Art In The Making

As I walked down the callejon to see what I thought would be my last show of this years Cervantino, I stumbled across a little art in the making. I'm not sure if this is part of Cervantino or not, but I like it. 

This is where Smir was on my way down.

Smir in action.

On my way back up after about 45 min.

Listo.

What a cool city. Smir and his angel are in the lower left.

This foto and the next 5 are all fotos of the same wall.

Strong Girls

As I edit through my fotos from Cervantino I am reminded of all of the great shows that we enjoyed in Plaza San Fernando. The beautiful Plaza San Fernando is about a 15 minute walk from Casa Verde. The picturesque jardin is surrounded by restaurants and a few retail shops. It is a wonderful place even without the entertainment. During Cervantino, Plaza San Fernando was the setting for 31 separate performances by 10 different acts from around the world. During the 24 days of Cervantino there were 19 days you could have seen something for free in Plaza San Fernando. That's right, I said for FREE.

18 y 19 October in the Plaza San Fernando, Theatre Biscornu from Quebec performed La Risa Muda. A live performance of a silent film is the best way I can describe La Risa Muda. It was a great show. Very entertaining. No dialog needed for the best actors. 

Pearl with the cast of La Risa Muda.

21 y 22 October in Plaza San Fernando, Bourask an extremely talented quartet of dancers, again from Quebec, performed the most interesting modern dance I have seen in some time. I love modern dance and the ladies of Bourask were doing things I had never dreamed of. African with their own seasonings. Their show, Monsieur Bossbottes was a very comic take on the South African mines, where this very strange, very rhythmic style of dance originated from. This show was 1 of my favorites of this years festival.

This is the main "Boss" of the miners. You know a show is
going to be good when this is how it starts.

I love fotos of crowds watching an event. This is exactly how I felt too.
Eyes wide open in amazement and jaw dropped as if to say, "Wow."

Fotos can't do this group justice.

24, 25 y 26 October Les 7 doigts de la main, from yep, you guessed it Quebec, wowed the packed jardin in San Fernando. The Circo de Mujeres featured 5 very impressive "women". Michelle thought that this, their "street" show was even better than their longer show that we saw in the big state auditorium. I thought both were amazing. 

It always starts with Eve y la manzana.

This foto and the next 3 were taken be my lovely assistant, Michelle.

Yes, he catches her after she flips.
Muy impresivo!

Another Michelle foto. She was, just as I am impressed
 to see a new mother return to work so fast.
The guy on the left was the "Mujer Misteriosa".

31 October y 1 November Princesse Patate entertained the San Fernando crowd with El Gran Circo Minusculo. How about I just tell you when an act isn't from Quebec. A very fun show for kids. I told the girls after the show, "Those girls actually get paid to play with dolls." Not a bad gig.

2 y 3 November, the last show we caught in San Fernando was El Mundo de los Payasos performed by Alexio and Marie-Bulle from, do I even have to say anything. Look at their names. Maybe they should re-name Plaza San Fernando, Plaza San Quebecando. I don't need to say much about this show. I think you all know how I feel about clowns.

Had to have at least 1 foto of a guy. 

As the father of 2 girls, I always seek out any performance of any type that features strong girls. I'm not talking about physical strength, although you see plenty of that in the above fotos. The "girls" we witnessed this year did not disappoint. Strong, smart, beautiful, graceful, creative, inspiring, just like all the girls in my life. You go girls! 

Perform Tricks, Spinning Around, 60 ft. Above the Ground

Transe Express from France.
The performers on the outside are playing percussion,
while the acrobats in the middle perform tricks,
 spinning around, 60 ft. above the ground.
This is Cervantino.

Today brings to a close this years Festival Internacional Cervantino. This years festival was almost a month long. They added days for Mexico's biccentanario. Just like every Cervantino I have experienced, this years edition has surprised, transported and inspired me (not to mention my girls).

Too many displays of different art forms from around the world. While it is impossible to see everything, I always do my best to attend as many events as I can.

I will try to give you a small glimpse into what Cervantino is about to me.

1 of the big banners welcoming all,
in front of a few of Guanajuatos many tunnels. 

 Nice to see trumpeter Wynton Marsalis on the big banner. This years festival was full of trumpet artists from around the globe. Stay tuned for my list of trumpet highlights. You may be surprised to see who makes the top of my list.

The view from behind the band at Plaza San Roque.
If you look closely you may be able to find my girls.

The view from the other side of San Roque.

One of the surprising venues was the performance of Opera en el Marcado. What a great idea. It was wonderful to watch as the beautiful music engulfed everyone who was in, or around the market. I loved getting fotos of the workers as they were transported. Ahh, the power of music.

The power of music.

Opera in the Mercado.

This guy looks like he could be a part of the cast.

Soup and song.

These ladies are the workers at the resturaunt
 in the above foto (Soup and song).

Another surprising venue, I guess you can call it a venue, was about 60 feet above the ground in the Pastitos.

The show Transe Express from France uses heavy construction equipment to raise the performers high above the auddience in a life sized human mobile. It was very cool.



I have some good video that I will do my best to post (I always have problems uploading video). I would love to give you guys some of the sounds that go with the sights.

Stay tunned for more of my highlights of Cervantino.

 

Dia de los Muertos (Art on the Ground)

Here are the fotos I took of the art on the ground. It was cool for my girls and I to watch as these temporary works of art were created.

Gummy bears.

Not sure what this is, but it's cool.

Dos Catrinas in front of the Basilica.