Monday, August 16, 2010

I need a new life...

I'm dreaming of running away to Mexico City! I want to find a local curandero (Mexican Shaman) so I can get some fresh Salvia Divinorum. Then I'd go trip out on top of Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacán, the mythical city inhabited by Gods. Salvia divinorum has a long and continuous tradition of magico-religious use by Mazatec shamans, who use it to facilitate visionary states of consciousness. Most of the plant's local common names allude to the Mazatec belief that the plant is sacred to the Virgin Mary. Teotihuacán is where Our Lady of Guadalupe (The Empress of Americas) appeared to the Saint, Juan Diego. I have a friend who has a gorgeous house that she rents out in Mexico...an artist's retreat. I'd love to have a secret sanctuary of my own someday. Run away with me?

Remedios Varo

I'm also really aroused by the idea so many Surrealists sought refuge in Mexico. Favorites such as Remedios Varo, Frida Kahlo, and Leonora Carrington called Mexico their home. They and several other artists began a small transcendental surrealist movement after they fled during the Nazi occupation France (as did Salvador Dali and many other artists throughout Europe). André Breton visited Mexico in 1938. He returned to Paris convinced he had been to a land that lived and breathed Surrealism everyday.

Frida Kahlo

Once in Mexico, Surrealism quickly took root in unexpected ways. In literature, Octavio Paz, Juan José Arreola, Jorge Ibargüengoitia, the Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel, who had collaborated with Dalí on the landmark Surrealist film Un chien andalou (1929) in Europe, fled the Spanish Civil War and wound up in Mexico, where he made such classics as The Exterminating Angel (1962). Surrealist poet and patron Edward James built Las Pozas, a surrealist sculpture garden in a tropical rain forest in the mountains of Mexico.

Leonora Carrington

Related links ~
Home of the Surrealist
The Return of Quetzalcoatl

18 comments:

Kent said...

wow, I truly admire your eclectic tastes! i'm a little envious in fact, lol. anyways, I just anted to let you know just how much I enjoy visiting this page. I learn something new every time I come by.

Kane said...

I love the paintings. Thank you for sharing them.

You really are a cabinet full of curiosities, eh? =) Do tell us if you do decide to runaway. =)

Kane

TheBlakkDuchess said...

Woohoo! Let's go! =D

Kingsley said...

I love your painting so much. You like Mexican life. Hope you can do it!

A Little Bird said...

I am ready to run away!! Packing my bag right now!!!

You rock!!

Anonymous said...

Uff!! you should definitely do it! I live in northern México and if you are looking for a guide, I'll totally join you!
I heard Las Pozas are great! Its a great spot to spend the weekend and its really cheap. In summertime is quite annoying because of the jungle and the heat, but during fall is beautiful! You should plan a backpacker trip!!! Yeeeey!
There are a lot of witchy places down in Michoacán and Oaxaca.
Hope one day you can make it.
Kisses, hun.
L

Jacob M. said...

well Salvia never did it for me, but an interesting read none the less, check out my new nonsense blog based on a book Im writing called Random Thought Reader
http://randomthoughtreader.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Raiz Viva. Its a very old traditional Mexican song. Its lovely.I highly recommend listening to it.

lea said...

I found the paintings extra ordinary. They are different from the other paintings.

film izle said...

quell, and quarrel. and for X,

Anonymous said...

I adore the eclectic nature of your blog postings :) I feel like I am sitting in a room with you and you are telling me your stories while showing me the pictures you have posted. I have never been to Mexico City, but I too like to travel and have seen a lot of places. I think we all need a new life sometimes, and I suppose that is why we wake up to new days. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow what a great collection. Keep up the good work!!

Carrie said...

I absolutely love Mexican surrealism! Thanks for a great post.

Julián said...

Descubro este blog con encanto...! This post about mexican surrealism is really stunning : )

EATING THE ABSTRACTION said...

I dreamt of running away to Mexico for a long while, as well! Mexico, and Latin America in general is so rich and saturated with color and symbolism that captures you with every sense. If you follow your dream, I will enjoy following your adventures here.

Anthropomorphica said...

AH! My favourite 3 artists in one post, thank you!

Evil Lily said...

Mexican Surrealism! One of my favorite forms! Such a beautiful blog post. Of course, I would expect nothing less.

If I were to run away, I fear I might never return.

Holda Hexen said...

Can i come along?