"OH!!!
SI! you are here,
perfecto...
for i have been waiting a
lifetime!
fantastico to see your fleshy selves!!!
bienvenido! bienvenido!"
the wry vision of jose guadalupe posada lives on to this day.
perhaps his most universally recognized character is La Catarina,
the broad brimmed hat wearing skeleton living the portentous life of the dead.
posada engaged a host of personalized calaveras.
he "brought to life" skeleton lovers, wedding couples, women holding flowers,
chickens, children; but never their tongues.
bullfighters, mescal drinking rogues, street sweepers,
revolutionaries and more.
posada's calaveras have been speaking straight to the hearts of the living
for nearly a hundred years.
his ability to laugh in the face of all our human folly,
perhaps best spoken from the mouth of an alluring woman.
i like to think from the vantage point of death,
(after all, hindsight is 20/20)
La Catrina is calling out pitfalls.
like an over glammed cheerleader for the living,
she is ready to stomp her walking stick, give us the death stare,
rattle our skin covered derrières admonishing us
"Dios mio!!!
WAKE UP!!!!!
live brave, believe in good..
offer change, strive for a better world.
live fervoroso,
burning hot!
"LOVE each other,
live each moment for the gift it is!
the playground of the living is SACRED, care for her.
choose love, life, respect, compassion, peace, choose each other."
death the common denominator has set her free.
so much more than the art of remembering our loved ones
dia de los muertos
is also a tradition
that sings to the soul of the living, reminding us to...
via la vida!
live wildly
straight from our hearts!
every sunday in october postcards from paradise
is collecting all things
dia de los muertos, preparations and inspiration for
stephanie and i will be honored and waiting
nov.1 and 2
collecting all your links for
I love your caterinas! and yes live to the max as who knows when you've had your last chance!I put my contribution for today on the linky thing!
Posted by: lyle baxter | October 09, 2011 at 07:36 AM
This is perfect! I have seen pictures of catrinas before, but last year, when you and others were in San Miguel was the first time I saw someone I knew, (or at least was acquainted with through Bloglandia), dressed and made up as a catrina. I am fascinated by this. I equate them to the Selkies or the Mermaids, whimsical fantasy creatures with secrets too numerous to share. Keeps me in wonder and intrigue. Just Fantastic!
The young girl in the video is quite the artist!
I too devoted a portion of today's post to Posada. You must see the quilt a friend made fore us of his etching.
This is nso much fun and also very healing for us here in Spadoville. Thank you for this gift.
Much Peace sent your way
Posted by: Spadoman | October 09, 2011 at 07:41 AM
This is my FAVORITE video for catrina face painting and the one I used to first paint my own catrina face.
fantastico!!
x..x
Posted by: Stephanie | October 09, 2011 at 07:55 AM
As I embark on viva la vida, la caterina's message is most welcome. Muchas gracias mi amiga.
Posted by: gemma | October 09, 2011 at 08:17 AM
As Frida always said and as we say
Viva La Vida. I always think of those 3 words. Beautiful catrinas.
Posted by: gloria | October 09, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Love, love, love your post and images. Have company this weekend and I'm just off to church and then my class. This afternoon I am planning to come back and post. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Posted by: Fran aka Redondowriter | October 09, 2011 at 09:15 AM
What an amazing post! I love your Catrina, and her attitude. We all need a cane shaken in our face now and then, to remind us to live fully - and to laugh.
Posted by: Pam | October 09, 2011 at 12:58 PM
Thank you, it's always a treat to stop by here!
Posted by: Jenny | October 09, 2011 at 05:59 PM
I loved that video of la Catrina! Artist in motion. Learning to 'wake up!' is more than an everyday lesson. Being in the moment-easier said than done.
Posted by: Paula Scott: Molokai Girl Studio | October 09, 2011 at 07:06 PM
Every time I try to live wildly, someone wants to tame me and turn me into a pet!
Posted by: Magical Mystical Teacher | October 10, 2011 at 06:20 PM
I have been away, visiting my eldest daughter.. and came back to the most lovely comment from you.. sadly, I won't have time to take part in this.. I wish, but I just don't know how.. I tried and tried.. and gave up.. so I enjoy others xo
Posted by: Miss Robyn | October 11, 2011 at 12:43 AM
Wow - that first Catrina has attitude! She means business: Now DANCE! Now LIVE!
Okay!!!
Posted by: susanna | October 11, 2011 at 07:22 PM
A bit confused about this blogolandia thing, rather new to blogging, but we will have an altar in our home and I will be making lots of posts on what is happening in MX City and what I see this month 'bout town, so perhaps it will be OK?
Posted by: Anna | October 13, 2011 at 06:34 PM
Hola, realmente me encantó encontrar este post, yo soy la persona detrás de la Catrina en la primer foto, me alegra encontrar mi trabajo Decorando el post de alguien tan creativo, he disfrutado leer lo que escribes y ver que la gente disfruta también de mi Catrina, saludos y aquí dejo mi dirección por si alguien quiere ver más de mi trabajo. FB: Bj Bautista Barba
Posted by: Braulio Jacobo Bautista Barba | April 30, 2019 at 01:28 AM