2010 Class Itinerary is Here!

As some of you know my Oaxaca organizer, Colleen Darling was just down in Mexico scoping out the sites and trying to figure out this year's Day of the Dead Workshop itinerary.  I think she's come up with a great bunch of excursions.  Going to be fun...October will be here in no time!  This does not include the class description, for that click here: 2010 Class Description

With no further ado: 

deMeng de los Muertos: October 25 - November 3, 2010 

Join Michael for a workshop in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Oaxaca is a beautiful, friendly, historical and culturally rich city in southern Mexico.  Home to some of the finest folk artists in the world, Oaxaca abounds with ceramics, textiles, tin, wood carving, jewelry, and more.  There is also an exciting contemporary art and photography community based here.   The food and restaurants are exceptional and friendly people make it a pleasure to visit.

Throughout our 9-day stay people around the city will be getting ready for Dia de los Muertos.  Every home and business will be setting up altars and preparing for the feast.  The photo opportunities are endless.  Each time you head out the door for the Zocalo or just a walk around the neighborhood something new will catch your attention.  Flowers on the street corners, students in school altar competitions, book fair, traditional dancers, mariachis, and so much more!

We hope you can join us this year.

Itinerary 

October 25 (Monday) Arrive in Oaxaca and get settled after a long journey.  Enjoy a walk to the Zocalo (town square) for dinner and sight seeing in the evening.

October 26 (Tuesday) Breakfast 7:30 –10:00 A.M.  Class begins at 10:A.M.  We will walk to the Zocalo to explore our supply options.  The market, religious store, hardware, paper store and lots of treats along the way will help us all get oriented to the variety Oaxaca has to offer.  Lunch at 1:30 Return to class.

Dinner 7:30 at La Catrina de Alcala

October 27 (Wednesday) Breakfast  Class begins at 10:00 A.M.  Lunch at Maria Bonita.   Evening free.

October 28 (Thursday) Breakfast   Tour 9:00 A.M. to the CaSa art center and the paper making factory Arte Papel Vista Hermosa in San Agustin Etla.  Housed in a former textile mill this art and cultural center offers expositions, music and a film series for the people of Oaxaca.  We will visit a woodcarver and have lunch in the countryside.  Evening free.

October 29 (Friday Breakfast.   Class begins at 10;00 A.M.  Lunch at La Olla Return to class.  Evening free.

October 30 (Saturday) Breakfast   Class begins at 10:00 A.M.  This is the final workshop day.  Time to put the finishing touches on your work.  Get ready for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

  Lunch at Maria Bonita     Evening free.

October 31 (Sunday) Breakfast  9:00 A.M. Tour to the Mitla ruins and local cemetery, Tlacolula market and a rug weavers home .  Lunch in the countryside.  This is the first night of the Dia de los Muertos celebration.  We will visit the city cemetery.  All around the city ofrendas are being made, sand paintings around the Zocalo and so much more.  It is an amazing experience, hard to describe and I can’t say enough about the friendly people. Please ask before taking photographs.

November 1 (Monday) Breakfast   Free day.  Take this time to enjoy the city and all the celebrations going on.  Lunch on your own.  A walk to a small cemetery for anyone interested.   Dinner 7:30

November 2 (Tuesday) Breakfast  Our last day in Oaxaca to spend as you wish.  Shopping, eating, drinking or just sitting in the Zocalo taking it all in.  I can make arrangements for anyone interested in going to the museums, Ethno-Botanical gardens, Monte Alban or any other site you would like to visit

November 3 (Wednesday) Breakfast   Fly away home

  

Double $2100.

Single   $2400.

Returning participants  $100. discount

Deposit:  $250 to secure your spot.  Full payment is due September 10, 2010.  Please pay by check; I am unable to process credit cards.

Colleen Darling

950 Ballard Canyon Rd.

Solvang CA 93463

805-688-1221

colleen950@gmail.com

Airfare is not included.  When searching for airfares the Oaxaca code is OAX.

Click Here For More Info

deMeng de los Muertos 2010

Hey everyone welcome to the deMeng de los Muertos blog.  I started this so I can keep folks up to date on workshop info for this years Day of the Dead Art excursion in Oaxaca Mexico.  I'll be posting images from years past as well updates on this years workshop.

This year's class:

Altar-ed Faces:  Nicho Masks and Paint-Making

Oaxaca 2010...

as I a mentioned in a previous post, I am returning to Oaxaca for yet another Day of the Dead teaching extravaganza.   Up until now I have been keeping the class project a bit of a secret while I worked out some details with my organizer and Mexico guru Colleen...I don't know how I'd pronounce all those indigenous names without her....i.e. huitlacoche (which is a corn fungus by the way).

So...now I reveal the secret....

the classes title:

Altar-ed Faces:  Nicho Masks and Paint-Making

In this class we are going to create masks that also function as shrines...."Head Cases" or "Altar'ed Faces"...take your pick.  Using assemblage techniques students will create reliquaries that could potentially be worn as well as hang on the wall.

Now for the really exciting part:

 We are also going to explore a variety of paint-making methods, ranging from indigenous Mexican techniques to contemporary processes.  There are some really unusual and fascinating indigenous techniques that Mexicans use to create paints....very weird science.  Using these techniques we will create paints and colors the old fashioned way....the really old fashioned way. 

 We will also use learn t make textures and colors from some of the materials we find along the way.  I will also incorporate some modern paint technologies in the paint making process...just to keep things interesting.

This workshop will also include a variety of Day of the Dead activities, as well as excursions throughout the artistically rich Oaxacan Valley.  More information on those tours as they get worked out.  Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

for more info contact Colleen Darling:  805-688-1221 colleen950@gmail.com

The blog was set up so as we get things figured out like specific tours and itineraries I'll post them here.  I'll also be putitng up photos from years past....so all you deMeng de los Muertos veterans from the last three years.  Let me know if you want to post any photos and I'll be glad to do so.

The blog address is:  http://demengdelosmuertos.blogspot.com/

Remember the class size is limited.

hope to see some of you there!