fun!
Loudon recorded it for me and you can have a listen here, if you missed it.
(Thanks Karen and Loudon!)
Click here: What's Gail doing in Mexico?

All the Photos!

If you would like to see all the photos from my trip to Mexico, and you are a Facebook user, Just click here: Gail's photos from Chapala, Mexico

I've also been doing a little art challenge for myself and if you'd like to see those photos click here:
Circulos de Mexico

 

 

Replenished, Organized and Ready

You can't make art without art supplies.
I designated $300.00 canadian dollars of my donated funds towards supplies.
Finding the right stores, figuring out what supplies were needed, deciding how to organize everything was a challenge.
                  
But with Bud's help, with my mom's help and some help from two sisters; Chuya and Bete, we got everything finished. Dian, the creative director came back from her trip to the US and I got to show her what we did. That was a lot of fun! These supplies should keep them going for quite some time.


BEFORE

AFTER

 

 

 

Dian and I discussed some options for a 2 day Art Camp, or a paper-mache mask making workshops for the upcoming Mardi Gras Parade or an art exhibition. She'd like to learn tie-dying before I leave.
Today I also found the perfect paint store where I bought the supplies to get started on the painting of the mural with the teens.

Another visit to the Chapala Malecon.

Sunday and Monday's are most everyone's weekend here, as most everyone works on Saturday. Mom and I took advantage of this. We had a lazy day on Sunday, getting up late and lounging for most of the day. around 2:00pm we went to the Malecon in Chapala to shop and take in some more of the sights. Last week, we were eying the very fresh Pina Coladas, but everything was so new, and we felt weary about buying from the vendors. With another entire week under our belt, we had no problem ordering one and we even opted to have it with rum  (con run). To our surprise we saw them add a huge amount of rum...like a double shot. We giggled out loud and the vendors laughed too. With the first sip, wow, it was just so fresh! We sat on a bench to enjoy.

We already feel less foreign here as we get to know the lay of the land and the sights and sounds become more familiar. Even the smells. Because this market is for Mexican tourists, we don't feel weird about taking lots of photos and posing in front of statues. But, I would like to note that within the hundreds of people at this market, we are very much a site by being 2 of the approximately 10 gringos we saw. Sometimes the kids stare and I can hear people talking about my hair. Some even say, "your hair!" with a thumbs up. ha ha Everyone is very friendly.
Mariachis and musicians of all kinds are strolling around ready to serenade you. We saw that last week, but this week, while sipping our Pina Coladas, I asked how much (cuanto cuesta). 40 pesos. Sure, why not! He asked us what type of song. Traditional Mexican was the only option I understood but I did ask him to decide (tu decide). I love the song he played for us. I loved his old rickety guitar. Afterwards I asked if I could take a photo. I told him this is my mother (este es mi madre). I heard him say oh, muy bonita (she is very beautiful) and he gladly posed with her.

Having him sing and play was like putting money in a juke box. Everyone else around us got to enjoy him sing too.
Further up the Malecon I found a band playing. I love the music. I took a video of all the people and all the wonderful hustle and bustle.
You can find this wee video clip here:
Chapala Malecon.

 

Mascaras (Masks)

Today we went to the Centre to offer an art activity during the shower program. The Tepehua Community we are helping in, is the poorest communities in Chapala. Most homes don't have running water, or if they do, they don't have hot water. The Centre has 2 shower stalls with hot water warmed by new solar panels. Each Saturday, an elder named Petra, also know as the 'Grandmother' comes and helps the kids get cleaned up. They may show up with soiled clothes looking a little defeated, but when Petra is finished with them, they have on clean clothes and they are sparkling clean and smiling. She even brushes their hair. And yes, I saw the girls, all with long hair, grimacing and wincing with each stroke.
I taught the same art activity I taught to the girls that helped us a few days ago; Bere and Chuya, in the hopes that they could help me teach it. But, they didn't come until after we were done. There was only 1 girl I recognized from the day before. Everyone else was new. I took a list of their names.

No one spoke English. I tried to tell them from the start that I would teach them art and they would teach me Spanish. They all agreed.
I told them were we drawing a mascara (mask) mas-kerrrrr-a. I did my demonstration, and they watched me first. Petra sat nearby and watched and listened and she really helped me teach. I would try to say a word in Spanish, like decorate is decorar. The kids would look with blank faces but Petra would catch on very quickly what I was trying to say, correct me and repeat it to the kids in proper Spanish and in a full sentence. "She's asking you to decorate your masks more." While kids were getting warm showers, she would wander over to the teaching area and watch and help. As kids emerged from the showers, they joined in.

 

There was the cutest girl and boy. I asked Petra if they were twins. Si. They must have been about 4. mom was helping the little girl. Mom would pass her a color, and when she finished with that crayon, she would hold it in the air and say something like, "Hey Americana, I need another color." and mom would go get her one. I was giggling each time I heard her yell, "Americana, Americana..." She was so cute.

The masks were done with a wax resist and the last part is messy. The oldest girl there took over my role of adding the black-wash to everyone's mask.

Later an older boy showed up. He sat back and watched. The more he watched what was going on the more interested he became. Slowly he was sitting with us watching. I introduced myself and showed him some of my drawings on Facebook and asked if he made art. He said he was so-so. He told me his name was Drummond, (We used the google translator app on my phone to communicate). He was 12 and he would like to do an art lesson with me. I asked him what he would like to learn. He said painting. Ok. I asked him what he would like to paint, a plant or an animal...no enthusiasm from these suggestions. I wrote the work skull. Si, si! I will teach him to paint a skull in grey-scale on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00. I told him, if he could think of anyone else who would like to try, to bring them. And I will try to pin-point a few older kids to join us too.

When we were cleaning up, he helped Petra put everything away. And I realized he was her grandson. What an amazing woman! And what an amazing boy!

The Teens!

 

 

 

 

When I arrived, Moonie told me about an incident where she found a group of teenage boys on the roof of the Centre smoking pot. She could have called to police but instead, she wanted to negotiate with them and have them help her with the Centre. She told me they have a hard time attracting teenagers.
On Thursday we had a little breakthrough. The teens were hanging around outside and I got to meet them. Moonie had Sandra, the caretaker of the Centre to translate for her. After some discussion, the boys agreed to repair the mural on the building. It had graffiti all over it in black marker and some of the plaster was peeling off. The boys and I discussed some of the things that need to happen. There were 4-5 of them talking to me at once- ha! I used google translate for a few words like paint, cover, marker. Two older men wondered over and were talking to the boys explaining how to repair it. One teen was writing down ALL the colors on the mural, but I could tell, that one of the older guys was telling him he only needed the primary colors and black and white. He and I motioned a few things, pointing to the primary colors on the building, and we understood each other. It was good. I will teach the teens color mixing and color matching.

Sandra from the Centre gave me her keys and mom and I went on the hunt. I found the outdoor key-vendor. "duplicado". He made my copies in minutes and it cost $1.90 cnd for 2 keys. Then I found the paint store. I was looking for a product that would "cubrir marcador" (cover marker). The woman suggested a wash that was used to take it off. I bought some to try. It was $5.00.

Yesterday the teens were already way ahead of me. After I taught the little ones, mom and I discovered the guys were already scraping the building. I gave them the product I found and we tried it. It didn't work effortlessly. We had to scrub it with a brush. And it didn't remove all of it, but I hope it takes out the potency of the permanent marker. One teen was telling me to just paint over it. I tried to explain back that paint won't cover permanent marker. I'm not sure he believed me. But, when I left them at it, they were using it and scrubbing away. I hope it works! My John also suggested an un-diluted wax stripper. When we start painting if permanent marker shows through, we'll try that.

Teaching the Kiddos!

I put up posters in the Centre listing the days I would be teaching an art class for kids (clase de art para ninos). On Fridays there is a breakfast program. Breakfast gets served at 10am on Friday, so I got to the Centre early and taught an art activity to some of the kids who arrived early. Other volunteers were there to pass out paper and crayons too. So many people volunteer at the Centre, it's really fabulous! The women who run the kitchen and cook the food are volunteers. They get tokens for thier help and they can use the tokens to shop at the store right in the Centre. It is packed full of clothes and other small household items.
Today the kids made a simple craft of a butterfly. I am learning so much Spanish. The kids speak no English except for the name of the colors and they love to teach me the Spanish word for the colors! I draw out the activity step-by-step and then write down the words for fold, cut, glue, etc. I'm not sure how much some kids can read but I can glance at the board and remember the word. This is the only thing that I do different here. I've been teaching the way I teach any group of kids. No one gets the supplies until they watch me first. "Observame!" I do it first and you do it second. After the demo, they have to repeat back to me the steps. First, you fold.... Second you draw the... Third you cut it out the...

 
Once they can repeat back to me all the steps then they get the supplies. I will help anyone who needs it. I drew the butterfly for a little girl and then the older kids wanted me to draw theirs. "No, poquito." (pointing to the little one.) "Facil" (pointing to them.) They get it right away and smirk. "No, she's only little, it's easy for you guys, you have to do it."
I asked the kids what the Spanish word for antennae was, when I made a motion with my hands on my head. They all said it at once: "Antenae!"

The kids had a lot of fun. It is really obvious that some have had very little art instruction or at least very limited opportunity to make a craft. When the meals were delivered, they did not want to stop. But, the Mexican women insisted we stop the craft so they could eat. We took away the scissors and glue and pencils until they finished eating. And soon after the meal the volunteers began to clean up. Next time I will get there earlier and hopefully the kids will get there earlier too.
They all know I am teaching again tomorrow. "Hasta manana!" as they left with their mariposa (butterfly). "See you tomorrow."

 

 

Take a Walk with Us!

 

You can here me huffing and puffing. I don't know why. I wasn't out of breath. I notice mom breathing heavy too. We think it's the change in altitude as we are 5000ft above sea level here.
click this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-EVIwNWQpU

Driving in Mexico

I have spent a lot of my free time studying maps.
Having a car here has been fantastic! And learning to drive here, where there are almost no road signs has been an unexpected challenge. When I do get lost I know I am just mixed up in a very small area but it's frustrating! The roads are on a grid and very narrow. Most are 1one-way streets, 1 street in one-way east, and a block over, one-way west and a block over, one-way east, etc. The same thing happens north to south. In lots of pockets of Chapala, the streets are not marked with names OR 1one-way signs. Maybe, on the side of a building, maybe not. There are no stop signs here. Every intersection is considered a 4-way stop. So, you merge, or the person going faster gets the right of way, it all works out. This has not been a problem for my brain.
The frustrating part is feeling like I am going the wrong way on a one-way and interrupting traffic. But Perry told me yesterday that the locals don't care. A ha! That's why no one shouted or told me I was going the wrong way, like they would in PEI! (I live on a one-way street and I yell at people if they come up it the wrong way!)
I also need glasses now to see my cell phone or to read a map. I have one map of all the 3 towns along Lake Chapala that I have been frequenting. I have been taking photos of Google maps with my phone and saving them in my Memos. One says Map TO Tepehua, another says Map FROM Tepehua, or SHORTCUT to Tepehua Treasure. Yes, I even learned 2 shortcuts!

So, glasses on to read maps, glasses off to drive...omg...so frustrating.
If I study the maps enough before venturing out, I am sure I won't get lost. I even walk around the towns using the Google guy but the maps were last captured by Google in 2012 and 2013, so I can't rely on landmarks there. Buildings have changed colors or stores have relocated.
Another challenge is the speed. When you or I come to a bumpy road we come to a crawl, but all roads (except the main roads) are cobble stone and all are very bumpy. But, you just go. You just drive normal. Repairing tires and shocks must be big business here!
Never the less, I would not let it stop me. I never hesitate jumping in the car. I just hesitate when I am trying to find something new. Today I told myself over and over, "I am not getting lost today, I am not getting lost today." and I found the restaurant where Perry's Shiner's Group was having a fundraiser and I found the Scandinavian bakery!
Today, I did NOT get lost!
You'll see what I mean! Here's a video of one street in Ajijic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLipreipzN4

The Search for Art Supplies

I decided I would and should organize the art supplies at the Centre before I buy more, to figure out what they have and don't have.

The shelves are full of stacks and bags of items, but it's hard to see what everything is. At the studio where I teach in PEI, it's hard to keep it clean, but each item does have a designated container or basket and shelf.
  
I bought some storage containers at Soriana's and Wal-Mart but I use a particular stackable plastic basket for pencils and color pencils that can be tossed around the tables easily and then stacked up by the kids easily. So, I was on a mission to find them! Crazy, I know!
Mom and I went to the Tepehua Treasures for a couple of hours to help Moonie and the volunteers do some merchandizing. This a great little shop where donated items are sold and proceeds go to support the Education program at the Centre.
<<please note, there are lots and lots of other things happening here, other community centres, education programs, private and public schools, cultural centres, etc., but my goal is to help the Tepehua Community Centre, so that's why it's the only one you'll see me writing about>>

These are products made in the Tepehua sewing program. I'm going to buy a set of the lovey pot-holders before I leave.

                            We helped put out new items that were donated and priced.
As it happened, I bumped into Bud there. Wow, this must be a small place! I bumped into the only person I knew! ha ha
He showed me where the dollar-store-like place was on the map he gave me, and the art store was not far from there in Ajijic, a community west of Chapala
After we finished at Tepehua Treasures, Moonie introduced us to another great restaurant where I had a taco salad of course!
And then the mission continued to find the dollar store. I got really mixed up driving on the bumpy roads of Ajijic. It's really hard to follow a map and read the street signs (although there are few) and drive at the same time. Not to mention, when someone on a horse walks by I get a little distracted! This was my first time driving in this area and its a compacted little area with narrow streets. I finally found the plaza. I parked where I could and we walked from there. The dollar store was closed for Siesta! Of course. We made it to the art store to get my own sketch book, and then decided to take in the sights of the plaza while we waited for the dollar store to re-open. We stopped for tea and explored some other small shops, and there were a few artisans selling at the plaza. Everything is so beautiful. Altough we're still window shopping, I stopped to admire some pottery. The young woman could not speak any English but numbers are the same. She wrote the number on her hand. 150$...so approximately $15.00 for a beautiful clay pot. Great price but I have to explore before I decide on my take-home items. She saw us later in the plaza and brought the pot to me with 120$ on her hand. Oh my...I resisted... Later she spied us in the coffee shop. She brought the beautiful pot over. 80$ on her hand. I bought it. I gave her 90$. That's about seven dollars Canadian. She was lovely and she had her little girl with her and in the end, I just wanted to give her anything. I may or may not take the pot back to PEI, but I do like it.
When the dollar store opened my mission was complete. They DID have the baskets I was looking for. I knew it! They also had most of everything else I need for teaching kid's art. Good scissors and colored paper, cardstock, paint brushes, pencils and erasers, string, clothespins, clipboards, bulldog clips, etc, etc. I am excited now. No need to travel up to Guadajara for these items.
I have $300.00 Canadian from my donated funds to buy supplies. I will spend $100 in the dollar store, buy a nice cart with wheels for transporting supplies from storage to classroom and buy a new, larger white board for the classroom.
I'm so excited!

Sunday Market in Chapala

 

 The Centre and the stores are all closed on Sunday. The Community is very catholic. Families spend their mornings in church and their afternoons with their families.
Mom and I ventured down to the outdoor market in Chapala, just a 10 minute drive for us. It takes place at the water front on Lake Chapala. There is about a mile of vendors in two, almost three rows. It was predominantly Mexican families. All seemed like tourists just like us, visiting from a different part of Mexico with their kids and grandparents. All taking in the sights and posing in front of fountains and statues, just like us. At the market, there was everything you can imagine. Some booths had more "American" products with brand names we'd all recognize, but most had local handmade crafts and clothing. And food vendors of course! They sell roasted corn on the cob, in the same abundance that you'd find a hotdog/sausage stand at our outdoor events.


There is also ice cream and smoothies stands and there were beer stands, not just beer, but any liquor you wanted. ha ha
We shopped a little, but we were warned to take it all in first before buying. There are other markets with other prices. And, you can barter here. Once I get the hang of asking some questions in Spanish, I'll be better prepared to shop. There are also street musicians with lots of music.
It was a gorgeous day. We found a fountain feature with bronze boys and a bronze statue of The Lady of the Lake. I'll have to research more about the folklore here. But even guys in Harley t-shirts were getting their photos taken with the fountain. Huh...
We ducked into a restaurant and asked if it was ok just to have a beer and take advantage of the bathroom and wi-fi. Two essentials I can't go without for too long-ha! On that note, a lot of people live on their phones here too...yes, it's true!
Other sights and sounds included the lake; families were taking boat tours and some venders who were serving bbq fresh fish were throwing buckets full of fish heads and fish guts into a large (hmmm...Loudon, what is the word for a group of Pelican's?) ______ of Pelicans. They let the kids throw it too, much to their delight. The pelicans drew a huge fascinated crowd. It made us much more comfortable with our own fascination!


There were people walking around selling flowers, and balloons but I was most attracted to this man with his face and arms stained red, he was presenting his heritage of the Native Mexicans, the people who lived here first, before the Spanish.

I gave him some coin and asked to take his photo. What happened next, I wasn't prepared for, but I wanted all of it to happen! ha He put the bandana on me and then put the feather in it. And then we posed for a selfie. I thanked him a lot. I will find him next week. Perhaps I will draw him!


We had supper at a restaurant that Moonie suggested with a dish served in a volcanic bowl. It was served steaming hot and stayed piping hot through our meal. It had chicken, shrimp and beef with peppers and onions and we realized the bottom was all cheese!! We ate it on corn tortillas as we watched families gathering for meals.

Mariachies wondered in and out and would serenade you at your table if so desired. We might take them up on it next time!
Mom and I talked about our experiences so far. We've only been here a few days. There is so much stimulus and color and sounds.
It truly is amazing!
We highly recommend it!