During a recent street photography walk we came across Teresita, a lovely grandmother selling Mayan ceramic pottery at a corner. We asked her if we could make some street portraits of her with her pots and she agreed with a smile. The clients ended up buying several pieces to take home as well as with … Read more
One of the surprises I found in the village of San Gaspar Vivar, Antigua Guatemala was a jade and other precious metal jewelry shop. Today I share with you the process of making a beautiful jade heart, as shown below. Scroll down a bit on the blog post to see a short clip of the … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Spanish word of the day: Hojalata for tin. Today I share with you a vista of a tin handicraft artisan at work in San Gaspar Vivar. Even though this village is quite small, there are many artisans, handicraft makers and jewelers in the aldea of San Gaspar Vivar, Antigua Guatemala.
Today I share with you a close up view of a woodcarver at work in the village of San Gaspar Vivar, Antigua Guatemala. If you scroll down on this blog’s post, you can see what the final piece looks like. Also, there’s a short video clip showing the woodcarver busy pulling away the chips of … Read more
Guatemalan ronrrones are handicrafts that produce a low continuous humming sound similar to drones, as one rotates the stick attached to string which in turn is attached to the drum-shape end adorned with colorful feathers. By the way, ronrón is a Guatemalan Onomatopoeia for the low humming sound produced by bugs or escarabajos as they … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Chinchines for maracas as they are widely known. Let’s begin the new year with some rhythm and color. Let’s shake son chinchines to the rhythm of the new year.
Since we are talking about the Gigantes, which are used in Dances of the Giants or Baile de los Gigantes, through this link you will find the agenda of activities for The End of the Year Festival at Calle del Arco. Enjoy!
Calle del Arco is where most art galleries pop up in Antigua Guatemala, especially on the weekends when the entire strip becomes pedestrian.
Have you ever bought a painting from these ambulant art vendors?
Gabriela Orozco García, 19 years old, puts the final touches on a figure of a Mayan-inspired Nativity scene. The Orozco García family from Antigua Guatemala are renown artisans who produce ceramic Nativity scenes with Mayan attires from all regions of Guatemala.
All the kite shops are ready for the vientos fuertes, strong winds from the north. Here I share with you a window view into what you might expect in a typical kite shop in the Mayan highlands of Guatemala. On the right side of the frame you can see over 1.25 meter or 4-ft wide … Read more
As I have shared with you before, there are a few painters who set up an ambulant studio on Calle del Arco to paint water-colored scenes of Antigua Guatemala. Although there are lots of people who really like costumbrismo paintings, I has never been my cup of tea. Costumbrist works focus on typical or picturesque … Read more
Today I share with you a picture of a colorful ceramic Mayan-styled Nativity scene and a Merry Christmas for you and your loved ones wherever you are!
The traditional ceramic pottery of Guatemala is based on terra cotta clay. You can still find this kind of ceramic inside the mercado of La Antigua Guatemala, but often for greater selections you have to travel to highlands towards Totonicapán or Quetzaltenango. So, it was a surprise to find a shop with terra cotta ceramics … Read more
What do you think this door knocker represents. What’s the most extraordinary door knocker piece you have come across as you walk around Antigua Guatemala? If you have a picture, share with us.
Have I mentioned that there are hundreds of artisans living and working out the villages of Antigua Guatemala. I know in the past I have casted a spot light on some of them. Today, this metal crafts artisan casted the light on himself as he worked on this piece. Can you guess what is he … Read more