The Writing on the Wall

Even before I arrived in Mexico, I looked at images of the Tepehua Community Centre on google maps. The beautifully painted mural on the outside of the Centre was badly damaged. There was a lot of written graffiti in permanent marker.
When I arrived, I saw that a lot of paint had been peeled off and an attempted repair resulted in a color mis-match on some parts of the mural.
I first wrote about the plan for the mural repair on January 23rd, here: The Teens!

Although the repair started out with several enthusiastic guys scraping off loose paint and washing off the permanent marker, it dwindled down to nada in the days to come. Sometimes I would catch the teens walking by but only one, Junior, would stop. Even if for a moment, he would at least stop to tell me he could not stop- ha!
In the meantime, I was sourcing out paint, finding a paint store that could match the green we needed, gathering plastic bottles for mixing other colors and collecting drop clothes and cardboard to protect the sidewalk.
One day Junior agreed to meet with me. I asked him to come by himself. Mom and I got to work but Junior didn't show up. Hmmmm. As luck would have it, some of the young kids came and helped for a bit.

Sisters: Bere, Lily and Chuya couldn't resist helping us out! Thanks girls!

Mom agreed to buy the green paint and repainted the big parts of the mural with a roller. Pretty amazing!

The next day, a teen named Bryan showed up. He said he was an artist and would like to help out. I gave him one of the hardest tasks of fixing the sign. It took him a long time but he did it well. I was very grateful. While he was painting Junior came along. He is a nice kid and always ready to entertain the 'foreigners' but when I asked him to help, he said no. I asked both he and Bryan to come and help me at 1:00p the next day. It would be my last day in Chapala. 
Mom and I showed up early and got to work while it was still cool. To our surprise, Junior came as soon as he saw us and worked tirelessly for hours! Wahoo! Bryan came at 1:00 and the 4 of us managed to get everything repaired. A celebratory pose and photo was a must!
The writing was now off the wall!

Junior, on the ladder, was bushed by the time this photo was taken. He and mom mixed all the leftovers, and painted over the graffiti on the riser of the sidewalk.
 By 1:00p it starts getting really hot. Bryan puts on the second coat of yellow to complete the sun-repair.

Before and After of the side of the building.

Before and After of the front of the building.

Papel-Mache Mascaras- Parte Dos

On Sunday we had Part 2 of our paper mache mask-making.

It was a rocky morning with everything going wrong. The first day I had like this while here. I was determined to find a couple of glue guns but the main street was blocked off, so I couldn't get to the hardware store and the detour meant an unexpected 30 minute delay. I was hoping to get to the Centre early to turn over the paper mache, and put them in the sun to dry and it was cool and cloudy! What! No sun!!
I took the masks outside to put a quick coat of white paint all over the front of the masks. I usually do this for the students to cover the newspaper, and it means the first base is dry and ready to decorate. By the time I finished the white, the sun came out. I turned them all over, and let the underside completely dry.
All but two kids showed up but sweet little Fatima showed up and there was no mask for her because she hadn't come the day before. Everyone decided she should use one of the masks that was being left behind. And I used the other for demonstration. 15 masks were made in total! Petra, who runs the shower program joined in with her Grandchildren and Bere's and Chuya's mom came to help too! Dian, the Creative Director, had plans to paint her mask into a lion.
I laid out all the supplies I could find that didn't require a glue gun. Paint, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, confetti, tissue paper. The kid's eyes were wide. They watched me prepare and they were chomping at the bit to start.
I saw them all fighting over the paint-brushes, they were snatching up as many as they could and holding onto them. Hmmmm.... It is common that older siblings rule the younger ones, so they can grab a paint brush from their little sister's hand and the younger one can pout, but nothing can be done.
Hmmmm...
I stopped them all and took them out to an area where I could use my translator. I speak English into my translator and it repeats it back in Spanish. By now, they are familiar with my app (their first time seeing this). I told them that before we get started, we were going to work respectfully and help one another, that they only have one hand so they only need one paint brush, that we were going to share and be polite and not grab things from one another. I am POSITIVE that the ones who go to school know this! They all agreed and then...
Vominos! (Let's go!)

 

We piled back into the classroom where I did a demonstration of the paint and confetti. I told them that they can do whatever they want, but my demo was a heavy influence.
The kids set out to decorate their masks! What fun they had. Oh my goodness!!! What joy. One thing I did notice was the quiet. They were all concentrating so much and with such determination.
Mom and I were so wrapped up in helping that we didn't get many photos of them painting.

Anyone who teaches art knows that there is about an hour of preparation for a 1.5 hour art class, and when it's done, there is about an hour of clean-up, especially if you allow paint, confetti and white glue. The kids helped a bit, but once their masks were done, they were off playing leaving the adults to clean.
Chuya's mom was moping the floor but as soon as she left the mop for a moment, I snatched it up to help. But, this also seems like a no-no. Whenever we tried to clean the room, the women would not let us. She insisted on getting the mop back. I know that most retired people here, meaning the Gringo's, offer employment to house keepers and gardeners. Perhaps they think we all do this in Canada as well...?? Maybe they think we don't know how to mop a floor.

Papel-Mache Mascaras- Parte Uno

My mom is always a big help.

This weekend we took on the biggest challenge so far. With Dian's help, we decided we would try a 2-day workshop. Paper Mache Masks!

We were not sure we would get a good group to come on both days. But we did!
Today, Day 1, was all about learning how to mix the flour and water, how to coat the newspaper and apply it to the base structure. Petra and Bere and Chuya's mom came to help which is always great! Petra can translate for me even though she can not speak English. She is just so brilliant that she catches on quickly from watching me. As soon as she comprehends what I am asking of the kids, she repeats the instructions in Spanish. It's pretty awesome!

Celeste and Lupita

Looking good!

 

Chuya deep in concentration.

Faux Stain-Glass Windows

This week, before the Breakfast Program, I taught the kids to make a faux stain-glass window.
We glued ripped up pieces of tissue paper onto waxed paper and then put a frame around them. It was so busy, we didn't have any tables, so we just sat on the floor. Although I explained it and showed them to put it in the window, they really didn't get it until the end. They loved them!
This day marked the first of the 'lasts'. Last day teaching at the Breakfast program :(

Kids Work Hard

 

 The children here work hard. Like very hard!
I have never seen kids so aware of their adult surroundings. Once, mom and I were about to lock the storage door where the art supplies are kept, and the 2 girls who were helping us stopped us immediately and frantically reminding us that our purses were inside.
You can't carry anything. Kids carry everything for their moms. Even their little siblings! If they see you carrying something, they will insist to take it from you and carry it for you. This took time to get used to. Especially if I was carrying something very heavy. I'd have to insist on carrying it myself, much to their disappointment.
Last Saturday we ended art class with juice and popcorn. I gathered empty dishes up and put them in the kitchen. Mom went in to the kitchen to wash the dishes and they were all cleaned. We were puzzled for a moment until a little girl told us she had washed them all. What? Wow!
I learned just how hard they work when I was repairing a few other tiles on the floor. I had to chisel off the old cement and mortar. Jonathan's mom, Alma, cleans the Centre so he was hanging around. He's not really interested in my art classes. He saw me gathering up the tools. I asked him if he wanted to help me. He quickly took the tools from me and prepared the surface.

Then we went outside and broke some tiles. Each time he smashed a piece he exclaimed, "Perfecto!"
I showed him where the cement adhesive was and he prepared it by himself without hesitation. I was just watching to make sure it he did it right and while I stood there in awe, his mom walked by and told me he helps his dad all the time. Oh! But still! He's just a kid...
 

Then he helped do the mosaic tile.
Perfecto!

First Real Instructional Lesson

Until now, I have been teaching craft activities. But, I challenged myself to teach a real instructional art activity. I had taught hundreds of  kids back home to draw a compass rose recently. Using the translator app on my phone, I learned a few new Spanish words; punto (dot) and que sigue? (what's next?) and I was ready to go.
We had a good group of 13 students. Some kids arrived in the back of a pick up truck. Nothing unusual here.

I taught the class the same way I would teach any group of kids. I do the first step first. I use the chalk board/white board, but I also like to do it for reals. I get them to gather around and watch me do step one on the same paper they are using. I repeat the step over and over. I was teaching them to measure and telling them where to put the dots.  Then I send them back to their seat to do it. I float around and make sure everyone is doing it correctly.

This papa was hanging out watching. He got closer and closer and then he jumped in and helped his kids. Moonie said this was very unusual. The papa and I chatted and laughed. I didn't think anything of it. I'm glad he stayed.

Then I bring them back to my demo and do step two, send them back to their paper, etc...
"Observame, mirame, mira por favor/Watch me, look at me, look please." The kids had a great time. I could tell that some had never used a ruler before, but that wasn't unusual. At some point, we all learn how to use a ruler to draw a line from a punto to a punto.

As kids finished I help up theirs and announced it was finished and got the class to applaud. The kids quickly learned to bring me their finished drawing. They all want the group recognition of a job well done!

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.