Solamente en San Miguel

So one of my stories that originally appeared here on this very blog is now published in the

2nd volume of Solamente en San Miguel, a collection of writings about San Miguel by local writers.

You can read my contribution entitled 'Burdens' here.

Holiday Art Sale

Come by to see some amazing art gift ideas-

I will be showing small paintings, prints, jewelry and more!

New Website

Just uploaded my new website.

Check it out at www.susandorf.com

Open Studios Tour

Getting ready for the Santa Cruz Open Studios tour-

for the first 3 weekends in October over 300 artists will be showing their work.

Beach Paintings

New Beach Paintings at Many Hands gallery in Capitola, CA. July -August

Summer is here and I took my camera down to the local beach, then came home and painted these fun 8"x10" oil paintings on wood panels. I love the shapes of bodies and the play of light.

A Community of Artists 2010

This will be the fourth annual showing of fourteen amazing Santa Cruz artists that have been meeting for many years to share their work and company. Come join us at the First Friday artwalk in Santa Cruz on June 4th at the Felix Kulpa gallery in downtown Santa Cruz.

The Sacred and the Profane

The solemn pilgrims bearing the bloody "Lord of the Column"

arrives at dawn in San Miguel to church bells and fireworks

after an all night pilgrimage from the sanctuary of Atotonilco.

Later the same day, a parade of costumed "locos" dance and march down our street

to the lively blaring of a brass band to celebrate who knows what.

In Mexico, everything is a contradiction. Or maybe it just appears that way to those of us who are accustomed to a logical order to things and a predictable, insulated life. In order to maintain one must learn to be in the moment and remind oneself over and over that everything changes constantly. Because it does.

Not only in the external world, but in the emotional world as well. Moods swing from elation to sadness to frustration to tenderness in a heartbeat.

Easter is coming and the suffering of Christ is celebrated with elaborate ceremony. Thousands of pilgrims carry the bloodied and beaten image of Jesus several miles through the desert arriving at dawn in San Miguel to fireworks, the clanging of church bells and beautiful carpets of scented flowers releasing the scent of chamomile, fennel and oranges as the dusty feet of the pilgrims trample them on their journey to the church. Clusters of shawled grandmothers sing hymns and battered trumpets play a sad and mournful tune as the hunched figure of the 'Lord of the Column' wobbles by above the dark heads of the faithful.

We sip chocolate atole and munch tamales from the sidelines as the sun rises into the lightening sky, casting macabre shadows on the nearby crumbling walls.

In the afternoon I run out of my house to the sound of oompa music, only to see doorways opening up and down the street from which dozens of costumed people emerge wearing masks and feathers, dancing and wiggling down the street followed by a brass band. Old ladies and children dressed as birds, aliens, rabbits and devils. The 'Locos' bumping and grinding and twirling down the cobblestones under plastic banners, surrounded by clouds of dust and crazy joy.

***

Paintings from the Rooftop

"Peregrina"

"El Autor"

"Esperanza"

Here are some 12"x12" paintings on paper and canvas I've been working on.

My studio is on the rooftop overlooking San Miguel.

Roof Dogs Revisited

The Roof Dogs of San Miguel

Since my blog post "Roof Dog Rant" appeared two years ago, I have been photographing them on the rooftops of San Miguel. These days it seems as if the roof dogs are getting smaller, yappier, and certainly more decorative and fashion conscious than ever before. There is even a clothing shop down the street and also at the Tianguis market that specializes in doggie attire. Poodles and chihuahuas strut their stuff in ruffles and courderoy, much to the delight of the passing camera toting gringo tourist.

But it is when they are on the rooftops that they move into their power. In total charge of their lofty domain among the tinacas (water tanks) and the rebar, they command attention from all who pass beneath them, yapping and howling their little hearts out into the sharp blue sky.

As annoying as they can be, you've got to love them. I mean, its not as if you have a choice, after all...

***

¡Ay, Chihuahua!

The ultimate chachke.

Who wants one?