Good sources for Mexican history, cultural history, and art?

A subject near and dear to my heart!
Ah, Prospero, you've hit on one of the things nearest and dearest to my heart! First, it depends on how much time you can devote to the subject(s). Studying Mexican History is a lifelong pursuit . . . . There's is so much good material. (For me, there aren't enough hours in the day!)

O.K., O.K., where to start? One suggestion might be Prescott's "History of Mexico." I'm not positive this is the correct title. You can check it on the Internet. And, of course, Bernal Díaz del Castillo's "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico." I'm dragging up these thoughts from memory - of some years ago. That's when I began and continued through a B.A. in Spanish; a two-year teaching stint in Mexico; and many, many trips to that beautiful country and other Spanish-speaking nations.

May I suggest that you pick an area of interest and concentrate on that. Mexican art and artists? Along the way, mine were changeable. For a long period of time it was Mexican automobile unions. I went to some of the plants in Mexico and interviewed the workers. And spent some time with University professors at UNAM who were "into" the subject. Before that it was the Olmecs and Maya - who pre-dated the Aztecs. Then, there was (is?) a huge amount of time spent on Mexican literature and the Mexican Revolution.

I went to both Kahlo and Rivera's homes, which were seen in the PBS film. As I remember them, Rivera's was fairly well-kept, but Kahlo's was not. Maintaining historical sites is an incredibly expensive proposition. And, considering that the most of Mexico is an historical site . . . well, you get the idea. Somehow, I lucked out and met several of the most famous anthropologists in Mexico, including the "head" of the Templo Mayor - Eduardo Moctezuma Mateos (?) and his fellow academic, (???) Casos. Again, spelling the names from memory. We had mutual friends - the teachers at "My" school. Pál Kelemen has an interesting book on "Vanishing Art of the Americas."

Let us know how you're progressing. Enjoy!!!

THANK you Charli!!!

I shall peruse your post, and your information and get back to you.

Any other artists to recommend?

Can you speak more of Kahlo's and Rivera's homes?

Just more in general of your interests and experiences would be wonderful!

Mexico
For those in NY, USA

El Museo del Barrio in Manhattan, NY has a mexican exhibit that started April 13, and will last until July 31, 2005.

Mexico: The Revolution and Beyond. Photographs by Casasola, 1900-1940.

http://www.elmuseo.org/

AE

Computer was down!
The computer was down for three days! Just got it back on line. I'll try to write SOON!

Have a Happy Weekend! (We have to work! - Aw, shucks!)[/color]

The Mexican muralists . . .
Oh, where to start? Probably, in the library with a few books on the Mexican muralists. And, of course, there are a few thousand websites on the Internet. For example, this one on Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo:

Diego Rivera Museo

And, of course, there are Orozco and Siqueiros - the other two of the "triumvirate." They, too, are well represented on the Net.

Meanwhile, what more can I tell you about the visits to the Rivera and Kahlo homes that you can't get in the travel books? I'll have to give that some thought. I remember the damp, incredibly over-grown gardens at Kahlo's home. Rivera's place was a long hike from the end of the bus-stop. I was surprised how all of the ancient collections just seemed to be so "out there" and unsecured. Maybe I would have been further "surprised" had I reached out a hand. And, maybe, they were "reproductions"?

Questions? I'll be back later.

Poetry
Here is a link with ancient Aztec poetry, and other interesting information.

http://www.carnaval.com/dead/aztec_poetry.htm

My favorite poem by Hungry-Coyote (NEZAHUALCOYOTL), King of Texacoco (1431-72)

 All the earth is a grave

All the earth is a grave and nothing escapes it, nothing is so perfect
that it does not descend to its tomb. Rivers, rivulets, fountains and
waters flow, but never return to their joyful beginnings; anxiously
they hasten on the vast realms of the rain god. As they widen their
banks, they also fashion the sad urn of their burial.
 
Filled are the bowels of the earth with pestilential dust once flesh and bone, once animate bodies of man who sat upon thrones, decided cases, presided in council, commanded armies, conquered provinces, possessed treasure, destroyed temples, exulted in their pride, majesty, fortune, praise and power. Vanished are these glories, just as the fearful smoke vanishes that belches forth from the infernal fires of Popocatepetl. Nothing recalls them but the written page.
 

AE

More links
Here is more history of the Aztec, Inca, Maya, and more.

http://www.archaeolink.com/ancient_aztec_civilization.htm

AE

Oh dear! I have been very busy, and hence very remiss in thanking you, Ms East, and Charli.

But, THANK YOU!

I look forward to examining your kind leads.

MORE!!!!

More links
World of Frida Kahlo
http://members.aol.com/fridanet/kahlo.htm

Diego Rivera's web museum murals
http://www.diegorivera.com/murals/

History of Mexico
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/history/jtuck/jtdiegorivera.html

Diego Rivera
http://www.fbuch.com/diego.htm

More links
These should keep you busy for a while.

National Museum of anthropology MC
http://www.ddbstock.com/largeimage/aztecart.html

Mexico's temples and ruins
http://www.mexicocity.com.mx/mantro.html


Mexico is one of my many favorite subjects of study

AE.

Sullivan Park, Mexico City, Sunday Art Sale


Whew! I think I've got it now!!! For many days the "photo site" seemed impossible to access. Then, I forgot how to transfer a photo.

Anyway . . . every Sunday, there is an Art Sale in Sullivan Park, Mexico City. Many very beautiful pieces can be purchased for little money. Seems to be almost an overabundance of fine artisans. Over the years, the quality has noticeably increased. Maybe it's the competition.

The Sabado Market in San Angel (a suburb of Mexico City) is another fine place to shop. They also show works of art in its many forms: leather, wood, glass, ceramics, paper, cloth, straw, raffia, bark, etc., etc., etc.

Whatever genre you are interested in - by the past masters or newbies - you can find it. For $300 TOTAL you can come back to the U.S. with an extra, heavily loaded suitcase (2001). Quite worth the trip! However, I understand that the airlines are now not so generous in their weight allowance. Best to check that out beforehand.

Do you have one particular type of art and/or period that you'd prefer to concentrate on? Maybe I would have some ideas. Or, you could go to Tlaquepaque, near Guadalajara. Tlaquepaque is a whole city given to Art, with a capital "A"!

If you wish, you can go to the MSN Group, Charli's Place, for a better view of this photo . . . and others from Mexico. Need the URL or can you get it from the photo? [/color]

Ah, I bought a rug at the Sabado market once...

sigh.

Kewl Pics
Great pictures Charlie, but I could not hear the music.

Thanks for sharing,

AE

No music on Charli's Place
AE - You spoke of "not being able to hear the music." But there isn't any music on "Charli's Place" (access Pictures - and look at the different pages):

http://groups.msn.com/CharlisPlace

Were you on the "Here's to You" Tripod website that's listed in my profile?:

http://charlicharli.tripod.com/herestoyou2/

There should be music on that site. I'll go check up on it. And, yes, there are some Mexico pictures scattered around there, too. Welcome! (Although it was "Charli's Place" to which I had reference.)

I could have been in the wrong place. I was looking at the pics in the profile of the ruins, and at the bottom you asked if there was no music to em you.

I will check out the links you posted.

AE

kk,

Now, on the first link you have three pics. I had not seen these before. Are H #3, 3 Huitzilopochtli, and Huitzilopochtli #2 originals or copies?

The second link, when I first enter I hear America (did not hear it before).

In your vacation photos of Teotihuacán, and Machu Picchu, I do not hear the music.

Thanks for sharing, lovely pics.

AE

Hm . . . The music on the Vacation Page . . .
Hi, AE - and Everyone! - The music on the Vacation Page has me stumped. Orginally - way back when first installed - it worked just fine. I deleted the file late last night and reinstalled it. The file must be corrupt. I'll look for a different file later. Try again; perhaps, tomorrow?

As to the photos: nearly all are our "originals." Only one of the Huitzilopochtli renderings is an "Orginal" photo - taken in a restaurant in South Jersey of an "Original" piece of artwork. Center your cursor on it and hit Enter. You will see that it is made of various metals, etc.

More later. Enjoy![/color]

Oh, they are your photos. I thought they were prints of originals.

Charli, I have a question to ask you. I would like to know the name of the country (I thought it was Peru), and the area in that country; where you have the animal designs on the ground, that can only be seen from a plane? Also the area that looks like an airport for the ancients?

Thanks,

AE

More links
Prospero, here are four more links.


Mexican Corido (Border Ballad)
http://carriagehouse.travel.bc.ca/corido.html

Mexican Revolution:
http://www.netdotcom.com/revmexpc/default.htm

Mexican Revolution
http://www.mexonline.com/revolution.htm

Las Adelitas: Women who fought, and died side by side with their men in the Mexican Revolution:
http://www.epcc.edu/ftp/Homes/monicaw/borderlands/21_soldaderas.htm

Celebrating the Adelitas:
http://www.lizgallego.com/heroinas.htm


Mexican Political Structure Today:
http://www.economist.com/countries/Mexico/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Structure