Christina deRoos

Viva Mexico!

I was fortunate to have a quick trip to Mexico in April. Spring had sprung and the flowers were jaw-dropping. There was also a lot of fog, which is unusual for the area, and a couple earthquakes. A few photos are below. See more here.

 

Exhibition / Performance list updated

Today I updated the exhibition / performance list since I hadn't added anything since late 2009. I guess I've been busy.

Thank you to the many artist collaborators, curators, galleries, performance spaces, schools, students, friends and family members who enabled so much to happen. As always, extra special thanks to Thomas Bell and Roger & Carolyn deRoos, who believed in me before I believed in myself.

I'll be curious to see where the path leads from here...

Spread Art: Allison and Taya residency in La Manzanilla, Mexico

This week Allison and Taya DeLong are in La Manzanilla, Jalisco for a week on the beautiful Pacific coast of Mexico. I met Allison a few years ago when I was teaching yoga in Mexico and was thrilled when she expressed interest in Spread Art's residency opportunity (free accommodations in exchange for a small amount of volunteer work).

Below are Allison's thoughts about returning to La Manzanilla and the opportuities that visiting Mexico provides for her daughter Taya. I look forward to posting their reflections on their trip after they return to their home in Washington State.

My family was in La Manzanilla, Mexico in 2009 and took classes with La Catalina Language School.  One reason I chose that school was because it offered volunteering opportunities.  I spent some afternoons visiting with a teenage boy who was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of a car wreck.  For work, his mom had taken on cooking 2 meals a day for a large number of workers and I was able to help her in the kitchen some also. 

We hold fond memories of the town and its friendly locals.  My daughter is now 12 and has been studying Spanish lately at home.  When the opportunity arose to stay in a house in La Manzanilla in exchange for some volunteer work, it felt so right.  I had been hoping to bring my daughter to a Spanish speaking country but it was also important to me that it included contribution in some way to a local community.  I am so grateful to be able to share this cultural and contributive experience with my daughter.

Detroit views

I'm beginning to settle into Detroit. A few first impressions below...

 

 

Occupy 2012

Occupy Wall Street - Liberty Square - NYC - 12/31/11

More photos here.

OWS / Zucotti Park 11_14 / Brooklyn Bridge 11/15

A beautiful couple nights in NYC...More photos here.

#OWS / Times Square / 10_15_11

Videos from Saturday evening #OWS event in NYC. Best time I've ever had in Times Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from Saturday's American Dream rally in NYC

So this is the first thing MoveOn has done in well over a year that I've paid any attention to...let's hope a little something comes of it.

See more photos here.

Cell Photos

Cell (HTC Evo) Photos. See more here.

 

 

 

Mixing Life

For my recent dive into live visual improvisation, I turned photographs I've taken into videos. Not having tons of time to prepare, I decided to pull together as diverse (albeit small) a range of content as possible. Below is what I put together, which ended up feeling/looking like a solid representation of how I experience the world - one part abstract/inexplicable perception, one part beautiful/intense travels, one part frustration/disappointment with the machinery of injustice. 

Check out the previous post if you want to see the final result, which drew from the videos below plus a few short clips of a video game, a tree, a circuit board, all mixed real time with some effects for good measure.

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Photos-->Video-->Live Performance

Video...you have been on my radar for a long time, and yet somehow we never quite introduced ourselves.

With The Tronic performing at Bent Festival, and my having 3 VJ gigs and a week of Isadora experience to my credit, I added live video improvisation to the interesting mix that is my creative output. Around this time next year I'm told there will be a video of this year's Bent Festival. I'm curious to see where this new path will have led me by then.

A week after Bent Festival opportunity knocked again...and I managed once more to make it through a set without crashing my computer. Here is a video of gig #2: Oxygen Ensemble at The Tank on May 2nd.

Note - this video has SOUND - improvised, beautiful, fresh squeezed sound - so check that your volume isn't up uP UP lest you get blown out of your chair.

Oxygen Ensemble / The Tank / NY, NY
Part of the monthly Creative Music Incubator series

Musicians:
Gregg Jarvis - drums
Thomas Bell - bass
Chris Mariner - guitar
Jason Polise - sax
On Davis- guitar
Lars - sax

Visuals:
Christina deRoos

Yoga Retreat in Mexico // March 13 - 20

Hello there!

The yoga retreat in La Manzanilla, Mexico is just around the corner: March 13 - 20! I invite you to sit back and savor the full details that are below!

There is an option for a Spanish Plus Yoga retreat with excursions, accommodations and whole lot more...there is an option for a yoga and meditation only retreat that allows you to make your own arrangements for accommodations and leaves you tons of free time to enjoy the beach and slow pace of La Manzanilla...and there are a variety of options in between. Mix and match to find what works best for you, and if you don't see what would be ideal, let me know and I'll do my best to put it together for you.

As retreats go this one is particularly affordable, and it seems there is an airline fare sale going on at the moment so flights may be extra reasonable as well. The nearest airport to La Manzanilla is in Manzanillo. An often less expensive alternative is to fly in & out of Puerto Vallarta, although that adds a few hours trip by bus to the travel time.

Happy (almost) spring. Please contact me if I can answer any questions. I look forward to seeing you in Mexico!

Thank you to La Catalina Natural Language School for this collaboration.

La Catalina Natural Language School

Treat yourself in 2010…

Reawaken Your Mind, Body

and Spirit!

JOIN US FOR OUR SPANISH

PLUS

YOGA & DREAM WORKSHOP RETREAT IN PARADISE!

 

March 13^th - March 20^th, 2010

La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico

 

  

COMPLETE SPANISH PLUS YOGA & DREAM WORK RETREAT INCLUDES:

•      8-day/7-night stay in beautiful Mexican cottages

•      Healthy gourmet vegetarian breakfasts, lunches & dinner daily

•      Spanish classes at La Catalina Natural Language School & Spanish learning materials

•      Yoga Classes & Meditation

•      Dream workshop

•     Temezcal sweat lodge ceremonial ritual

•     Bay cruise & Tenacatita snorkeling excursion

•     Guided nature hike excursion

•     1-hour full body massage

•     Reiki healing session
  
  

PRO-RATED RETREAT PRICING:

Package #1: COMPLETE RETREAT (SEE COMPONENTS ABOVE) Cost: $1370 - Shared bedroom with individual bed in a shared guest house           $1480 - Private bedroom in shared guest house           $1690 - Private studio apartment or one bedroom guest house

Package #2: COMPLETE RETREAT (MINUS LODGING IN MEXICAN COTTAGES) Cost: $1000

Package #3: COMPLETE RETREAT (MINUS LODGING, SPANISH CLASSES & SPANISH LEARNING MATERIALS) Cost: $900

Package #4 COMPLETE RETREAT (MINUS LODGING, SPANISH CLASSES & EXCURSIONS) Cost: $825

Package #5 YOGA, MEDITATION, DREAM WORKSHOP & 2 PRE-SELECTED MEALS PER DAY Cost: $450

Package #6 YOGA & MEDITATION ONLY (Approx. 20 hours) Cost: $190

Package #7 DREAM WORKSHOP WITH DINNERS ONLY ON M-F (10-hour workshop & 5 dinners) Cost: $170

Package #8 DREAM WORKSHOP ONLY (10-hour workshop) Cost: $120

SPECIAL OFFER!

Local or seasonal La Manzanilla Residents (who spend at least 1 month in La Manzanilla receive FREE registration and 10% discount off the package of their choice!!!

 

Refer a friend and get an additional 10% off your retreat price.

 

$200 deposit required at time of registration.

Space limited to 12 participants.

 

For more info on our Spanish Plus Yoga Retreat,

please visit the following page on our website:

 

http://www.lacatalinaschool.com/spanish-immersion-mexico/spanish+yoga-retreats.htm

 

Contact Us A.S.A.P. to reserve your spot at:

 

Email: la_catalinagroups@hotmail.com

Telphone: 011-52-315-351-5362

Website: www.lacatalinaschool.com

 

 

Namaste.

I <3 Mexico

I'm back in Mexico for a 3 week trip, and am grateful for every second I get. Returning to NY this summer after 18 months south of the border has been an intense ride. I'm hopeful that a few weeks back in La Manzanilla will shed light on the roller coaster I've experienced, most of which has been raw emotion without any specific memories or thoughts attached (making it just a touch difficult to figure out what's going on...My processing has been mostly "inhale_exhale_inhale).

After a few days in PV, tonight was my first evening back in La Manzanilla. The sight of a guy riding his burro through town just after sunset made me cry. Yoga students beware...my emotions appear to be a bit close to the surface!

Speaking of yoga, I expect to be teaching 10am classes on Wed & Fri of this week, and Tues & Thurs the next two weeks. Same location as last season: Live Bliss on Playa Blanca. Email with any questions.

I've posted photos from the trip so far here and will continue to add images that grab my attention.

Bushwick Is...2009

I was wandering around Bushwick today with a canvas, Sharpies, crayons, and a desire to see how folks would respond to "Bushwick Is..." Thomas Bell and I left Spread Art around 1pm with the canvas showing the boundaries of Bushwick way back when (1800s) and the boundaries of Bushwick today. We made a few stops (a pharmacy, a laundromat, a bodega) and received great input on our journey to Maria Hernandez Park (named after a woman who was shot and killed in 1989 for fighting to rid her block of drug dealers).

In the park we were overwhelmed with kids 
and also a lot of adults wanting to participate. Among them was a veteran (Iraq and Afghanistan), whose reflections on his experience returning to Bushwick, and the words he added to the canvas ("god forgive me can you") are unlikely to leave my mind anytime soon.

After the park we made our way to Brooklyn Fireproof to share the community dialogue that had happened so far and invite further participation. Brooklyn Fireproof was a location of today's BETA spaces event, described as "a one-day festival of independently curated, collaborative group exhibitions."

The "Bushwick Is..." canvas is part of an ongoing project begun in 2006 by Erin Partridge, Thomas Bell and myself. The project aims to facilitate community dialogue and self-reflection and to document moments in time as Bushwick experiences rapid gentrification.

I will add more to this post soon, but for the photos are going to have to speak for themselves as I'm in desperate need of a good night's sleep. See gobs of photos from today here.

 

Electro-Music 2009

Just before Halloween I found myself in a van heading to New Jersey for Electro-Music Fest. The destination - Bloomingdale, NJ - was as middle of nowhere as I've been in quite a long time (and that's saying something given where I've been time the last couple years)...but who cares about location when there's mind-blowing music and video? Plus the creepy deserted campsite location made for some interesting evening landscapes.

See more photos here.

Watch video of The Tronic (Gregg Jarvis & Thomas Bell) here.

HK:ArtiST

I've been providing some behind the scenes guidance to the founder of this weekend's Hell's Kitchen Artist Studio Tour. It is shaping up to be a great weekend. Check out the map of participating artists below, & learn more on the website.

"Numbers" Installation @ Chashama Film Festival

Today I finished the Numbers installation for the Chashama Film Festival. A collaboration with Thomas Bell, Numbers highlights human costs of the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan that are rarely reported in mainstream media. See photos of the process of installation as well as the final result here.

The installation consists of flag draped coffins and numbers stenciled on paper then covered with bubble wrap. The width and placement give viewers a choice between walking across and popping bubbles or making a small but extra effort to jump across and avoid interacting. This parallels the ability those of us in the United States have to avoid witnessing the impact of the government policies carried out in our name. It requires a bit of effort, although not much, to avoid the messy reality of our ongoing policies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

*****

Numbers used include:

32,907 Weight in tons of bombs dropped by the U.S. Air force in Iraq & Afghanistan through 2007

6129 American and coalition military casualties in Iraq & Afghanistan

120  American military casualties since Obama was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009

46% The percentage of air raid casualties that are women are girls

766 The number of journalists and academics that have been killed in Iraq

1395 The number of contractor employee deaths in Iraq

102,083 Documented civilian deaths from violence in Iraq (Estimate is 93,552-102,083)

39% The percentage of air raid casualties that are children

>100 thousand The number of American military wounded

$7500 The amount the U.S. Army paid to two children whose mother was killed inside a taxi that ran a checkpoint. Both children were also in the taxi, and were shot and injured.

Thank you to Iraq Body Count, AntiWar, and iCasualties for maintaining databases that make these and many more numbers readily available.

*****

Popping bubble wrap generally evokes enthusiasm from people regardless of age. With Numbers, the excitement of walking, jumping, or otherwise popping bubbles is tempered by the reality of stepping on representations of victims of violence.

Numbers also presents an opportunity for participants to reflect upon the myriad impacts of war, including responses to loud or surprising sounds, such as the pops of bubble wrap. For child and adult survivors of war, loud noises can trigger intrusive memories, nightmares, hallucinations or flashbacks, sometimes resulting in exaggerated responses. As one Iraq veteran explains, "any little noise and I'd jump out of bed and run around the house with a gun." In the same way, the sound of an airplane flying overhead can cause stress for survivors of aerial bombings, while it is of no consequence to others. 

Lastly, Numbers is provides a visual reference point for the ongoing violence as the total number of bubbles in the installation is approximately the same as the total number of tons of bombs that have been dropped on Iraq and Afghanistan to date.

Numbers
On view Thursday, October 22 - Monday, October 26 
Part of the Chashama Film Festival
Final Cut Lounge
679 Third Avenue (at 43rd St.)
One block from Grand Central
Subway: 4,5,6,7

September Concert @ Spread Art: 9/11/09

Friday night I participated in the September Concert at Spread Art. Responding to the theme and atmosphere of the the evening I made a mixed media piece out of dollar bills, thread and found  metal. Click the photo to see a larger version.

The September Concert is a series of free concerts, organized by individuals, schools, businesses, and associations to bring communities together, to reaffirm our hope for peace and to celebrate life and our universal humanity. Concerts are held in all areas of our city, our nation, and our world. It is a global day of music for peace, every September 11th.

The September Concert at Spread Art included live music by The Tronic (Thomas Bell and Gregg Jarvis), an ice sculpture by Thomas Bell...and me cutting up United States currency. 

See more photos from 9/11/09 at Spread Art here.

Friday, Sept 18th - Fundraiser for Rwandan Kids

Friday, September 18th Spread Art is hosting a fundraiser for Through the Eyes of Hope. I hope you to see you!

Through the Eyes of Hope:

"Encouraging children to photograph the world through their eyes"

VISION

• to provide photography classes as a means of art therapy to children around the world
• to allow children to tell their own stories through their photographs
• to provide a local trade to help children pay for school fees and food
• to celebrate and affirm children’s creativity by exhibiting their photographs in different venues throughout the world
• to bring awareness of different cultures to communities through the children’s photographs

My favorite music: Oxygen Music Collective

Music I can feel...that makes me think...that no matter how many times I listen to a track I always notice something new...that's music I like. For my money (and ears), it doesn't get any better than the various projects of Oxygen Music Collective.

Have a listen below. If the sounds grab you, please support independent artists by purchasing individual tracks or entire albums (click the "store" tab & then the "snocap" icon).

Enjoy!

Missouri Photos

Visiting a friend in Missouri...click the photos for a larger view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July Newsletter - Summer of Art in NY

Below is the email newsletter that I sent a few days ago. Put your email in the cute little box if you would like to receive my future email updates (about art, yoga, Mexico, NY, and more) direct to your inbox.

 

Sign up for email updates

Saludos!

So the rain has (mostly) stopped in NY and it finally feels like summer around here. I'm grateful for the full creative plate that life served me in June and am excited about the artistic goodness in July & beyond.


The fun begins tonight with The Love Show at Spread Art in Bushwick / East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

Friday, July 17th - Sunday, July 29th

Spread Art & iloveyou present:

The Love Show

Love as a force of good, bad, movement, height, hate, God,
passion, destruction, construction, and oppression.

Over 20 artists working in a variety of mediums, including oil,
acrylic, wood, photography, video and more.




Opening Night: Friday, July 17th 7pm - 11pm
With music by Knight & Gale and Eastern Sweats

On View: Sat, July 18th & Sun, July  19th; 12pm - 6pm

Several pieces invite your participation, and of course there will be beer, wine, and live music to make your night complete.

Here is where you will find the love...

Spread Art
104 Meserole Street
(b/w Manhattan & Leonard)
Subway: L to Montrose or J/M/Z to Lorimer

***

For those of you excited to show & sell your latest creations, check out the Call for Participants
below for the McKibbin Street Fair on Saturday, July 25th.

The street fair is presented by AKA Potion, a great cafe in Bushwick / East Williamsburg that is known for its strong support of local artists. The fair is coming up soon, but there are still opportunities to get involved.

***

Beginning in August, Thomas Bell and I will be curating the walls of the walls of Mojito Loco,, a fabulous restaurant and bar with inspirational mojitos and a mouth-watering latin fusion menu (including lots of vegetarian options). Watch for upcoming information about the first show: Spread Small Works.

***

Looking ahead to September, I'm working with Spread Art to host an exhibition / fundraiser for Through the Eyes of Hope, a nonprofit founded in 2006 by photojournalist Linda Smith to provide photography classes to kids in Rwanda. Click here for a sneak peak at the children's beautiful images.

Through the Eyes of Hope continues its program in Rwanda and has expanded to additional locations, including the Bronx. As Through the Eyes of Hope grows, they remain true to their mission to encourage children to photograph the world through their eyes.



***

Yep, a lot is on the horizon...and it comes on the heels of many fabulous things that just happened, including two days of Creative Kids on Bedford, as part of Willilamsburg Walks.

On Saturday, June 27th and Saturday, July 11th I was on Bedford Avenue with tons of art supplies to facilitate kids and adults letting their creativity flow. Both afternoons were incredibly inspiring and liberating in the way that only making art with kids can be...as they have yet to form rules or judgments about what art is.

Read more & see additional photos of Creative Kids on Bedford here.


***

Also in the just finished stage is the Summer Group Show at Spread Art. A group of artists representing a wide range of mediums displayed their take on "Improvisation." The Tronic provided live sonic variations on the theme.





















All in all summer in NY continues to unfold in ways that inspire and surprise me. There is a lot more to share, including overdue stories from spring in Mexico. Keep an eye on the Live Bliss blog for upcoming posts on the Primavera Parade in La Manzanilla (lots of kids in butterfly & Tiger costumes), plus observations about my transition from Mexico's Pacific Coast to New York's hippest borough (Brooklyn).

Hasta pronto,   
Christina

P.S. As always, please let me know what's new in your world and feel free to forward this email along to others who might be interested.

A whole lotta love at The Love Show last night

The Love Show last night was packed. It was hot, humid, and eventually rainy, yet people continued to arrive and stayed until the end to enjoy great music, good company, and most importantly to absorb over 20 different artists' take on "Love." Below are photos from the evening.

If you didn't have a chance to stop by last night, you still have time to catch some love. The Love Show is on view for one more day - tomorrow (Sunday 7/19) from 12pm - 6pm.

Many thanks to Jethro of iloveyou for curating such a fabulous show.

The Village Voice and I say Spread Art is the place to be this Friday

This week's Village Voice highlights The Love Show, opening this Friday at Spread Art, among its picks for the weekend. How sweet is that? 

Mark your calendar to help Spread the Love this Friday at 7pm by enjoying (and...hint, hint...buying) art, meeting the 20+ included artists, giving props to Jethro of iloveyou who curated the show, plus (of course) enjoying cold beer and hot music.

Here is what the Voice has to say...

The Love Show

Date/Time:Fri., July 17, 7:00pm

Price: free

I HEART LOVE

Group show displays affection, in general.

BY ARACELI CRUZ

What is love, and what does it look like? Spread Art Gallery asked artists throughout the country to submit their ideas of this complex sentiment, whether it be "love as a force of good, force of malice, force of height, of hate, a force of God, creation, destruction, oppression" and on and on. Twenty artists and designers were chosen to be a part of The Love Show—including our very own art director, Ivylise Simones—which includes a variety of mediums such as oil, acrylic, wood, photography, and more. Tonight's opening party includes a set by Knight & Gale and Eastern Sweats.

More Art with Kids = More Fun

I was back on Bedford Avenue today making art with kids as part of Williamsburg Walks. Thomas Bell and I packed gobs of art supplies onto the Spread Art & Live Bliss art cart and wheeled it through Brooklyn, from Bushwick to Williasmburg.

As soon as we were set up we had lots of art partners, some of whom were return collaborators from a couple weeks ago when we were on Bedford. With stickers, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, glitter, pattern scissors, shells, string, and ribbon, we created a variety of colorful (and sometimes messy) wearable art.

Most of the kids that visited the Spread Art & Live Bliss booth have lived less years on the planet than they have fingers on their hands, which means they aren't concerned with questions like: "Is this art or craft?" and/or "Should I price my work based on time spent or materials cost?" It is pure fun for fun's sake, and the enthsusiasm the kid's bring to: 1) drawing on a sticker, 2) putting it on their shirt, and 3) showing the world, is absolutely contageous.

If you know of an upcoming private or public event that could benefit from a kid's art setup like this send me an email. Adding yoga and/or music to the art projects is also an option.

Below are photos from the day. Enjoy!

Above: The cart is packed & ready to leave Spread Art in Bushwick

Above: En route...

Above: As soon as we got set up we were greeted by the familiar smiling face of a girl who made art with us when we were on Bedford a couple weeks ago.

Above: A new face who assured me she is 7, although her sister was convinced she is actually only 4.

Above: Thom helping a girl put on the wearable art she created.

Above: This is the moment the top was taken off a glue stick and things got consequently got very messy and glittery.

Above: Thom adding some color to the street.

Above: Packed up and ready to roll back to Spread Art.

Call for Participants! McKibbin Street Fair! Saturday, July 25th!

Collaging on Bedford: Join me this Saturday!

This Saturday from 12pm - 6pm I'll be on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (said to currently hold the title to "world's neighborhood most densely populated with artists") with collage materials and a whole lot more. Why? Because it will be fun!

I hope to see you on Saturday. If you can't make it but are interested in learning about future events like this (or booking you own), send me an email.

Creative Kids on Bedford!

Saturday, June 27th
12pm - 6pm
Bedford Avenue, between North 6th & North 7th
L train to Bedford

Facilitated by Christina deRoos / Live Bliss & Spread Art

Join us for a playful, creative afternoon of collage and bookmaking outside on Bedford Avenue, in the heart of one of the world's most inspiring neighborhoods!

Kids of all ages will enjoy mixing and matching images, adding color and text, and ultimately exploring the stories to be found their creations. Participants will be invited to display their work for the afternoon as part of an on-site exhibition that will develop and evolve throughout the day.

All necessary supplies provided, but feel free to bring along your favorite art and craft materials.

Whether you are a kid, have kids, or are a child-less adult who wants to collage in a collaborative atmosphere where age is irrelevant, I hope to see you on Saturday!

Email for more information, or call Christina: 347-526-2737

Part of Williamsburg Walks (follow the link to the left to see more of the day's activities).

June 7th, 11th & Beyond...Collaborations w/ Spread Art

I've been back in NY a few weeks now and am beginning to find my art groove along with my yoga bliss. Thanks in large part to Thomas Bell, founder of SPREAD ART, I've got a ton of projects on my creative calendar (its called a creative calendar not because it tracks art stuff, but because I usually need to be really creative to get everything done on time).

Below are details about happenings at SPREAD ART in June, beginning with "Improvisation," the '09 Summer Group Show that I'm a part of along with photographer's Irina Adam and Phil Petrocelli and 7 other artists.

"Improvisation" opens Thursday, June 11th at 6pm.

If you are around NY I hope to see you so we can improvise conversation over a glass of wine or a latte while looking at a fabulous selection of painting, collage, photography, mixed-media work, and more.

SPREAD ART is located in Bushwick/East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at 104 Meserole Street (b/w Manhattan & Leonard). Take the L to Montrose or the J/M/Z to Lorimer.

More details about "Improvisation" are on the flyer below, which features one of my photographs (left) and an image of Phil Petrocelli's (right). Click the image for a larger view.

Prior to June 11th, how about coming to aka Potion on Sunday, June 7th at 4pm for the simultaneous opening/closing event for "The Art of Letting Go" during Bushwick Open Studios?

"The Art of Letting Go" is a collaborative mural performance led by Thomas Bell that includes myself as well as Katharine Ng, Avoid Pi, Heather Garland, and more. The image at left is a "work in progress" view from very early on. Artists have continued to add, subtract, and layer over one another's work.

Note: Don't be late for the opening/closing or you just might miss it.

In addition to the Sunday, June 7th  simultaneous opening/closing event at aka Potion (248 McKibbin Street; L to Morgan) at 4pm, "The Art of Letting Go" will be on view:

Thurs June 4th: 7am-11pm
Fri June 5th: 7am-11pm
Sat June 6th: 8am-11pm
Sun June 7th: 8am-5pm+/-

The full announcement for SPREAD ART events in June is below, and as you will see there are a ton of things happening, including music, art, and - beginning next week - I'm teaching yoga Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 6:30pm.

Click the images below to view them larger size.

A lot of work is going into SPREAD ART to get it ready for a summer of creative fun. I'm doing what I can to help out, and at the moment that means less time updating blogs and websites and more time painting walls and laying floors. I have many posts I'm itching to add from my last couple months in Mexico, including photos from the kid's Spring Parade and an adventure to milk cows.

Please check back periodically for updates and don't get confused when there are NY stories mixed with Mexico stories. Posts are likely to be as jumbled as a lot of my thoughts these days. Thankfully a few things remain constant whether I'm in La Manzanilla or Bushwick, such as my ongoing desire to learn to dance.

This morning I met a neighbor who offered to take me with her for a night of salsa just down the block from SPREAD ART., That, along with her immediately teaching me the basic step for Bachata, made my morning. I've got plans to recruit her to teach salsa at SPREAD, but I'll save that idea for a future post. For now its back to work on preparing for everything that's already on the creative calendar... 

April @ LiveBliss: Yoga, Dance, Meditation & Art!

Once again I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to be a part of what is happening at LiveBliss. When I opened the space a few months ago I had a 3 word development plan:  Art, Yoga & Life. I figured I would at some point sit down and flesh that out a bit more. So far I've been happily following what life brings and playfully spending my time doing and being instead of planning.

Those of you that have seen the current yoga schedule on the door of LiveBliss - with its scratched out previous schedule and hand-written new days & times - know that I've really gotten quite relaxed about things. I wonder how many business rules of thumb I'm breaking by using my barely legible handwriting to convey information in the day and age of computers? Oh well, it is a temporary fix (read: manana I'll print new flyers...which in classic Mexico fashion I've been saying for over a week now) and honestly one I'm wearing as a badge of courage given my former non-blissful Type-A ways. 

Thank you to everyone who is adding energy to LiveBliss as it evolves, including those who are in Mexico (Carlos, Jean-Pierre, Karen, Lora and all of you who come to explore what's on offer) and those who are sending support from further away (my family, Tracy, Thom, and many more). The experience for me is bringing to life the words of Joseph Campbell: “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”

Below is the latest schedule of happenings at LiveBliss in April. This being Mexico and life being one big creative improvisation, there are sure to be changes throughout the month. Check back for updates or feel free to email me with questions. 

All classes take place @ LiveBliss in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico
Playa Blanca 21 (the street closest to the beach...across from the fisherman's co-op) 

***April Happenings at LiveBliss***

Free Yoga Class!
Tuesday, April 7
10am
Karen, a yoga teacher visiting for a couple weeks from Colorado Springs, Colorado will guest teach this yoga class and is generously donating her time. 

Yoga in Spanish - Pay what you wish!
Every Monday
9:30am 

Yoga in English:
Tuesdays & Thursdays
11am
75 pesos drop-in / 60 pesos each if you pay for multiple classes

Yoga Notes:
Everyone is welcome to enjoy these classes, regardless of yoga experience &/or language fluency. Mats and blankets are provided. All you need to bring is your body.
Come check it out yourself and please help spread the word about the free / by donation yoga opportunities to others who may be interested.
You can learn more about Christina's yoga classes at the bottom of this page.

Meditacion en el Vacio / Meditation on Emptiness
Thursday April 2, 5pm - 7pm
Friday April 3, 5pm - 7pm
Next week dates TBA
$100 pesos / class
Class taught by Carlos Eloy Tlores Munguia in Spanish, with English translation as needed. Read more (in Spanish) about this series here. 

Weekly Dance Class
Thursdays 10am - 12pm
50 pesos
Professional dancer Jean Pierre is teaching everything from salsa to belly dancing to polka (no joke!). It is *tons* of fun and a great workout.

Coming soon...
-->More Afternoons of Art for kids and adults
-->April Art Exhibition: Collage & Mixed Media

Sunday Signs

I woke up this morning full of strange energy and sensations. I thought perhaps it was residual emotion from yesterday, as one of my best friends left after a 2 week visit and I guided the last of a 6 Saturday Yoga & Art series. I found my way to my yoga mat to wake up, invite some space into my body, and have a closer look at what was going on inside, figuring I was in for a dose of processing yesterday or other recent events.

On the mat a whole lot of thoughts, feelings, sensations and visuals arrived, as if I'd had some new self-awareness faucet installed when I wasn't looking. Out flowed a clear stream of updated dreams and desires, mixed with some time-worn fears and doubts.

I'll admit that part of me reacted with a, "damn, maybe I should have skipped this and gone for coffee and the online Sunday Times instead." I've been feeling pushed to my saturation point recently and part of me is lobbying for a shut down of some sort. The other parts of me are negotiating for some life changes that don't include a "sorry, I'm closed" sign.

It was in this state of mixed-mind that I headed for the scissors and glue sticks. As usual what arrived didn't connect to what was on my conscious mind while combining images. I was looking for answers to questions about what came up in yoga this morning, but what I received related to questions that were on my mind earlier in the month.

There seems to be a time delay between my heart's current affairs and questions, and my soul's interpretation and guidance. It reminds me of the shutter lag that existed with the first digital cameras - that time gap between when the shutter button was pushed and image the camera actually captured - resulting in pictures of the moment after people stopped posing.

Maybe that is a more apt metaphor than I realize, and what I'm receiving are honest glimpses of my heart's desires and my soul's journey, rather than neatly posed and packaged images that can only be held for a matter of seconds. Whatever is going on, I'm continuing to explore and enjoy the process.

For those of you in or around La Manzanilla, I plan to hang all collages from this series next week at LiveBliss and leave them on view for a few weeks.

  

Meditacion en el Vacio

Life recently introduced me to Carlos Eloy Flores Munguia, a therapist and shaman from Guadalajara. We have had a lot of interesting conversations, including chats about Eckart Tolle's "A New Earth" which we are both reading in Spanish. I doubt his head hurts like mine does after finishing a chapter. I've read the book 3 or 4 times now in English, but even so reading in Spanish is slow going.

Carlos is offering a 2 week meditation series (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays; 5pm - 6:30pm) at LiveBliss starting Monday March 30th. The cost for the entire course, which will be in Spanish, is $500 pesos.

Below is Carlos' description of the series, including the theme for each session. Email me to sign up or if you have questions.

La Meditacion en el Vacio

La Meditacion en el Vacio es el arte y la ciencia, considerada por los grandes maestros espirituales de oriente y occidente como el medio mas idoneo para alcanzar mayor plentitud y armonia fisica y mental. Es ademas la via mas directa hacia la ilumniacion y el autoconocimiento pleno.

Temario

1) Relajacion, concentracion, contemplacion, y extasis.

2) Recuerdo de si; conciencia de si y conciencia objetiva.

3) Tecnica del sonido para deterer el dialogo mental.

4) Aumento del poder de la atencion (ejercicios).

5) Alcanzado la mente silenciosa por medio de ejercicios psicofisicos.

6) A la plentitud y armonia por la mente silenciosa.

Instructor: Carlos Eloy Flores Munguia (Psicologo, Terapeuta Energetico con Sonido de Caracol y Canto, Tecnica Charmanica)

Lugar: LiveBliss, Playa Blanca 21, La Manzanilla

Hora: 5pm - 6:30pm

Duracion: 2 semanas

Dias: Lunes, Miercoles y Viernes, 30/3/09 - 3/4/09

Precio: 500 pesos curso completo

Informes: 315-351-5672

 

Bike Ride to Tenacatita

This afternoon, after teaching Saturday's Yoga & Art class, I took a bike ride to Tenacatita, a beautiful beach town about 12 miles (the way we went) from La Manzanilla. I'm so grateful to Bill who got the word out that he was taking this ride and invited others to join.

Although I've been surrounded by "open space" during the past year in Mexico, I haven't had as much hiking, mountain biking, camping or trail running time as I would like given the beauty that surrounds me. To my knowledge, there aren't many trails available and riding on the highway is a bit on the dangerous side for my liking (two lane curvy highways with no shoulders and lots of large trucks). We did ride for a brief stretch on Highway 200 today...just enough to give me a bit of a rush, but not enough that my mother needs to begin worrying.

On the way back we opted for a ride through a papaya plantation instead of returning to the road, which involved walking through nearly-waist high grass for a bit to get to the trail. At that point I was banishing all memories of the snakes and scorpions I encountered last summer.

I returned to La Manzanilla exhausted and covered in dirt, so I did the only logical thing which was to immediately go to the beach for a beautiful evening swim. At the beach I ran into a couple kids from last Sunday's Art Afternoon who are excited to return to LiveBliss for more of the same tomorrow. One of the kids sold the collage she made last week, which thrilled me to hear.

After a morning spent guiding yoga & art, an afternoon bike ride with people who were mostly strangers to me 24 hours ago and now feel like old friends, and an evening at the beach where I saw kids who I will get to make art with tomorrow, all I can think is that my life is more full than ever and I am damn grateful. Thank you to everyone and everything that helped bring me to this moment.

Below are some photos from the bike ride. Click the images to see larger versions.

Above: View of the beach that runs from La Manzanilla (at the far end in the image) to Boca de Iguanas

Above: Looking inland of the beach.

Above: The cobblestone road that we climbed toward Blue Bay Resort. It amazes me that even though there has been no rain for months, gorgeous flowers continue to bloom.

Above: Two riding partners from today, including Bill (right) who has spent enough time exploring the area on his bike to figure out today's ride to Tenacatita and a whole lot more.

Above: After a couple miles climbing a cobblestone road, we came to look toward a different gorgeous beach including, I think, Tenacatita at the far end. I'm always sore after a long bike ride, but the cobblestones added an interesting extra element today.

Above: We spent a lot of time riding on dirt roads like this one. In addition to a wealth of birds, we saw bunches of cows (including a very cute and very young black fluffy one that I was too lazy to pull my camera out to photograph...please use your imagination on that one).

Above: Lots of egrets were around as we passed through this mangrove area.

Above: I saw bird's nests and more bird's nests today. I stopped getting excited and counting after the first 5 (short attention span).

Above: One of many papaya fields full of small plants loaded with gobs of large fruit. Someone told me once that the papaya trees have been genetically modified to grow small so they are easier to harvest. Today I was told the small ones are just younger and bear the super-sweet papayas. I hope that's true.

Above: Arriving to Rebalcito.

Above: In Tenacatita I saw this sign (the green one on the right) that said "Parking" for something. I thought it was one of the nicest parking lots ever.

Above: Another shot of the flowered parking lot.

Above: The town of Tenacatita

Above: A mile marker. I have a fascination with highway signs. I can't help it.

Above: Rich passing a roadside restaurant.

Above: When I said I returned covered with dirt I wasn't kidding. My ankles and legs may be dirty but my feet show I left the house clean!

Above: Exhausted, but damn happy. And why not? I'm leaning against a palm tree in front of the house where I live, which is across the street from a gorgeous beach. Everyday isn't perfect, but the views are always fabulous.

Getting things done...Sunset Photos at the Beach

With about 9 weeks left until I return to NY for the summer I am thinking about my priorities (meaning swimming, hanging out at the beach and other non-NY activities are moving up on my "to do" list) and at the same time attempting to focus on the few not done (yet) items that feel important to address.

One of the things I've been wanting to get done for the last couple months is to create a flyer with information about sunset photo sessions on the beach in La Manzanilla. I was recently motivated to write up the text of what I had in mind so I could donate a session to La Catalina Foundation for their silent auction fundraiser.

Today I finished the rest of the flyer, and had a great time looking through photos of people I've taken over the last several years, many of which I haven't looked at since the day I took them. Later, I'll put the flyers into the world and allow life to take it from there. Another opportunity to practice doing my part, and then surrendering to whatever will be.

Below is the flyer with all the details. Click the image to see a larger version.

If you are in or around La Manzanilla, email or call 351-315-5672 (in Mexico) for more information or to schedule a photo session for yourself, your family, or your friends.

Photos of Today's Afternoon of Art @ LiveBliss

Today's afternoon of art at LiveBliss was tons of fun, with about 10 kids and a handful of adults making collages or drawings. Thanks to a donation of sidewalk chalk, the sidewalk outside LiveBliss is now decorated with a beautiful rainbow and flower. A couple kids also tried facepainting with the chalk, which went about as well as you can probably imagine.

There is an Art Fair in La Manzanilla on March 15th and many of the kids that came today are planning to go to the jardin that day to sell the pieces that they made.

There will be another afternoon of art at LiveBliss next Sunday, 2pm - 4pm, so if you are nearby please stop in. Kids are free. Adults by donation ($10 pesos / US$1 suggested). Donations help cover the cost of glue sticks, scissors, etc.

Thanks to MaryBeth for helping organize & assist, to Macy for donating the sidewalk chalk, and to Karen and Randy for donating tons of magazines to the community.

Here are some photos from today...

Sunday Art Afternoons / Tardes de Arte Los Domingos

If you are in / around La Manzanilla, I hope you can come to LiveBliss for two Sundays of collage-making in a fun, playful atmosphere. Regardless of whether you consider yourself creative, you will enjoy mixing and matching images and exploring the stories you find in your creations.

Sunday March 1 & Sunday March 8
2pm - 4pm
LiveBliss (Playa Blanca 21)
All supplies provided
Kids $Free
Adults by donation ($10 pesos suggested)

For more information, email or call 315-5672.

***
Si estas en o cerca de La Manzanilla, deseo que vayas para dos domingos de arte cuando vamos a hacer collages en un entorno divertido y alegre. No importa si creas que eras creativa o creativo, vas a disfruitar mezclando imagines y buscando los cuentos que tus obras muestran.

Domingo 1 de Marzo & Domingo 8 de Marzo
2pm - 4pm
LiveBliss (Playa Blanca 21)
No necesitas traer nada mas de tu mismo o misma
Ninos $Libre
Adultos por donacion ($10 pesos sugirio)

Para mas informacion, manda un correo o llama 315-5672.

Simple Pleasures

For me, life in Mexico is packed full of simple pleasures, like watching the sunset and having a friend finally show me the famed "green flash", chatting with a neighbor and learning more dirty words in Spanish, changing the course of my morning run because there are cows and bulls blocking the road, discovering that I can see almonds growing on half the trees in town, and watching young guys talk on cell phones while riding their horses.

One of my favorite evenings was when my friend Tia and her daughter Macy got me out of my house to enjoy the simple pleasure of the "throw rocks at beer bottles" booth that was in town. Being originally from the Midwest (Columbia, Missouri - about as middle of America as one can get), I was not about to pass up an opportunity to 1) throw rocks, or 2) break glass. No way.

The deal was that you pay a few pesos to pick out three beach rocks from a wood crate and then take your turn throwing the rocks at upside-down beer bottles arranged in rows along the back of the booth. If you broke a bottle you got to pick a prize, which for adults included the choice of a beer (thereby helping keep necessary booth supplies stocked by adding a new empty bottle to the mix).

Making the whole scene extra fun was the fact that behind the bottles was a large piece of metal, so even if your rock didn't meet its intended target and cause a crash of broken glass, you still received a  satisfying "thunk" of rock on metal for your peso.

Unfortunately I haven't seen this booth around for a while. My fingers are crossed that it will be back for Easter / Semana Santa. I will know if it happens because my house is close enough to where the booth sets up that I can tell if someone's rock hit glass or metal. If the booth does return, I plan to grab my friends and some pesos and head over to pick out some heavy, round rocks.

 

    

The Rodeo As I Saw It

Recently I posted tons of rodeo photos from the Fiesta del Toros that took place a couple weeks ago. I was quite surprised to find myself so close to both the bulls and the bull riders, and I had a great time taking photos of the various eye-popping scenes I witnessed - including the bullriders putting on their chaps and their game faces, bulls and riders flying in every direction, and bullriders and fans drinking tequila to celebrate a particularly good ride.

In addition to taking the "tell the story" photos that you can see by following the link above, I took some "this is what it feels like to me" photos. Here they are...

Click the images to see them in a larger size.

Sounds of Progress

For the last month or so there have been guys paving the street in front of LiveBliss. The street is looking beautiful, but is a very noisy process.

Its been interesting to teach yoga while a few feet away people are operating earth-movers (or whatever those big machines are called), cutting bricks, loading trucks of rocks to carry away, and doing whatever else has been called for. Surprisingly few of my yoga students have struggled with the level of noise. Several have made comments, but ultimately all but one have stayed for classes and said at the end that the noise didn't get in the way of their experience.

Opening a yoga space and immediately having street work happen right outside has been a great learning opportunity for me. I quickly found myself noticing feelings of responsibility for things that are way beyond my control, including the level of noise in Mexico. Sometimes people think that being in a beach town of less than 2,000 residents would be a blissfully quiet experience, but that isn't the reality.

In my experience, Mexico is full of sounds - from chickens first thing in the morning, to dogs last thing at night - and in between the days are filled with water trucks, gas trucks, fruit trucks, mops / brooms / housewares trucks (each with their unique horn or recorded catchy jingle so you know who is coming by from a mile away), plus the random guy bursting into song while working, and car radios blaring reggaeton, and of course people telling stories and laughing.

I hear *a ton* of laughter here, and it is absolutely wonderful. Definitely better than the high-pitched whine of bricks being cut, but I suppose laughter doesn't pave a street.

It appears that the guys are getting close to finishing the part of the street that passes LiveBliss. I'm grateful for all the noise they brought because it gave me an opportunity to learn how to pace a yoga class to match truckloads of dirt being dropped outside, further accepting and opening to whatever is happening around me. I learned more about noticing and releasing layers of resistance, and ultimately let go of my goofy ideas of responsibility for what happens outside of the studio during a yoga class (as if I could possibly predict or control how much noise life brings on a given day!).

All I know is that I plan to show up and teach yoga at the scheduled times for class and I will work with whatever life brings. I'm grateful that my yoga students have demonstrated enviable amounts of calm, abiding presence from which I've learned a ton. As the saying goes, "if you want to learn, teach."

I don't expect to be sad when the noise of the street being paved is gone, and I have no illusions that life will be particularly quiet afterwards. Presumably there won't be jackhammer-like sounds, but who knows?

One thing I'm sure of, I will miss having the workers around. I've gotten used to chatting with them througout the day - in the morning when I have coffee and mop the studio, in the afternoon when I'm hanging around making art, and in the evening when I head out for a run. There has been something really nice about getting to know the guys who are bringing the first paved streets to La Manzanilla, and I expect they will be a big part of my memory of this time when I look back later and think, "I remember when this brick was laid here..."

Below are a few photos of the process and current status. Click the images to see larger versions.

Fiesta del Toros - Rodeo Photos

Bit by bit I am uploading photos from last week's Fiesta del Toros in La Manzanilla. Thanks to my good friend Beto Verde and my friend / landlord Arturo Sanchez I found myself in some incredible locations for taking photos.

Throughout the 4 day celebration of the founding of La Manzanilla (rodeos during the day, fiestas at night) I had quite a few "how in the world did I find myself here?" moments...dancing around sombreros, being woken up at 6:30am by a 12 piece marching band, bullriders offering me tequila...the list of "damn, I had no idea I would be so lucky when I came to Mexico" moments goes on and on.

I'll write another time about my personal experience of the event as a vegetarian animal-rights advocate. Needless to say there were moments that were tough to watch. For now, I'll leave it at the photos and will say that I have the utmost respect for my friends here and this culture that I am fortunate and grateful to be so welcomed into.

See more photos here.

Latest Collages: The Divine, Work, Health, Home, Change, & Fear

Below are the latest collages that are revealing themselves to me throughout the month of February. As I finish each one, I am hanging it on the wall of LiveBliss.

I am about half way done with the series, assuming it will end when the gallery is full...although it seems silly to think that this group of images will tell a story that is somehow based on the square footage of a random space in Mexico. Then again, it seems just as silly not to think that.

If there is one thing this process has taught me so far, it is to loosen up and worry less about how neatly things wrap themselves up. Everything is always perfect just as it is, even when its not.

Above: The Divine

Searching for what surrounds me

Stop trying and simply be

Above: Work

Everything is connected

Do my part, allow the rest to unfold

Above: Health

Respect and care for what I was given

Accept everything as it is

Above: Home

Opening to the universal source of all being, I am always home

Be home on the inside

Above: Change

Even when I lose balance, I can still enjoy the ride

Laugh and relax into the flow

Above: Fear

Every experience brings a lesson

Don't fight a great teacher

Another Manzanillo Trip...Another Sunrise

I took another trip to Manzanillo this morning. These sunrise immigration trips are beginning to have a bit of a sacred ritual feel. That's not to say I'll be sad when I pick up my FM3 lucrativo in March. It just means I'll have a reason to look forward to next year when I'll take these drives again in order to renew my immigration documents.

Here are a few photos from today's journey into the dawn. I had fun playing not just with the changing light and landscape, but also with the haze created by dusty car windows.

Interview on Yoga and Life's Blog Talk Radio Show

Earlier today I was interviewed by Stacey Shanks on her Yoga and Life blog talk radio show. Below is the announcement for the show. Click here if you would like to have a listen.

Yoga and Life Presents
"The Marriage of Art & Yoga"
Blog Talk Radio Show
Recorded Monday, February 9

Host Stacey Shanks as interviews guest, Christina deRoos, on how she brings together art and yoga to create a unique experience for her students. Once an attorney in Seattle, her life now consists of her love of photography and teaching yoga in La Manzanilla, Mexico, where her new studio / gallery, LiveBliss, resides.

Have you wondered where the creativity you once had as a child went? Were you once uninhibited and a free spirit? Christina will offer techniques you can explore to uncover the creative spirit we all have. 

Immigration Trips & Beautiful Sunrises

Recently I drove to Manzanillo to take another step in the immigration process. I hear a lot of complaining about how the requirements to get an FM3 (the immigration document that allows a person to stay in the country for a year at a time) change daily and seem to be at the whim of the person working that day.

So far my experience has been perfectly reasonable. It has been a bit of a pain to gather everything I need, but that isn't the fault of anyone at immigration. Regardless, I imagine it is *much* easier for me to get my papers to live in Mexico than it is for a Mexican citizen to get their papers to live in the States.

Because Manzanillo is an hour from La Manzanilla...and the immigration office is on the far side of town...and its often busy with gringos like me who want to stay more than the 6 months everyone is granted on arrival at the airport...well, all this means that a trip to immigration usually begins rather early in the morning. In fact, I think my trips to immigration have been the only times I've been up before 8 a.m. except for one 4 a.m. bus trip to Vallarta.

Each time I've been up early, I've thought to myself, "I really should do this more often...it is so beautiful!" I think once I even set my alarm to try to get up for a sunrise beach walk, but I blew it off when the time came. Maybe another day. For now, sleep continues to be way too precious as I think I'm still catching up on a couple years of sleep deprivation.

All this leads me to the following photos, which I took the other morning during a beautiful drive to Manzanillo. I figured as long as I was getting up early I would bring my camera, and I was very happy I did.

Click the photos to see a larger image.

 

Feb. LiveBliss Show Continues to Reveal Itself...Latest Collages

Below are the latest additions to a collage series I began recently. As I'm making these I am hanging them on the wall of the gallery.

I've decided to use this "make & hang" process to allow the next LiveBliss exhibition to reveal itself to me (and everyone else who visits) over time. I smiled when I realized that I am now allowing life to be both the artist and the curator, as collage was not even close to the plan for February's show.

It has been an interesting process as I've felt some discomfort about having mostly empty walls. There was a sense that if the doors are open and people are coming in...well, something is supposed to be there, right?

Sitting with this discomfort for a bit I realized that the collages are already there, and my role is just to facilitate their shift from the formless into form. Perhaps others who have come to the gallery have also seen something more than empty walls and it has only been me who thought the gallery appeared rather empty...

In any case, allowing the walls to fill up slowly with just-made collages is the experience for February and it feels like a natural progression in my effort / non-effort to remove my self from my creative process.

Above: Journey

I am walking a path to an unknown destination

Enjoy the trip and don't be afraid to let it get messy

Above: Chaos

No matter what happens on the outside, I can always find stillness within

Trust & Surrender

Above: Perceived Adversity

The darkest times have taught me the most

Allow dark flowers to bloom

Above: Health

My body is a miraculous gift, not a fashion statement

Go inside and explore

Above: Relationship

What I see in another says more about me than him

I am the only one I can change

Above: Dreams

Some feelings don't yet have words

Breathe

Recent Collages

I began a series of collages this past week. So far I explored the themes of health, gratitude, spirit, relationships, yoga, thinking, and romance. Here they are...

Above: Health

Growing in myself & my relationships...finding, exploring, experiencing balance...

Healthy roots from which to grow

Above: Gratitude

Laughter, serenity, planting seeds of happiness, welcoming the world around me...

Smile often and laugh with abandon because Life Is Funny

Above: Romance

Let go of stories and fantasies I have been taught...open to the vastness that is the experience I am within

Be curious and enjoy

Above: Spirit

Everything I need to know comes from  within...arriving as an experience, not a thought

Be quiet and feel

Above: Yoga

A bridge straight to the heart of the fire

Stay with your breath

Above: Thinking

There I go again, forgetting that everything is always just as it should be

Smile when I remember what I forgot

Above: Relationships

Walking with my family, the ones I can see and the ones I can't

I am never alone

Adios Bush! A party to shake off 8 loooong years...and to celebrate hope!

The inauguration night Adios Bush! fiesta was ridiculously fun. Tons of people of from Mexico, the United States, Canada and beyond gathered inside and outside LiveBliss in La Manzanilla, to bid farewell to what came before and to celebrate a new spirit of hope that has arrived with the Obama presidency. 

The evening included "Bowling for Bush" (rolling a coconut at milk cartons with Bush's image), 2 Bush pinatas (that arrived in classic La Manzanilla style...on the back of a quad), and art supplies which the kids used to help me make a "Hope / Esperanza" banner and to make their own images of hope. The banner and kids' drawings were still hanging the next morning to greet the first full day of Obama's presidency. 

Below are a few pictures. You can see more by visiting the "Adios Bush" gallery. More are on the way to that gallery soon. If you have photos from the evening that I can add, please email them to me.

Very special thanks to Tia, Toby & Macy; Beto, Olga, Betito & Chris; and Lora & Phil for doing 10,000 things to help make the party such a success. Thank you to those who brought food and drinks (Fresh from the oven foccacia! Mexican strata! Champagne!).

And, of course, thank you to everyone who attended. As far as I know, the key to a great party is to have a lot of great people come together to share stories and laughter (and perhaps some cases of beer and bottles of tequila...).

Above: Bush arrives

Above: Toby, Betito, Chris & Bush

Above: Bush bowling pins (Thanks, Tia, for this brilliant addition to the evening!)

Above: Bowling for Bush (yes, with a coconut...thanks, Toby, for this touch of genius!)

Above: Deb, Dave & Bush

Above, Olga, lots of kids, & bush

Above: Beto & Chris raise the Bush pinata

Above: The pinata tradition in action

 Above: Kids work on the "Hope / Esperanza" banner 

Above: "Hope / Esperanza" banner the morning after the inauguration

 

Above: Kids' "Hope" drawings the morning after the inauguration

Turn Stress to Bliss: 6 Week Yoga & Art Series

Turn Stress to Bliss

We can't always eliminate stress from our lives, but we can change our relationship with stress. Using yoga, meditation and creative journaling, each week will explore a theme, such as Befriending Your Body, Acceptance, Choice, and Truth.

Changing how we relate to stress can reduce or eliminate the symptoms caused by stress, and lead to a healthier and more deeply rewarding experience of life.

Saturdays 11am - 1pm

February 21 - March 28

$600 pesos / $46 US dollars (includes yoga classes and art supplies) 

This series is suitable for all, regardless of previous yoga or art experience.

For more information, click here.

To Register / Ask Questions: Email or call 315-351-5672 (Mexico) or 347-534-3013 (US)

Adios Bush Fiesta!

The end of the Bush era has been a long time coming! Who knew it would be followed by such hope?

Life is a fascinating adventure and I can think of no better reason than Inauguration Day 2009 to eat, drink and be merry!

Adios Bush Fiesta!

Tuesday, Jan. 20th
7:30pm until whenever
Playa Blanca 21 (next to the Ejido - across from the Fish co-op)
Everyone is invited!

There will be some food and drink. Feel free to more if are inspired to do so, or just bring yourself.

Thank you, Tia (of Cafe Risa in La Manzanilla), for partnering with me on this adventure!

Feel free to email me with any questions.

*Note: if you would be offended by Bush-themed games (for instance a Bush pinata or two), this party might not be your most enjoyable way to spend the evening.

***

Quieres celebrar el fin de la epoca de Bush? Le invito a una fiesta el noche de la inaugeracion de Obama y el ultimo dia de la presidencia de Bush.


Adios Bush Fiesta!

Martes, 20 de Enero
7:30pm hasta quien sabe
Playa Blanca 21 (al lado de Casa Ejidal y atras de los pescadores)
Todos bienvenidos

Va a estar un poco de comida y bebidas. Si le gustaria, traer mas, pero no necesita traer nada mas que su mismo.

Muchisimos gracias a Tia, de Cafe Risa en La Manzanilla, para ayudarme con la fiesta!

Me manda un correo si tenga pregutas.

*Nota: Si ver una pinata de Bush se enojaria, possiblemente este fiesta no vaya a ser lo mas divertido noche para Usted.

La Manzanilla High School Scholarship

I'm very happy that my parents, several friends and I were able to provide the financial support for La Catalina Foundation's Wings scholarship. La Catalina created the scholarship to enable a child from La Manzanilla to attend high school who otherwise would not have the opportunity due to lack of financial resources.

There is no high school in La Manzanilla, so kids that have the resources and interest to continue past secondary school have to travel to Miguel Hidalgo, which is a larger community about 45 minutes away. Expenses to attend high school (which the scholarship covers) include school uniforms, meals, and the cost of transportation (bus fare) each weekday to and from Miguel Hidalgo.

Lupita Barragan Ochoa is the scholarship recipient for the 2008 - 2009 academic year. I lived near Lupita and her family for a bit this past summer and so I had a bit of an opportunity to get to know her even before she became the scholarship recipient. She is wonderful.

This is a photo of Lupita studying with Elisa de la Pena, a volunteer with La Catalina who is helping Lupita learn English.

About herself, Lupita wrote:

Hello my name is Lupita. I am 15 years old and I live in La Manzanilla. I am very excited that I am going to study in the High school in Miguel Hidalgo. I like Math very much but I don't like History very much. I like to study and to work but there are no jobs in La Manzanilla. I like children so I am volunteering with La Catalina Foundation’s Children Summer Camp.  In my free time I like to watch TV and play with my brothers and sisters.

I have three brothers and one sisters. My mother suffers from a terminal illness so she stays home with us. My fathers works as a waiter at Tamarindo Hotel. He likes working in hotels. We take care of my aunt because she is mentally handicapped. My sister could not go to high school last year but my brother went to University. My baby brother was born two month premature and needed surgery on his heart but now he is okay. My other brother is lucky because he is studying in the elementary school.

My goals are to finish high school and continue onto University. I want to be either a Math teacher or a Administrator of Businesses.  I want to be a teacher because I like working with children. I want to be an Administrator of Businesses because I like working with numbers. When I finish University I want to have my own house, have a professional job and get married to a tall handsome and nice man. This would be a dream come true.

The wings scholarship is very important to me because it is the greatest opportunity that I have ever had. With my mothers situation I don’t think that I could continue onto high school with out the scholarship. The scholarship will allow me to fulfill my dreams.

Thank you very much for making my dreams come true.

I am grateful that I was able to be a part of securing for Lupita what I think is a basic human right (education). I hope that one day the economic inequality that exists in our world will disappear and that it won't be up to organizations like La Catalina and individuals like me (born in the U.S. with many privileges that those born in Mexico do not enjoy, but absolutely deserve) to determine whether someone has an opportunity to attend high school.

Until then, I am very happy that La Catalina gave me the opportunity to help, and that my parents (Roger and Carolyn deRoos) and my friends (Tracy Lovell, Jonathan Hilton, and Jeff Dalto) did not hesitate to join me to provide the financial needs of the scholarship.

For just over $1000 Lupita will have a year of education that she otherwise would not have, and those of us who contributed know we have done something useful with some green pieces of paper.

If you would like to learn more or contribute to the scholarship fund for the 2009-2010 academic year, please contact Dean Klompas, Program Manager for La Catalina Foundation.

Cafe Flores' Christmas Tree Fiesta

Here are a few photos from last night's Christmas Tree Fiesta at Cafe Flores in La Manzanilla. There were trees of all variety, each of which was sold by auction to raise money for the local Kinder so they can put a palapa roof over the kids' play area.

I spoke with one of my friends tonight who has a son in Kinder. She explained that the palapa will help protect both the kids and the toys from getting damaged by the sun.

I apologize that I may have missed a few trees. I did my best but there were a lot of people there. If you have a picture of a tree that I haven't included, feel free to email me and I will add it to the photos here.

Click on the images below to see a larger version.