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 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 :(

Not to be Outdone!

The boys really wanted me to pose for a photo.
So, I did! ha ha ha
They laughed a lot and I don't know what they were saying. They really, really wanted mom to pose too, but she just laughed and said, no, no, no.

Later in the evening the girls showed up. They saw the alligator so, I had them pose. They were screaming while I took the photo...ha ha ha

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!

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.

 

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."