Change has been a constant in my life. Sometimes I think about various periods of my life in terms of a cat’s nine lives. Right now, though, I’m thinking about decades, as I turn seventy. How is that possible, a voice in my head asks? I keep thinking I must be doing the math wrong;Continue reading “Decades”
Category Archives: North America
Semana Santa
No one celebrates Easter the way Antigua, Guatemalans celebrate Semana Santa, Holy Week, with rituals that date back to old Spain. Magnificent, ephemeral festival art comes to life and is lovingly trampled. Along the streets, people cluster in groups around artists creating beautiful but fleeting works of art in the form of carpets on theContinue reading “Semana Santa”
Basket women of Chilascó
After weeks of torrential rain and mudslides, I joined a friend to visit artisans in a remote village, detouring around road cave-ins under reconstruction until, after a four-hour drive from Antigua, we reached the turn-off to Chilascó in the central Guatemala department of Baja Verapaz. There stood an old man with a worn backpack, hisContinue reading “Basket women of Chilascó”
Parramos & Pastores, bootmakers
Returning to Guatemala for a visit after living in other countries, I joined a Habitat for Humanity build in the pueblo of Parramos near Antigua. To be accepted by Habitat for a project, applicants had to meet certain requirements. They had to be a family rather than a group of individuals, own the land, andContinue reading “Parramos & Pastores, bootmakers”
Comalapa, Guatemala, town of artists
The most amazing sight in Comalapa is the mural along the cemetery walls. But it is also a town of artists with many painted walls and galleries of local arts depicting village scenes in bright colors. Many of the villages of Guatemala specialize in various arts and are peopled with artisans. I had come with some friendsContinue reading “Comalapa, Guatemala, town of artists”
Hope is on the horizon
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson Welcome 2021! There was a pastel sunrise over the mountains out my window, as the sunshine poured slowly over the landscape like molasses, shedding light over the dusky landscapeContinue reading “Hope is on the horizon”
New York, New York
After a few days in New Jersey on a recent trip (Inspiration), I spent a week in New York. It had been many years since I was last there and, this time, I had no appointments, no business to attend to, no one to visit, just a time to savor old memories and explore newContinue reading “New York, New York”
Women’s March
In support of the Women’s March 2020 that took place last weekend, and anticipating with trepidation the upcoming election in little more than a week, it’s a good time to relive the excitement, camaraderie, and collective purpose of the march in 2017 in Denver. I also joined the 2018 Denver march; more links to photosContinue reading “Women’s March”
Vote. Just Do It!
Voting by mail has been the norm in Colorado for decades and ballots are finally being mailed out. I’m eager to speak my mind and will drop my ballot at the county building dropbox before Election Day. The importance of voting in the presidential election was seeded in my brain when I overhead my parentsContinue reading “Vote. Just Do It!”
Making Tortillas in Guatemala
Working with the editors at Ceramics Monthly to publish my article on the women potters (see previous post) was an interesting learning process. They were looking for a reporter style article and asked me questions which moved me in that direction, so I contacted friends in Guatemala for quotes and details. Usually, though, I writeContinue reading “Making Tortillas in Guatemala”
Ruth Rosenfeld 