Today is about clay!

I feel so lucky to have hooked up with such amazing people. This woman who has lived here for thirty years has been showing me around Ajijic, and some surrounding towns. She knows the history, speaks Spanish and English and is very cool. Today she took me to a town that had an old Franciscan church where I met a man named Martin Ibarra Morales. He told us all about the history of the freeze work on the outside of the church including the Aztec influence. The altar inside was freshly gilded and was so beautiful. We then went across the street to his humble home where he showed us how he mad amazing ceramic objects. He gave me some clay too, which was so generous. Now I can start making some things. I think I'll make beads!

Day 4: Post running from the bull that is on fire and shooting fireworks at you!

The labor day weekend festivities culminated in a festival de la Santa Cruz, the patron saint day of the construction workers! Altars were put in front of houses and stacked with fruits, vegetables, flowers, and weird stuff like toothpaste and toilet paper. When the sun sets, people take whatever they want from the altars, and when everything has been taken from an altar, the owner of the house lights a paper mache bull on fire which sets off all of the 50 or so firecrackers that make up its body. Did I mention that this bull is carried through the street while it's on fire by a very brave man. The children taunt the man who runs after them up and down the street until the firecrackers stop shooting and the fire is out.

After being chased by several bulls, I kicked it on the side of the road with an old woman who I bought a six pack of modelo for. Her family invited me and my friend over for a chat. I showed them the videos and photos I took. Best day so far!

Hola from Mexico

All year I worked hard not only on my last year of grad school work, but also on the sculptures that would eventually become my culminating body of work. (www.tanyamoniquejewlery.com) Along the way, I was thinking about my future as an artist, and how I wanted to develop beyond grad school. This involved applying to various residencies and jobs. I had many interviews, but nothing panned out. One morning in March I woke up to an email that said, "Congratulations, YOU'RE GOING TO MEXICO!" I was ecstatic. It was really the residency that I most wanted, and that I had applied to it last year and did not get it.

Well, I'm here! I arrived on May Day without any complications. It was a smooth ride, and I am incredibly grateful to be here. I'm in Lake Chapala, which is in the state of Jalisco in southwest Mexico. I am in a very large apartment with my own studio with a view of Lake Chapala, a destination for vacationing Guadalajaran's, ex-pat's, and retiree's from America and Europe! My spanish is getting better and the people are friendly. One of the other residents, Karen Cohen and I, braved the public bus to Ajijic--Ah-hee-hic, which is the next town over to explore galleries, amazing food and coffeee! Ahh, the coffee. It is absolutely amazing!

Chapala is a bustling little town that wakes up at the crack of dawn. There's fireworks that go off intermittently, trucks with very loud sound systems playing all kinds of music, construction and improvements happening on our street which will culminate in a beautiful brick walkway that is an extension of the malecon (boardwalk along the lake). There is an election that is happening, so there are trucks with loud sound systems belting out propaganda, and people are parading for their favorite candidates. We happened to arrive on a holiday weekend that celebrates Mexican Labor day (all weekend), so I'm curious what the actual work week looks like.

I hope to post daily, so come by and check out my pictures and adventures in Mexico!

Mirror for auction

Each person from the enamel class contributed 1"X1" enameled tiles that were created using techniques they learned in the 4th session at Haystack 2012. The mirror was then donated to Haystacks auction which raises money for scholarships and upkeep. 

How Dave saw it.

Memories...

thanks Dave.

Salt Water Etching Set-Up with battery

Hey Haystack Friends,

I'm here in Madison. Thank you for such a wonderful time. I'm not sure when I'll be able to set my studio up, but I found these images on the web that are the set-up for saltwater etching using plain old batteries, a battery holder and alligator clips. Both can be purchased at Radio Shack. Happy Etching!

R.I.P. Bill Helwig

                                             Memorial on Enamel Arts Foundation website

I had the privilege of obtaining invaluable enameling tips from Bill this past year while working on a project with my professor Myra Mimlitsch-Gray. He will be missed!