Working with deep and wounded history

Sometimes it gets to me – working with the deep and wounded history of my ancestors. Today I had a good breakfast conversation with a friend. She understands the work I am doing about the Japanese Internment Camps in New Mexico at the Santa Fe Art Institute. She’s lived here in New Mexico long enough to know that there is rich tapestry of different cultures and communities and that makes researching and making art about the history of the camps even more complicated. Peeling the layers back can be raw, and seeing the crisscrossing histories of: the vets who were in the Bhataan death march and experienced the brutality of the Japanese army, the injustice of the American concentration camps imprisoning innocent people of Japanese ancestry, and the Los Alamos creation of the bomb that killed so many in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I’m wrapping my head around it after a month of research.

My friend said, “you are a flag bearer who makes sure people know the history so things don’t happen again.” Yet I find it so discouraging to see the Central American immigrant families being imprisoned right now.

Keeping my heart open is what sustains me. I hope to bring light and witnessing to stories of injustice and imprisonment for all kinds of people. My ritual performance will invite anyone to participate. More info to come soon.

Taos – avant-garde, sacred, and clutter in paradise

Taos is such a mishmash of cultures – the sacred Taos Pueblo, the art scene, the mountains, and the crazy Mesa. I enjoy that mix that pulls my mind in different directions. We got to visit with local Derrick Manuel and have a beer at the amazing music venue, Mesa Brewery.

New Mexican art violins

I appreciate how the flavor of a place comes through in the art made there. Many charities have used the idea of painting an instrument to raise money, but I doubt they had the Southwestern spirit of these violins done for the Santa Fe Symphony. Check out more art violins: http://www.paintedviolinssantafe.org/index.html

home is where the heart is

They are pretty creative in New Mexico. I really respect the beauty and energy they put into their living spaces. I wanted to share some of the interesting abodes of our friends.

Gustav lives in a converted church in Cordova. He truly is in the presence of saints and angels!

Alberto created this beautiful school bus home in the mountains.

Here is the inside that he did all the woodwork on. Each piece of wood and inlay has a specific meaning.

This beautiful teepee is put up in the traditional manner and is Alberto’s home in town during the winter. When I visited he burnt some native cedar (from his mountain home) in the fire in the center of the teepee.

Straw bale house in New Mexico

This is the beautiful straw bale house that our friends Glen and Eliane built in Madrid, NM. We were lucky to house sit this palace for the month of October. Glen designed and constructed the structure himself and even includes kitty tunnels and sunning perches for their pets. The main living space is one large room, with a separate bedroom and loft office.

Here is a nice detail, bottle light portals, outside view and inside view: