Thursday, April 04, 2013

A Fistful of Journals - deMeng de los Muerto 2013 Mexico City



deMeng de los Muertos
La Capital Mexico City
“A Fistful of Journals”
October 28 – November 3, 2013

Remember last year when the Mayan calendar predicted the end of the world?   Well it didn’t…but then again…maybe it did…that is, if you look at ending as a time for change and transition.  So assuming you believe this paradigm, 2013 is a time for new beginnings and that is exactly what is happening with my annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) workshop in Mexico.   My organizer, Colleen and I decided it was time to shake things up in both location and format.

This workshop will be very different than other workshops I've done.  Students will not need to bring a suitcase full of rusty things to take the class.... believe it or not, all you will need is some basic art supplies..."The Five P's"(pencil, pastel, paint, paste and photos) from there we will visit a variety of wondrously strange places in the Mexican capital where we can sit, work and be inspired.  I will be giving instruction on journaling techniques, sketching, painting, etc.  I will also be showing students some nifty effects using mobile phone/ ipad or small cameras.    Every night we will end with a show-and-tell of our art-ventures...perhaps while enjoying a margarita, cerveza, or Aztec hot chocolate.  

A few things to expect:

  • Sketching:  I’ll be sharing a variety of sketching tips for those so inclined to take to pencil and paper
  • Painting:  I’ll be sharing a variety of painting techniques that are specifically appropriate for journaling.
  • Collage:  Specifically I’ll be showing folks how to use this medium in conjunction with paint, pencil and pen.
  • Bookbinding:  My wife Andrea will show folks some basic bookbinding techniques for those who want to work on sheets of paper that could later be bound into a book.
  • Smartphone Photography:  I’ll be sharing a few techniques using various apps to create some nifty photos using your smartphone.   We are looking into the possibility of bringing a portable printer, so that photos taken on the trip could be printed out and used as collage elements.
  • Ephemera Collecting:  One of the great things about journaling is the incorporation of paper memorabilia.  Mexico City has plenty of this.
  • Hanging out and taking it all in:  The best part about this workshop is that we won’t be rushing.  We will be able to spend some time enjoying a variety of locations with journal at hand.

What you’ll need to bring: 
  1. A sketchbook or journal or paper - whatever size you’re most comfortable with. 
  2. Pencils, erasures, pens –
  3. Acrylic Paint – not too much…small tubes or bottles that can get thrown into a travel bag.  Definitely bring a small tube of white (or titan buff) and black.  Maybe a few other colors.  I’ll be bringing Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Anthroquinone Blue, and Quincridone Red (these would give most of the color spectrum).  It’s up to you.
  4. Optional
    1. Smartphone, camera, or ipad, if you have one, for photos- I’ll recommend some good apps to download before we go.
    2. A few bookbinding supplies if you want to learn and use some of these techniques.  Nothing major and I’ll give you more specifics, as we get closer to the event.


Bonus Dealio –
Free Online Workshop Mixed-Up Media Journal Cover Workshop
Just prior to the Mexico City trip I’ll be running an online workshop on how to modify a sketchbook cover using assemblage.  This is optional for those who want to show up with a modified journal justwaiting to be filled up.
The online component will be open to the public but those signed up for Mexico City will get it for free…woo hoo!





Itinerary

Monday Oct. 28:  Arrival day - Time to get settled in the hotel and get ready for an adventure in one of the most populous cities in the world.

Tuesday Oct. 29:  Introduction to Mexico City - We will start in the Zocolo (main square) visiting the Templo Mayor (Aztec archaeological site), the murals of the “big three” Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueros, the Bellas Artes opera house and art museum, the Municipal palace murals, the Department of Education murals, El Colegio San Ildefonso murals and so much more. There will be time for sketching and photographing as we go.  Welcome dinner to end an art packed day.


Wednesday Oct. 30: We will travel by van to the Xochimilco floating gardens and visit one of Michael’s favorite spots “the muy creepy” Island of the Dolls. We will also visit the Museum home of Dolores Olmedo Patino.  She was a patron of Diego Rivera and has a large collection of paintings by Diego and Frida Kahlo.

Thursday Oct. 31: We will start at the Merced market, home to supplies for religious festivals and curanderos (healers), followed by an excursion to Coyoacan (once a suburb of Mexico City and now a small neighborhood) to visit the home of Frida Kahlo and La Casa Azul.  It has a beautiful town square and many sketching spots and photo ops.

Friday November 1: Van excursion to Teotihuacan, the pyramid of the Sun and Moon.  It is an enormous archaeological site with lots of opportunities for sketching and photography.  We will see the shrine of Guadalupe and in the evening we will visit the Luchador (masked wrestling).

Saturday November 2:
Free day – Possibilities include Chapultepec park which is home to the Museum of Anthropology, the Rufino Tamayo Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the Castle of Maximilian and more.  One could spend the whole day here.  There is also shopping and more sketching.  In the evening we will gather together for a farewell dinner.

Sunday November 3:  Time to fly home


This workshop includes:

Hotel stay for 6 nights
 and lunch daily
Welcome Dinner
Farewell Dinner
Excursions and tours


Workshop price: 
$1595 for double occupancy
$1795 for single occupancy

Deposit to confirm reservation:  $250 Balance due September 15, 2013

Cancellation Policy:

Full refund minus $50 administration fee, prior to August 15, 2013
$250 deposit will be forfeited for cancellation after August 15, 2013
No refunds (unless we are able to fill your space) after October 1, 2013

Ready to sign up?
Contact Colleen Darling
805-448-1509

6 comments:

Karen Williamson... said...

Too far for me, although I could think of nothing better that Mexico with the deMengs. But definately keen for the online workshop.

Teresa R. said...

Sigh! Guys, guys! Why do you do this to me? I'm saving for a trip to India and you HAD to mention Frida. Curses! Damn you! (JK)

Anonymous said...

I am very very interested in joining you. Can't think of a better way to celebrate my Halloween birthday.
Julie London, San Francisco

Pheasant Run Studio said...

Mexico City 10/28-11/3 & not one mention of Day of The Dead?

Unknown said...

Well it is called deMeng de Los Muertos. Day o dead stuff will be happening all around us.

Verona said...

This is cool!