VLAFF Vancouver Latin American Film Festival - Oh! Mexican Movies

VLAFF Vancouver Latin American Film Festival - Mexican Gala "Todos hemos pecado"/"We all have sinned" - Mariachi los Dorados and Direcor Alejandro Ramírez

After watching tonight's Mexican Gala "Todos hemos pecado"/"We all have sinned" at VLAFF Vancouver Latin American Film Festival I remembered this article of Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes that reflects very well Mexican way of thinking about death:

Carlos Fuentes: "A professor of the Faculty of Economy asked me what Mexican novel I would recommend him to read. I answered start with the best, Pedro Páramo.
he replied, but I don't want one of those Latin american novels where you do not know if characters are dead or alive.
I said well, you better do not read it. Read Agatha Christie, where dead people are really dead, but living people are as well.
Well, he said reading detective stories is a way of killing time.
Enjoy, I said, your time well dead"

''Me preguntó un profesor de economía de la Universidad de Cambridge qué novela mexicana le recomendaba. Le dije: Empieza por la mejor, Pedro Páramo.
Me advirtió: Pero que no sea una de esas novelas latinoamericanas en las que no se sabe si los personajes están vivos o muertos.

Le pedí que mejor no la leyera. Que siguiera leyendo a Agatha Christie, donde los muertos están bien muertos, pero los vivos también.

Bueno, me dijo el profesor, leer novelas policiales es una manera de matar el tiempo.

Que te sirvan -le dije- tu tiempo bien muerto." Carlos Fuentes - Nexos - Lectura Derridiana de Juan Rulfo (fragmento)

Soledad performed by Chavela Vargas |Vancouver V L A F F We all have sinned TODOS HEMOS PECADO – Mexican Gala Screening | Wednesday Sep. 5th



La Llorona Traditional Mexican song. Performed by Susana Harp | V L A F F Vancouver Latin American Film Festival  | We all have sinned | Todos hemos pecado – Mexican Gala Screening 


"Cuates de Australia" an extraordinary documentary that shows the harsh condition of living in a small town suffering with extreme drought 

VLAFF Vancouver Latin American Film Festival - Mexican Documentary "Cuates de Australia" - Dir. Everardo González and Christian Sida Valenzuela

Vancouver V L A F F Cuates de Australia Mexican Documentary

Mexican Art in Vancouver - Portraits of Mexico

"María of the Sea" (detail)  Alex González  - Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver

"Yo Soy #132" (detail) Carolina de la Cajiga -  Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 

"Portraits of Mexico" a very interesting art exhibition at the Museum of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver. It features works of eight Mexican and Canadian artists.

Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit
555 Columbia St Vancouver, B.C.
September 1st - 16th
10:00 am - 5:30 pm Tuesday - Friday
Donations are welcome

"May" (detail) Carmen Keitsch -  Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 

"El Mercado" (detail) Richard McDiarmid -  Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 

"Weary trek home" (detail) Allan Willie -  Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 

"Guanajuato" (detail) Alfonso L. Tejada  - Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver

Miriam Aroeste (detail)- Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver

"Half Moon of Spring" (detail) Richard Kent - Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver

EntreArts Wind Quintet performing at opening night reception of Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver

Entre Arts - Aires Latinos Wind Quintet - Latin American Music for the Winds: members Samantha Fu's, Iraj Tamadon-Nejad, Geronimo Mendoza, Sydney Chang and Nick Anderson.

Artist Alfonso L. Tejada - opening night reception of Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver

Artist Modesto Rivera Lemus - opening night reception of Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 

Mexican artist Modesto Rivera Lemus, some of his works are being shown at the Huichol Art Exhibitions at Chinese Cultural Centre and UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.

Carmen Keitsch  - opening night reception of Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver  

"Rielera, Trotsky and Friends" (Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Rielera, Andre Breton, Trotsky, n,n) Carolina de la Cajiga -  Portraits of Mexico Art Exhibit - Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

South Asian Family Association (SAFA): "The Vancouver Sawan Mela, for 10 years, has been a celebration of cross-cultural harmony. It is with events like ours, that we inform and educate each other to increase cultural tolerance and one day...eliminate hatred.

Join us on August 17 and 18th at the Plaza of Nations and share in our mission."

For more information:

• Vancouver Sawan Mela FB Event
• South Asian Family Association FB Page

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Vancouver Sawan Mela at Jack Poole Plaza - Vancouver 

Mexican Art in Vancouver - Huichol Art at UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum

Mexican Art in Vancouver - Huichol Art Exhibition at UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

Huichol yarn painting (detail)- Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver   

Update 2012 Sep 06 - Both exhibitions have new pieces and some have been removed of what I originally posted on Aug 9.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed August 9 of each year as the International Day of the World's Indigenous People. To be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995-2004) - UN Indigenous Day -.

As a way to celebrate this day there is a great opportunity by visiting the Huichol Art Exhibition of the Wixarica (Huichol) people of Mexico. It is exhibited at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum of Greater Vancouver, and also at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre of the (UBC) University of British Columbia presented by MexicoFest.

Mexican artist Modesto Rivera Lemus - Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver  

The exhibition at the UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre has 5 small beautiful Huichol beadwork pieces of marine sea turtles and a magical deer that represents both the power of maize to sustain the body and of the peyote cactus to feed and enlighten the spirit. (wikipedia).

The exhibition at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum of Greater Vancouver has 3 large Huichol beadwork pieces of an eagle, a marine turtle and a jaguar, but also additional pieces has been added to this exhibition.

Mexican historian and anthropologist Fernando Benítez (1912-2000) states that the Huichols have probably maintained their ancient belief systems better than any other indigenous group in Mexico.

The religious faith of the Huichols is still based on a “trinity” of veneration of the deer, corn and peyote. The last is ritually gathered each year on a long pilgrimage to the desert area of San Luis Potosí, where the people are said to have originated and used by shamans.[2] The importance of this and the pantheon of gods is seen in their stylistic representations on just about everything that the Huichol decorate. They did not have a written language until recently, so these symbols were and are the primary form of preserving the ceremonies, myths and beliefs of ancient Huichol religion. (Wikipedia andFernando Benítez book 'Los Indios de México')

beaded jaguar - Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Huichol yarn painting (detail)- Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver      

 Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Huichol yarn painting (detail)- Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver  

Beaded Marine turtle - Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Huichol yarn painting (detail)- Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver   

beaded deer - Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

beaded horse - Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Beaded Deer - Mexican Art in Vancouver - Huichol Art Exhibition at UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

"Los indios de México son parte de nuestra comunidad policutural y multirracial. Olvidarlos es condenarnos al olvido a nosotros mismos. Los indios de México son el fiel de la balanza de nuestra posibilidad comunitaria. No seremos hombres ni mujeres justos si no compartimos la justicia con ellos. No seremos hombres y mujeres satisfechos si no compartimos el pan con ellos" Carlos Fuentes, San Jerónimo, mayo de 1989 Prólogo 'Los Indios de México' (antología) de Fernando Benítez.

Huichol.

References:

• The Huichol People - Wikipedia
• "Los Indios de México" (antología) - Fernando Benítez 

Huichol Art Exhibition at the UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

August 1 - September 17 2012

1961 East Mall, Vancouver, BC

Huichol Art Exhibition 

Chinese Cultural Centre Museum of Greater Vancouver

August 02- Sep 16 2012
Tue-Sun 11am-5pm 

555 Columbia St. Vancouver, BC \ V6A 4H5

For more information about these exhibitions visit:

• MexicoFest in Vancouver
• Mexican Events in Vancouver
• FB Group Mexican Cultural Events in Vancouver

beaded eagle - Huichol Art - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Mexican Art in Vancouver - Huichol Art Exhibition at UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

Mexican Art in Vancouver - Brushes of Insomnia by Rolando Rojas at The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

"Vitality" by Rolando Rojas (detail) - oil on linen - Brushes of Insomnia Art Exhibition - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

"Brushes of Insomnia" an Art Exhibition at the Museum of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver.

This is a unique travelling exhibition of rich, colorful, beautiful paintings by recognized Mexican Artist Rolando Rojas. He was born in Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, received a Bachelor in Architecture from the Benito Juárez University of Oaxaca, and a Bachelor of Restoration from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City.

"Brushes of Insomnia" by Mexican Artist Rolando Rojas from Oaxaca.
August 02-30 2012
Tue-Sun 11am-5pm 

Reception August 7th 7:00 pm - Artist in attendance  - RSVP to pdelamaza@consulmexvan.com
Donations are welcomed. 

If you are interested in volunteering for this exhibition email  gjimenez@consulmexvan.com  

Hosted by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver - Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives
555 Columbia St. Vancouver, BC \ V6A 4H5
www.eventsmexvan.com 

Mexican Artist Rolando Rojas - Brushes of Insomnia Art Exhibition - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

"Claudia" by Rolando Rojas (detail) - oil on linen - Brushes of Insomnia Art Exhibition - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Mexican Artist Rolando Rojas - Brushes of Insomnia Art Exhibition - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Brushes of Insomnia Art Exhibition - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver

Brushes of Insomnia Art Exhibition - Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver 

UBC BC Blueberry Fest in Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest. July 25-28, 9 am - 1 pm outside Triple-O’s on Main Mall and Agricultural Road
Everything made with the goodness of BC Blueberries

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, Scones, Muffins, Polenta Cake, Crisp & Tarts by Swirls
BC Blueberries by the flat
Free Recipes, Music, CiTR
SATURDAY July 28:
FREE Face Painting and Balloon Art
Featuring Crafts Table by Kids Help Phone.

For more information check here

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver

UBC Blueberry Fest - Vancouver