Around Town, Sep 01, 2006

Meetings & Lectures

Judgment and judgmentalism

Visiting minister Rev. Chuck Freeman, of the Live Oak (Texas) Unitarian Universalist Church, presents this week’s service on the topic of “Judge Not, That You Not Be Judged.” This ancient wisdom is offered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and is reflected in other spiritual traditions as well. What does it mean? Does not life require us to make judgments? Does the sincere religious life prevent us from doing so? What is the distinction between judgment and judgmentalism?

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch. For more information, visit www.portalsanmiguel.com/lifestyle/unitarians/unitarians.html 

Midday Rotary Club

Midday Rotary member Wes Lawton spoke in July about his recent cardiac emergency and how he handled that emergency here in Mexico. On September 5, the Midday Rotary Club continues its discussions on this area’s healthcare and capabilities. Wes has invited noted SMA cardiologist Dr. Roberto Maxwell to be the guest speaker at this meeting. Dr. Maxwell is a Fellow of the University of California, San Diego and Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. 

Dr. Maxwell will speak on the preparations that expats and others should make before moving to Mexico to ensure a good transition into the Mexican healthcare system. Included will be a discussion of the steps that non-Mexicans should make after arrival in Mexico and before a medical emergency arises. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation. This is a very important subject for those currently living in Mexico and those contemplating a move to Mexico.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53. Visiting Rotarians and others interested in Rotary are invited to attend this meeting. Lunch follows at 1:30pm in the hotel dining room. For more information, check our website at www.rotarysma.org 

Art Critique Group

The Art Critique Group is made up of experienced and beginning artists—mostly painters, but also sculptors, potters, jewelers and others.

We like to talk about techniques, theories and history, and also about the mundane, such as where to buy supplies or what medium to use. Most of all, we talk about color and composition, about shapes and patterns, about figures and forms.

Bring your questions and your opinions and a piece or two of your work. Whether it is your work that is being critiqued or someone else’s, you’ll find the process educational, even inspirational, and fun.

We meet at 3pm on Sunday, September 10, at calle Loreto 5A, half a block from calle Insurgentes. There is no fee, just bring your work. Phone 150-0027 for more information.

Classes & Workshops

Mexican songs class moves to Wednesdays

Do you wish you knew the words—or at least the meaning—of the lively, emotional songs that add so much romance to evenings in the Jardín? Have you ever wanted to sing along with the estudiantinas and mariachis?

María Teresa Frazee’s weekly Mexican songs class, which used to meet on Tuesdays, is now moving to Wednesday afternoons. We sing every week from 4 to 5:30pm at Hotel Quinta Loreto (Loreto 15), gathered around the fountain in the yard. We regulars have a wonderful time singing and joking, and drop-ins are totally welcome! You can always count on us to be there. We’ll even sing the song of your choice, and you’ll go away with the words, the English translation and some new Spanish vocabulary! We sing to the lyrical guitar of Maestro José Luis Zenteno. It’s great fun!

The class welcomes new members and drop-ins. It’s only $50 pesos. Please join us!

Twelve anchors for the storms of life 

A 12-week series will be offered at St. Paul’s Church by psychiatrist Dr. Joel Brende and the rector of St. Paul’s, the Reverend Michael Long. It will run from September 6 through December 6 of this year; the one-and-a-half-hour sessions will meet in the parish hall, Calzada de Cardo 6. The program was developed by Brende during his work in the Veterans Administration and incorporates his broad experience in dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome and the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. Joel writes in the introduction to the workbook he produced, “Knowing the success of 12-step programs, I was prompted, with the help of a VA hospital chaplain, to develop a similar 12-step program for survivors of war using somewhat different steps than those developed for AA. Originally designed for combat veterans, these 12 steps have also been made applicable for people from all walks of life who struggle with the after-effects of trauma and loss. [“And that applies to virtually everyone,” comments Michael.] The 
recovery program in this book is a distant relative to the initial 12-step program for trauma survivors. It is entitled “Twelve Anchors for the Storms of Life” and utilizes 12 Biblical personalities to illustrate 12 different themes that can be anchoring points in a person’s life.” The anchors and respective personalities are as follow: Seeking empowerment, Noah; Seeking Meaning, Jonah; Seeking Trust, Abraham; Coping with Anger, Moses; Coping with Fear, Elijah; Resolving Guilt, David; Coping with Grief, Job; Life vs Death, Jesus; Commitment to Justice & Forgiveness, Joseph; Finding a Purpose, Paul; and Commitment to Love, John.

The program clearly has a Christian orientation, drawing from both Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, but it is nonsectarian, and everyone is invited to participate. For more information, call St. Paul’s Church, 152-0387, Monday through Friday, between 10am and 2pm.

Zen art drawing workshop

Edgardo Kerlegand was born in the state of Chiapas. He has been interested in painting since the age of 12, when his interest in depicting the human figure coalesced with his introspection and spirituality. The colors and textures that emerge were influenced by Oriental paintings, orthodox iconography, German Expressionism and Mexican murals. 

He has exhibited in the US, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, Croatia, Bosnia, Yugoslavia and Mexico. 

He began teaching students of Maestro Sainz Zorrilla’s large mural located in the market in Cuernavaca. In 1993, he traveled to Argentina to teach a painting and design course, and to Croatia to give drawing and painting lessons. In 2000, the Mexican embassy in Yugoslavia invited him to teach painting at an artists’ colony.

Kerlegand’s work will be on exhibit at Galería Barro beginning September 16. He will also be teaching a Zen art drawing workshop on Mondays from 11am to 2pm at Studio Barro in the Fábrica Aurora, Local 17c. The cost of the class is US$125 per month. For more information, call Marlene Johansing at 152-0497.

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

Renato Pacheco does it all—he creates, paints, carves and even gilts colonial-style furniture. On this trip we will see various styles of tables, chests, chairs and screens. His furniture paintings are reminiscent of those from years past. He may demonstrate the skill necessary to apply the delicate gold leaf—but don’t breathe, or the ethereal piece of gold will be wafted away. From Pacheco’s workshop we take a pleasant drive through green countryside to “La Capilla,” the ranch of Kathy and Steve, who host excursions out into the countryside where the sights can be enjoyed from horseback. There are many stone casitas, now converted to stables, a tack room and charming guest cottages. A 16th-century chapel, decorated with frescos, is still on the property. Their ranch home is a marvelous mix of old and new Mexico, furniture and artifacts. Kathy will tell us about how this area was once the stomping ground of the Chichimecas. The tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am. Rememb
er to bring a camera!

Performances & Events

Labor Day event for Democrats

The San Miguel Chapter of Democrats Abroad is hosting a party Monday, September 4, at Posada San Francisco Hotel from 4 until 6pm. Named “Checkbooks for Democrats,” the event will include an update on important US races and advice on how to make political contributions that will have an impact. There is no admission charge, and complimentary wine and botanas will be provided. Democrats are urged to bring their checkbooks so they can make an individual donation to the candidate of their choice. Posada San Francisco Hotel is on the corner of Calle Hidalgo and Calle San Francisco, across from the Jardín. For more information, contact Gretchen Sullivan at sullivan_mx@yahoo.com  or call 154-6253.

Lunar eclipse ceremony at El Charco

Twice a year, the sun, moon, and Earth create a lunar eclipse when they align with each other. The full moon slowly dims as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. This super-powerful full moon stimulates in us the impulse to become conscious of a major life lesson, complete it and graduate to the new level.

The temporary blockage of light helps us to see the emergence of what has been in the dark. When this happens, the best attitude is to overcome our fears and welcome it, like we welcome a baby who has been in the darkness of the womb, and declare what we want with an open heart, expressing the divine love that flows through us.

Another important turning point to pay attention to is that the moon is at 15 degrees Pisces and opposite the sun at 15 degrees Virgo. The 15th degree represents the halfway mark where the pull of the past is equal to the pull of the future. What is our choice? Will we slip backward to the old beliefs and habits that just make us feel comfortable, or will we risk moving forward and realign with a greater purpose?

Come and join us together. We can support each other’s shedding our resistances and declaring our creations on Thursday, September 7, at 8 pm at the Plaza of the Four Winds at the botanical gardens. A bonfire, incense, chanting and drumming are included. Bring flutes, symbols, a drum or any other instrument if you want. A donation of 30 pesos is requested for the Charco del Ingenio Fund for the botanical gardens’ upkeep. Call Alicia Mayo at 152-0376 with questions. Children welcomed.

International potluck dinners at St. Paul’s return

The kick-off potluck dinner takes place Sunday, September 10, at 6:30pm. The dinners will be held approximately every two months. They have always been lots of fun and a good way to meet new people. You don’t have to be a member of St. Paul’s to come—everyone in town is welcome. Each person (or couple) contributes a dish from the cuisine of a chosen nationality to serve 8 to 10 people, takes turns at a couple of simple jobs, and contributes to a free-will offering to cover expenses. After we eat our dinner, our program will usually consist of a brief presentation—not a lecture—by an interesting speaker who presents a topic of discussion that will pique your interest and invite your input. We try to vary the programs each dinner to keep you laughing and thinking. We usually finish by 9pm.

Pat Caballero and her able assistant, Molly Peterson, invite you to come Sunday, September 10, at 6:30. This first dinner will celebrate the cuisine of Italy. For subsequent potlucks, the decision will be made by the group as to which nationality we will celebrate and what the date will be for the next dinner. Our program will be a group sing-along of old-time hymns. Call Pat Caballero (152-7663) to make a reservation. We need to know how many to expect. Tell Pat what dish you are going to bring so that we don’t end up with all desserts and no main dishes. Iced tea will be available, but if you want wine, bring it along with you.

Films & Videos

The Nature of the Mind

The Meditation Center of San Miguel presents a video titled The Nature of the Mind on Thursday, September 7, at 5:30pm. 

The Nature of the Mind is a talk at Tashi Jong Monastery in Northern India by the Venerable Ani Tenzin Palmo. Throughout our lives we accumulate layers and layers of impressions that prevent us from being in contact with the true nature of our minds. From that come misconceptions and misunderstandings that inevitably lead to suffering. We are not our thoughts and emotions. Our true nature is clear and knowing. In fact, we are already enlightened, we are just not aware of it.

Ani Tenzin Palmo was born in London and was ordained at 21 as one of the first Western Buddhist nuns in the Tibetan tradition of Northern India. After completing a 12-year meditation retreat in the Himalayas, she became a charismatic teacher, practicing worldwide.

The Meditation Center is located on Callejón Blanco 4, just off of Quebrada. Please arrive early because seating is limited. A 20-peso donation is suggested. Contact Christina Hager at 152-5814 with questions.

Head on a silver platter

Richard Strauss’s Salome, sung in German with English subtitles, is the featured video opera on Saturday, September 9, at 2:30pm in the Biblioteca Pública’s Teatro Santa Ana. 

Maria Ewing gives a command performance in this landmark production of Strauss’s one-act musical drama. The cast includes Michael Devlin, who is in strong voice as John the Baptist, and Kenneth Riegel as the heinous Herod the Tetrarch.

Edward Downes and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House bring out every thrilling aspect of the young Strauss’s still-disturbing score. The film runs 103 minutes.

There is no video opera on September 16, owing to the public holiday. Video operas resume September 23, with Swan Lake.

Workshop

Archetypal drama at La Escuela
By Bill Pearlman

In Joan Didion's extraordinary memoir of her husband's death, The Year of Magical Thinking, we read this passage:

“Survivors look back and see omens, messages they missed.

They remember the tree that died, the gull that splattered onto the hood of the car. 

They live by symbols. They read meaning into the barrage of spam on the unused computer, the delete key that stops working, the imagined abandonment in the decision to replace it. The voice on my answering machine is still John's. The fact that it was his in the first place was arbitrary, having to do with who was around on the day the answering machine last needed programming, but if I needed to retape it now I would do so with a sense of betrayal …”

What is the archetype of Survival? If we could personify Survivor in the archetypal drama workshop, what would it say about still living when another has passed on? A survivor might say: "I want you back, I want to discuss my world with you. I want to hear your voice, I want you to help me to decide what I am to do next. I miss your laughter, your intelligence." I recently completed the manuscript of selected poems, Brazilian Incarnation. I dedicated the book to my daughter, Wave, and to my recently departed best friend, Gus Blaisdell. The last poem in the book is my memory of Gus and what he meant to the New Mexico community I was part of for many years. In the middle of the poem "For Gus Blaisdell (in memoriam)" I wrote:



But the body gave out
too soon for us who mattered
and our cases stood mute
before your fallen life.
Little did we know
your jocular respondings
would dissolve into memory
as your heart stopped:
Now what? surely
there is another jest, no one
takes your death that seriously;
it is too remote, too
sphered beyond your
incessant presence: phonecall,
restaurant, bookstore, always
filled with the vocal
manner of your unique 
staying power: this
celebration in conversational art,
pushed to new performance
unknown until spoken:
collected, precise, mobile
in that arch excess of learning
which surpassed endearing
for it was housed
in a real historical life-
Messages keep coming, if we are open. 

On September 5, 12 and 19, all Tuesdays, from noon to 2pm, we will have a workshop in archetypal drama at Keith Keller's La Escuela, 27 Ancha de San Antonio. The participants will set the theme, but The Survivor might be a good start for a theme. Or Love, or Power, or Shadow, or Joy. All are welcome. Cost is 300 pesos for the three sessions. 

Bill Pearlman, workshop leader, was director of the Program in Archetypal Drama at Southwestern College in Santa Fe. He has offered workshops and classes in Brazil, the US and in San Miguel de Allende. He has published five volumes of poetry and a book exploring Jungian Psychology, modern theater, and drama therapy, Characters of the Sacred: The World of Archetypal Drama. You can reserve a place in the workshop or get more information at bdpearl@yahoo.com

CROSSWORD