Recoleta

---

Oh man, I have been bad bad bad....I started going on excersions to different parts of the city a couple of weeks ago, the first was to Boedo. I have been maintaining these excursions but haven´t been writing about them...so we are going to play a little game of "catch up". Let´s flip back some pages in my journal to....

07.10.06

Yesterday was Independence Day here in Argentina. There were no fireworks, no hot dogs (except for the street vendors who sell them everyday), no cheap beer, no lush green grass, and CERTAINLY no red, white, and blue desserts with cool whip. The shocking thing about Independence Day was that there wasnt really anything to it. I asked my students today what you do traditionaly on I.D. and they said that it is more of a military holiday. At 12am on the 9th of July the military band strikes up in Plaza de Mayo. (I live about 6 or 8 blocks away and it was odd to watch it on tv and then mute the tv and far of in the distance here it live). After the music they go to bed and are jump out of bed at 7am. They start off the day with hot chocolate and churros....and that is about it.

I did things a bit different. El Centro de Cultura de Recoleta is where you could have found me. Yes, I have been to Recoleta hundreds of times...but not really BEEN to Recoleta. El Centro de Cultura de Recoleta is an art museum that is mostly free and the big exposition was one peso. I just about flipped my lid....A WONDERFUL FREE ART MUSEUM??? I didnt know they existed.

I dont know the name of the exposition that was there but the theme was war and immigration in the 30s and 40s and how art in Spain, Mexico and Argentina was effected by these events. I was confused by some of the imagery and aware that there was a lot of cultural sybolism that I didnt understand...like horses. Specificaly, broken horses. What do horses symbolize in Hispanic cultures?

The exhibit was beautiful but the best part were the children...they are always my favorite parts of museums. One boy, I am guessing 8 or 9 was thoughtfuly analizing the art and having a meaninful discussion with his father. I was jealous of this pair. How I would have loved to have a pair of young eyes to share what they were seeing and what they were experiencing by the art. I stood by them as long as possible hoping to soak up some of his clarity.

Another little one, selling kleenex, had wondered off the streets. He looked a bit biwildered and confused. I saw him right as he stumbled, shocked, into an explosion of a painting. His reaction was not an intelectual one. He was not studying the painting with closed eyes, searching for clues in the paintings colors, brush strokes, and angles to give him an answer. Instead his body was instinctual and decided for him. His tiny little body reeled back and he bolted off in the opposite direction confused and scared. He understood the painting. More so then I ever could or most likely anyone else who has ever looked at this piece of work.

I realized that the painting was created for this moment I witnessed with this little boy. I wish I could have been the artist. Could there be any greater compliment, or maybe beauty, then to see ones work given its true purpose? And this is what art is for isn´t it? You are suppose to be thrown into a world of instinct. Knee jerk reactions. But how often does this happen? Normaly we move from piece to piece. Searching for some clue when the searching is exactly what we are not suppose to do.

The rest of the day I enjoyed the museum and then the amazing craft fair surrounding the museum. There was amazing art, fantastic home made breads and other desserts, blue sky, crisp air, a jazz band, and a grassy hill to enjoy it all from. In the end, sitting on that hill I realized just what I was doing was the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day....enjoy life and celebrate the place that is giving you the opportunity to enjoy.

---

Comments

[mama]

lovely, my dear.
you captured a moment.