MexConnect
Columns
Tags
Recent columnist articles

Personal reminiscences of Mexico's Huichol people IV: ritual dance by Ronald A. Barnett

Panoramic view of Teotihuacan looking south from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. You can see the Pyramid of the Sun. © Rick Meyer, 2001
In 1996, I attended the Fiesta de las Plantas Medicinales held that year in San Martin de los Piramides not far from the famous archaeological site of Teotihuacan with its pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. There was a feeling of great spiritual power in the air that day. read more
anthropology indigenous-groups religion Teotihuacan, México, Estado de

Mexico's gift to opera, Rolando Villazon by Maggie Van Ostrand

Emilio Rolando Villazón Mauleón is the world's next great tenor, at least equal to Placido Domingo, but easier on the eyes and with far more dramatic gifts. You don't have to know anything about opera to appreciate Villazón's voice. When you hear him sing, your jaw drops, your eyes glaze over, and the hairs on your arm stand to attention. This, I thought, is a voice for the ages. I felt like Al Capone must have felt the first time he heard the voice of Enrico Caruso. Villazón was born in 1972 in the Mexico City suburb of Fuentes de Satellite. read more
famous-people music

Mexico's Mezcal Monkey: collectible ceramic folk art from Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

A hot collector's item, the ceramic mezcal monkey is designed to hold mescal, the spirit distilled from the baked, then fermented agave plant. © Alvin Starkman, 2010
Designed to hold mescal, the Chango Mezcalero has become a very collectible folk art item whose history has been recounted infrequently, if at all. While by all accounts it originated in the State of Oaxaca, home of mezcal — the spirit distilled from the baked, then fermented agave plant — it's now highly sought after by collectors residing much further abroad.

The traditional Mezcal Monkey was used to hold, display and/or gift mezcal. The clay bottle is just that, usually with a stopper made of cork, or a small piece of corn cob. read more
crafts Oaxaca

Personal reminiscences of Mexico's Huichol people III: the shaman by Ronald A. Barnett

Contrary to my earlier impressions, some Huichols were also curanderos who used herbal remedies in treating a variety of illnesses. read more
huichol

Enrique Flores: Philanthropic Oaxaca artist has the golden touch by Alvin Starkman

Magical nude by Oaxaca artisa Enrique Flores © Alvin Starkman, 2009
Enrique Flores is one of the most prolific Mexican artists of his generation. Of course having been mentored by the late great master of contemporary Mexican art, Rodolfo Morales, hasn't hurt; nor has the fact that two of Oaxaca's most prominent art galleries, Indigo and Arte de Oaxaca, were his patrons for many years. But there's no substitute for hard work, talent, and vision. read more
artists Oaxaca

Maya Doomsday by Maggie Van Ostrand

El Castillo at Chichen Itza © Elisa Vazquez, 2008

I'm sick and tired of hearing disagreements between the U.S.A. and Mexico. First, there's the emigration thing with fences and coyotes and blustering politicians; second is the drug thing where the U.S. blames Mexico for their own addictive population; and now the U.S. is blaming the Maya for a prophesied 2012 doomsday scenario.

read more
perspectives

Mexico's Mariachi Museum needs music by Marvin West

When the honorable and distinguished city leaders of Cocula, Jalisco select me as communications consultant for their mariachi museum, I shall recommend minor enhancements. The host who greets visitor... read more
museums music Jalisco

Traveler's Guide to Camping Mexico's Baja by Mike and Terry Church by James Tipton

Rolling Homes Press, 2008 Available from Amazon Books: Paperback Available from Amazon Books: Paperback A while ago, I reviewed for Mexico Connect another useful book by Mike & Terri Church: T... read more
Baja California

Writing about writers: Puerto Vallarta and Jenny McGill by Marvin West

Jenny McGill, author of Drama and Diplomacy in Sultry Puerto Vallarta
Jenny McGill

Editor's note: After a brief battle with cancer, Jenny McGill passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 2, 2010.

I'm proud of her work on MexConnect. Few foreigners know Mexico as well as she and her husband, and few people come to understand the country and its people as they did.

We're featuring this article by Marvin West once more to honor the memory of an extraordinary person.

read more
author book literature Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

The New World Mexican Women of Tecalpulco, Mexico Reviewed by Rita Pomade

New World Women is a native women artisan group in Tecalpulco, Guerrero who decided to form a production cooperative. These skilled artisans are the original designers and producers, creating beautiful... read more
book-reviews crafts social-issues Taxco, Guerrero