Maria von Bolschwing

Yarn painting – images of a vanishing culture

The Huichol Indians, whose pre-Hispanic culture still survives in the remote Sierra Madres ranges, live a life woven of magic and sacred mythology. Believing themselves to be that part of creation which entertains the Gods, Huichols are sustained by their earthly representatives – corn, peyote and the deer – thus symbolically renewing their divinity daily. […]

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Fragment of the mural: “People and landscape of Michoacán”

Alfredo Zalce: Mexican muralist and Michoacan’s living legend

Alfredo Zalce, at age 94, is the elder of Mexico’s last living renowned, great revolutionary muralists. He was born in Patzcuaro, in the state of Michoacan, on January 12, 1908. During his early years he became friends with Mexico’s older great artists, including Rivera, Tamayo, Siquieros, Orozco, and Kahlo. He founded art schools and organizations […]

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Tamara Johnson, pictured here looking out over the lake from in front of the Old Posada, near Ajijc pier, with her faithful dog Gordo, is going to take us on a tour of Ajijic, in about 1970... Photo by Beverly Johnson. All rights reserved.

A tour of Ajijic, Chapala, Mexico, in about 1970

In the early 1960s, Ajijic was gaining something of a reputation as a hang-out for ‘bohemians’ and later for hippies. Historian and MexConnect author Jim Tuck once described 1965 in Ajijic as “The Year of the Purge” when “resident hippies were unceremoniously escorted to the city limits”. In Tuck’s words, “Those who remained were serious […]

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Mexico's markets: Mercados de Mexico

Mexico’s markets: Mercados de Mexico – a photo gallery

Many of us don’t spend enough time really delving into the heart of a Mexican city — the open-air market (mercado). Fresh fish caught that morning, fresh produce, beautiful cloth, sweet bread and wonderful food like chile rellenos on a stick and roasted pork — all are available quite inexpensively at the mercado. Venture into the mercado […]

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Mexico: A Higher Vision

Mexico, a Higher Vision: An Aerial Journey from Past to Present by Michael Calderwood

Cogan’s Reviews This is the first coffee-table book I ever reviewed and I have to say right off the bat that it’s a winner. It is made up of some 200 photographs from all parts of Mexico – all of them taken from a high elevation, either an aircraft or mountaintop or, occasionally, a tall […]

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