Beyond Nat Geo: Tales of the Tarahumara
In the recesses of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Northwestern Mexico lies the Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon), a natural wonder considered to be yet more spectacular and raw than the Grand Canyon. It is in the gorges, twists and bends of the Barranca del Cobre that the Tarahumara keep their ancient customs and rituals [...]
Mind Scraps: The Magical Mystery
Yesterday, Bob treated me to both lunch and dinner… and salsa lessons in between. First, homemade spinach ravioli at Andre’s Confiserie Suisse complete with cinnamon tea, cream filled cake covered in marzipan and fine coffee. Wow. Then salsa lessons… we got vid of a cool dance sequence for women… so I’ll be able to practice! [...]
Don’t Go Back to Sleep…
From the Persian poet Rumi: The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you Don’t go back to sleep You must ask for what you really want Don’t go back to sleep People are going back and forth across the doorsill Where the two worlds touch The door is round and open Don’t go back [...]
Mind Scraps: Finally Film
Exciting news! The man featured in the documentary “Being the Diablo” has invited me to collaborate on another documentary film – this time, one that features the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon. I’ve been itching to get more involved in documentary and film making for too long now. Finally… I am! **** Helped film two most interesting [...]
What Makes a Rarámuri a Rarámuri?
They observe the ceremonies. They protect the forest. They run. “At the heart of who they are is running,” Will Harlan. “Where we see giving as something extra or something that you should get praise for, to the Rarámuri, giving is just so ingrained in who they are that it’s not something that you have [...]
Celebrities Tweet, Begay Creates
From Lost at E Minor: Got a spare five minutes to kill? Check out the Museum of Modern Celebrity Tweets. Every Tuesday, talented artist Odessa Begay creates a visual representation of a celebrity’s 140-character message, unless, in his words, ‘my hands fall off and my computer explodes’. Simple, really.
The Tarahumara: Truth Speakers and Champions of Women’s Rights?
In preparation for my trip to the Copper Canyon in Mexico early this March, digging up more info about the intriguing Tarahumara: Perhaps the purest and most unmixed of any Indian tribe in Mexico, so little is known about them that their true name “Raramuri” was corrupted to “Tarahumara” by white men and never corrected. [...]
Fair Trade Honey in Guatemala
Coffee is the fair trade commodity of choice in Guatemala, but the Tennesean reports that some university students are aiming to broaden the spectrum of fair trade goods produced in Guatemala. An excerpt from Entrepreneurship Can Help Rebuild Communities by Jeff Cornwall: The town of Chajul, located in the mountainous region of Quiche in northern [...]
Mind Scraps: Rollercoaster
Oh life keeps jerking me up, down and side-to-side. Don’t really have much energy to elaborate too much. So just some quick notes: Connecting with new people passionate about the Tarahumara every hour it seems. Kindred spirits. Connections, goals and timing so crazy spot on that it’s more than “coincidence.” Excitement! **** Timing not right [...]
Waiting
In this technology-driven world of globalization, waiting can often be considered as a negative, as synonymous with unproductive and lazy. But in less developed parts of the world, waiting is simply a fact of life. Waiting for the bus, waiting in line… just waiting. And, when surrounded by the rustic beauty characteristic of developing nations, [...]
Mind Scraps: Bound for Mexico
Bob came by for lunch. He has treated me several times so this time I cooked him a veggie stir-fry with my infamous salad. Of course, I’ve learned yet more about Bob and his most interesting life pursuits. Looking forward to kicking it with him this weekend before I go. *** Had an invigorating swim [...]
Bienvenidos Colonial
Peeking through gates and doorways to glimpse the ornate courtyards that lie within is one La Antigua’s of many charms. The beauty and grandeur of each unique colonial expression never fails to make you catch your breath… 5×7: $10.00 8×10: $20.00 11×14: $32.00 16×20: $45.00 *additional shipping fees apply **more sizes available upon request All [...]
Mind Scraps: The Legendary Tarahumara
It’s been all about delving deep into the rabbit hole today. I’ve been investigating a visit to the Chihuahua region of Mexico. I knew next to nothing about Mexico’s largest state/department before this morning. Now, I am pretty darn stoked about the region’s highlights: 1. Home to Mexico’s two largest waterfalls – one of which [...]
Introducing Mind Scraps
I keep coming back to this idea of posting every day. Still working on making it stick. I tend to have two posting seasons: flood season and dry season. Ha. But, after discovering the journal entries from my first trip abroad in Italy (which I just published in Unearthing Firsts), I am once again inspired [...]
Unearthing Firsts
It was my first experience abroad. July 2004. Eighteen going on nineteen. Finally travelling to the country of which I had always dreamed. I scribbled much less than I experienced. But, there are some nuggets of reflection to enjoy from my one month studying abroad in Bergamo, Italy: July 03 2004 Charming Italian man with [...]
Trading Cubicles for Cardboard Boxes
“I would rather live in a cardboard box on a street somewhere and make art, than spend my life in a cubicle doing something I didn’t want to do.” ~Dominique Elise This quote from an up and coming artist caught my attention. Here’s more about the artist: Her first album, “Outside Influence” (available on iTunes [...]
Colonial Courtyard
Step beyond the shadow of the arch and escape – escape to another time, to another place. The Spanish colonial courtyards of La Antigua Guatemala all beckon, yet each boasts its own unique personality. Which is right for you? 5×7: $10.00 8×10: $20.00 11×14: $32.00 16×20: $45.00 *additional shipping fees apply **more sizes available upon [...]
Dim Wit
I peered within to find… nothing seemed to be lit inside. Limited Edition Photograph 5×7: $20.00 8×10: $30.00 11×14: $42.00 16×20: $55.00 *additional shipping fees apply **more sizes available upon request All purchase transactions will take place through PayPal. Please email me to make your order. Click here to learn more about my high-quality photographic [...]
Underground
What if puddles were more than just reflections? What if they were portals to a parallel world? What if going underground meant delving into a new dimension? Limited Edition Photograph Only 30 photographic reproductions of this image are available. 5×7: $20.00 8×10: $30.00 11×14: $42.00 16×20: $55.00 *additional shipping fees apply **more sizes available upon [...]
Tuning Pegs
*This photo is the rare example that falls under the classification of photo art rather than a pure photograph. Normally, I adhere to strict editing standards with my photography, merely fine tuning (no pun intended) details such as contrast and the occasional lens dust. However, sometimes a subject I’ve photographed inspires me to experiment further. [...]
Music to Their Ears
I’m beyond convinced that the young minds behind the Copenhagen Institute for Interaction Design are not only modern day geniuses but new leaders in action. Check out this project that aims to let displaced persons express themselves through the Wii… and music (how do they come up with this stuff??): Acclimatising Refugees Empowers the user [...]
Typed Letters with a Handwritten Touch
Three students at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design have come up with a way to put the endearing touch back into the personal letter. Say goodbye to the anonymous feeling of an email: Scriba is an application that reproduces the ritual of writing a personal letter, capturing beyond the keyboard. When you write a [...]
Mayan Vista
Imagine a world where even life’s chores are rich experiences meant to be merrily anticipated and appreciated. It is a romantic idea of the Mayan life, but, for me, this frozen moment paints an idea of little want yet much wealth. The daily duties of life are not kept within the confines of a manufactured [...]
The Resistance in Honduras
The Resistance is quick to remind us that they are not Zelayistas (Zelaya supporters)… We need to expand the vision of what the Resistance movement is and not just emphasize the liberal storyline around Zelaya, for the Resistance movement would not continue without the popular movement driving it. The entire spectra of “coup/non-coup” propaganda is [...]
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