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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 26, 2010 22:30:49 GMT
This thread is really Part Two of Christmastime in Oaxaca. If you will please go to #30 in that thread, you'll see the lead-up to the madness below. And here we start our shuffle along with the rest of the crowd looking at the displays of radishes. I might as well warn you right now that there are more fanciful figures here than any sane person might want to see. And some of the best stuff will be at the end. But let's begin ~~ You can see here how there are two tiers of spectators. There is a raised walkway. I am in the group walking on the ground in front of the tables. I'm delighted by this very accurate representation of the Xoxocotlán cemetery (#s19 & 20), with its arch on the corner of two streets and the ruined church within. This poor soul by main gate of the cemetery is not dead, merely dead drunk ~ Harvesting the cornfield ~ Various fiestas are depicted ~ You all will recognize these dancers ~ This is just the tip of a terrifyingly large iceberg. I'm due at a Boxing Day dinner right now, so must go. I'll be back with more, so keep the faith! ;D
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Post by lola on Dec 27, 2010 2:51:36 GMT
TOO adorable! And that was even before La Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2010 3:05:09 GMT
I can imagine the excitement whenever a farmer pulls up a really weird radish which barely requires any transformation.
Is it radish season now, or do they have to keep the radishes on standby (refrigerated?) until this event?
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Post by hwinpp on Dec 27, 2010 3:44:30 GMT
This is nice! And eatable too!
In pic #4, do they really have veggie beds on the tables? The children must love it!
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 4:53:21 GMT
Hee hee ~~ thanks, Lola. I have some more Señoras de this and that to show. Yeah, Kerouac ~~ you have to wonder how much self-censorship goes on with some of the "better" radishes. Here's the dirt on them: www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/oaxaca/rabanos.htmlTrue that they're edible, HW, but after seeing this, it's like dining on someone you know. Sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean about pic #4 and the beds. (I probably need to eat more root vegetables and get smarter.) 2010 was the bicentennial of the revolution, so that theme was featured in several of the displays. I think this is supposed to be Hidalgo ~ This picture is making me crazy, as I'm sure I recognize it as being taken from a famous photo of the revolution, but can't remember any details. Anyone?
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 5:25:36 GMT
It was a bubble of unreality around the display tables, with the bright lights, including flash bulbs going off right and left, the crush of people, and the fact that we were all mesmerized by sculpted Raphanus sativus. An occasional glance out into the zócalo was like a vision of another world ~ I got snap-happy and don't remember what everything is. But I know tht this pleasant-faced man is the creator of one of the groups of fanciful creatures being shown. One such display was entitled "pre-hispanic animals" ;D. Another was labeled as alebrijes, one of the folk arts of Oaxaca. Those of you who accompanied me to the mezcal festival will recognize these scenes, labeled as "the mezcal fair and its famous samples stands" ~ Too many samples for him!
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 5:41:13 GMT
Here's a jolly market scene ~ and a happy harvest ~ A flight of fancy ~ and two more ~ Religious figures ~ one of Oaxaca's churches ~ and some religious history: the first Mass said in the city ~ the congregation: the priest:
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Post by lola on Dec 27, 2010 5:53:15 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 5:53:34 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 6:33:37 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 6:38:50 GMT
But laugh and dance as we may, we must remember that in the midst of life, we are in death ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 7:03:10 GMT
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Post by bjd on Dec 27, 2010 8:24:32 GMT
Incredible -- I knew it wasn't "just" radishes.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2010 13:54:39 GMT
I bet that some of the local children have sharp retorts ready if their parents ever scold them "Don't play with your food!" Really, these creations are amazing, but if the potato, beet, carrot, celeriac, etc., growers ever get wind of this, we might be in danger of a famine if they find inspiration. I can already see skyscrapers being built out of asparagus beams in my mind. But just wait until I get around to posting examples of what you can make with dog chews. I have the photographic evidence.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 27, 2010 16:08:33 GMT
These people are exceptional artists, truly amazing detail. The larger radish look what I would call horse radish, I that correct? Thank you for the lovely pictures of yet another Festival. This seems like a very fun place to live.
Cheers, Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 16:53:56 GMT
Kerouac, speaking of shortages, it's probably difficult to find a box of toothpicks in Oaxaca right now. Thanks for the heads-up on the artsy pup treats. I'll know to keep Ginger away from the computer when that's up. Thanks for the feedback, Mich. The consensus was that the overall quality of the workmanship is going down. That was my opinion, as there weren't as many really detailed pieces as in years past. Horse radishes does sound right. I wonder if they would taste like daikon, or would they be really hot the way the little round ones can be sometimes. You all are not out of the radish patch yet, although we're almost at the end of the root section. I have to show this incredible piece ~ You all are only getting some token pictures of the dried flower section, as it did not interest me at all, even though the workmanship is most admirable. Danza de la pluma ~ some more Guelaguetza ~ La Procesión del Silencio in Oaxaca ~ As I was gazing at this one and thinking "shepherds watch their flocks by night", someone in the crowd was pointing to it and saying, "Look -- it's little Benito Juarez playing his flute for the sheep!" Different cultural backgrounds. ;D
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 18:06:43 GMT
By this time I was looking for the way out, thinking "corn shucks?! naaaah." Others obviously didn't feel that way ~ Luckily I looked, too, and was rather taken by the deftness of the execution and the variety of themes ~ [photobucket height=600 width=800]http://s854.photobucket.com/albums/ab103/bixaorellana/radishes2/?action=view¤t=e1af865e.pbw[/photobucket] There were two real extravaganzas right next to each other. The sign says "The Legend of the Matlacihua". (for more on that in the oral tradition, go here.) But, sorry to say, I don't know what this amazing battle scene might be, although I recognize the site as Mitla ~ And that, my little rutabagas, is that. I found an opening in the barricades and wormed my way out, although there was still another whole side of zócalo with a display area. I did walk around the square to enjoy the happy crowd and to try to see the nativity scene. Please go back to Part One, reply #40 for that.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2010 18:16:01 GMT
I really like the sheep and the shuck people.
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Post by lola on Dec 27, 2010 21:57:21 GMT
Too amazing. Love Popul Vuh. And the Frida K is perfect.
Root, root for Bixa!
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2010 22:24:44 GMT
Aw shucks, Kerouac, you're just saying that! Thanks, Lola -- hope you didn't think I was delving for compliments. I think the Frida got a prize in one of the categories.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 27, 2010 22:46:29 GMT
This is an amazing thread, bixa, but more than the creations, my favorite part is seeing the faces of the onlookers framed, almost surreally, within the radish creations. There are one or more in almost every shot.
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Post by fumobici on Dec 28, 2010 0:53:25 GMT
Amazing, bizarre, colorful, fascinating.
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Post by lola on Dec 28, 2010 4:14:54 GMT
Thanks, Lola -- hope you didn't think I was delving for compliments. Never, Bixa. I dig these, and think they are truly radical. I cheated on that revolutionary photo by searching for "Zapata" on Google Images.
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