Hasta Luego Mexico

Looks like this is the last post via Mexico, I am headin out at 3am and I am trying to stay awake,and  make sure I have no contraband and prepare myself for school and the workweek. I keep saying I couldn't have asked for more, but everyday seemed to be as good as or better than the previous. I took it easy today. I have been making an effort to transition myself back to Estados Unidos, but I still think I will be trying to think of all my sentences in Spanish. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the people that Dan connected me with professionally and personally. It was amazing and I really hope it works out to send some students out here next summer to do some printmaking. I don't think I will have anything nearly this great to blog about, so I am not sure if I will keep this up. So if I don't write anything, I will be sure to say hello!

Closing in on the end....

So after a day trip to Morelia I realized that just being there I have the potential to be as great and as renowned and I traveled as I want to be. Met some nice strangers and really felt like I connected with the town. The architecture definitely resembled Spain, of course after colonization what do you expect. Andy and Susan are leaving tomorrow morning and I really have enjoyed being able to connect with such a great artist. I have cherished my time with them.  I have one more day in Patzcuaro and then at 3:00 en la manana on Monday I head out to fly home. I have my prints, some amazing stories and experiences that will be rivaled throughout my travels. I think the possibilities of my success are only limited by my ability to pursue my goals. Can't wait to come home.

One more thing....

So I feel like the blog thing is not really my style. I don't feel like I write well enough to engage people in what I have been fortunate enough to experience, but I hope the frequency of my storytelling has not bored anyone and that the photos have helped. Hence the massive photo uploads. I just feel for my own selfish benefit that documenting this unique experience is a great way to portray the culture from an outsider's view and have a tangible log of the time I have spent here. I only have a few days left, and it will be back to the grindstone. I wish the hearts of Americans would open up to outsiders the way Patzcuaro and Mexico has for me.

I think I got the money shot!!!

Hired a cab to take me around today to shoot landscapes of the lake, but I ended up with a photo that I never could have imagined! Oh there is a photography show in the works I think. Que Bonita!

so it was a great night!!!!

So Julian actually came over with his novia (girlfriend) and ate dinner with us. It was great! She spoke good english and I spoke decent spanish so we definitely communicated well. It was amazing. From our rooftop visit to our blues jam session we really connected outside of printing. They are great people and I am sad I won't be able to spend more time with them. Andy made a crazy lime pork marinade and we all ate a ton. It was amazing. I can't think of a better way to spend my time in Mexico. Dan's friends Andy Saftel and Susan are awesome and my experience with the people of Patzcuaro has been great. I went to their French-Canadian photographers house Didier and got a history of photography lesson 101 in his beautiful home. I wrote down tons of names to research to further my knowledge of photography. I have made some great contacts and have made this trip productive and useful in my professional life. I couldn't ask for more!!!!

I have a copper plate edition now!

We went to the ex collegio to print and made some prints this morning. My luchador has come along way since my first proof earlier this week. Once they are dried and signed I will post the finished product, although I plan to watercolor in some color soon. Myself, Dan Brawner, and my newfound friend via Dan, Andrew Saftel, an amazing printmaker will have an edition of 10 with 4 of each donated to the school/gallery space. Now I can say I exhibited in Mexico!!!! Woohoo! You should definitely check out Andy's website at http://www.andrewsaftel.com 

I bought a cheap guitar today in hopes of playing with Julian tonight and just to keep me from going crazy! Hopefully we can jam tonight and have a few drinks, maybe even make some art. I also started working on a digital collage with no direction whatsoever and I am loving it. I will post it soon as well. I'll keep you posted.

I don't what else to say about this place....

So another great couple of days. The last two have primarily consisted of eating lots, shooting lots, drawing lots, and printing lots! Julian (pronounced hoo-lee-uhn)  the ex-collegio's staff printer is amazing. His English and our Spanish is definitely enough to cut through the barrier and make some art. I have been digging ink out of my fingernails for the last couple of days. I had a whole 1st grade class come into the facility where we are printing in the morning. As their teacher told them too sssh, I got about 30 hola and buenos dias's, and one amazing, "Popeye!!!!" as he looked at my shirt. It was way cuter since he pronounced it pope-eye. Along with a fresh pastry it was a great way to start my day. Mas printing manana, and I think my twin brother Julian who loves the blues and plays harmonica, and I are gonna try to get together and play. I really hope that happens.....music and art transcend lots of barriers, it doesn't get any better than that.