The truth is sometimes subjective, sometimes objective and absolutely never absolute. Truth invariably shifts with perspective. The artist has a special relationship with truth; it is her job to look for it and to reveal it as she sees it. This task is difficult enough when the artist is struggling alone on a canvas in the privacy of her studio.However, if the artist is a muralist, a maker of public art, the feat becomes heroic.

There is an inherent conflict of interest between the artist and the public, the artist and the patron. The muralist creates art about and for the public. That gives the public license to complain to the patron at the appearance of any unwanted or unrequested truths, or truths other than their own. 

The artist Carmen Cereceda is currently at work on a mural titled "Allende y el pueblo insurgente" (Allende and the Revolutionaries) in the Salón de Cabildos in the former Presidencia, now a museum, on Plaza Principál. Her monumental work, which she is donating, depicts Allende's relationship to the city of San Miguel and is scheduled for completion on May 22, 2006. Cereceda paints in oil on a linen ground with a wooden support (basically, a very large canvas) to better protect the piece from water leaks or architectural shifts. 

Cereceda has impressive credentials. She was born in Chile and educated in Chile, Mexico, Italy and Germany. The muralist David Siqueiros was a family friend, and she was a workshop assistant for Diego Rivera. Cereceda was a professor at Ontario's College of Art for 17 years, and she has exhibited widely in Chile, Cuba, Spain, Brazil, the former Soviet Union, Algeria, Germany, Canada and Mexico. She has been commissioned to produce murals in Chile, Cuba, Canada and Mexico. This is her second mural in San Miguel de Allende. 
"Allende y el pueblo insurgente" is enormous. The petite Cereceda has to carefully climb up and clamber down a large scaffolding that has to be raised and lowered to allow her access to the remote height and width of the piece. In the mural Allende appears to be entering a courtyard on horseback. He is surrounded by the common people who made up the insurgents. 

The blue banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe weaves around him and most other members of the cast, binding them together religiously in this theatrical scene. A man and woman, criollos, salute with flowers from the balcony, their gaze strangely above and behind Allende. 

An indigenous mother and child with a toy horse sit peacefully on the steps outside of the religious banner. A mounted campesino has his back to Allende; another worried campesino walks at his side, his dog underfoot. A silver-clad horseman races behind the Allende party, his cape billowing behind, the most active element of the mural aside from the Guadalupe banner.

The ghostly, hollow Parroquia sits alone as the distant backdrop to the scene. It is interesting to note that the façade of the Parroquia of San Miguel portrayed in Cereceda's mural did not actually exist in this form until some 60 years after the cry for independence.

 
It is a strangely unagitated group of rebels, clearly bearing hidden agendas, mistrust and even apathy. Allende himself was a wealthy, upper-class criollo, son of Spaniards, born into wealth but not power. He purchased the rank of captain in the army, but since he was not a Spaniard he was unable by law to rise to greater power. 

Latin America, Mexico in particular, is acutely aware that "public art has the unique potential to encourage the public to realize their voice-their power-in the public sphere," as Ariadna Capasso has remarked in her article "Rethinking the Paradigm: A New Look at the Mexican Muralists." The experience of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 to 1917 exerted an enormous influence on Mexican artists. Many became committed to creating a national art that would serve the social and political needs of a new Mexico.

A mural program was launched in 1920 by José Vasconcelos, the minister of public education. He commissioned artists to create public art to unite and educate the people. Extremely powerful by virtue of their scale, murals were painted on the walls of public buildings throughout the country. Vasconcelos knew how to work with creative people. He gave these artists freedom of theme and style. As a result of this program, Mexican muralists (the three most famous being Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros) produced some of the most significant public art of the 20th century. 
However, an example of the fragility of the patron-artist relationship exists in the history of the Siqueiros's mural at Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez, El Nigromante (Bellas Artes) in San Miguel. As a result of political differences of opinion between Siqueiros and the state, the mural, also based on the life and work of Ignacio Allende, was never finished.
 
Siqueiros's mural was to have been a bold, heroic, site-specific incorporation of the enormous multi-boveda room. Siqueiros was deported along with several of the foreign artists/students working with him. 

Whether the public or the state adores the mural's magic realism style, understands the content or agrees with the politics of Cereceda, "Allende y el pueblo insurgente" is a generous gift provided by a serious artist who remains constant in the telling of visual stories in their true colors, just as she sees them. 

Cereceda is open to receive visitors for intellectual and artistic discussion at the mural site on Saturdays after 3pm.

Mujeres en Cambio lunch
By Roger Hind

The February 16 Mujeres en Cambio annual fundraiser was a great success: 150 guests, 25 of our scholarship recipients and two hooked-rug makers enjoyed a superb meal at the country home of Jaime and Pakina Fernández near Atotonilco. The event raised nearly 50,000 pesos, enough to pay for 20 scholarships.

We deeply appreciate the boundless generosity of our hosts, who not only opened their home to us but also supplied the main course, donated all bar takings, paid for the rental of tables and chairs and provided bar and kitchen staff. We are also very grateful to the sanctuary at Atotonilco for opening its doors to the group for an exclusive tour after lunch.
We were delighted that those attending had a chance to meet and hear from some of our scholarship recipients. Two of the girls, though very nervous, stepped up to the microphone and told us how being awarded a scholarship changed their lives and opened up their futures.

The guest chef at our next regular lunch will be Guadalupe from Barbecue Bob's. She will be providing satay chicken skewers. As usual, there will be a selection of delicious salads and mouth-watering desserts prepared or supplied by core members of our group.

Come along and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, share a delicious meal, meet some interesting people and learn more about our programs to assist rural women. Men and women are both welcome!
Attendance at the lunch is limited to 50 people and is by pre-sold ticket only. Tickets cost 100 pesos and are on sale now at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A (the China Palace building); RE/MAX Colonial, Portal Guadalupe 12 (diagonally opposite the Parroquia); and Solutions Mail Service (Recreo 11). Get your ticket early because they sell out quickly!

If you would like more information about our organization please visit our website at www.mujeresencambio.com  or call Roger at 154-6552 (note that no reservations can be taken). We welcome new members-come join us!

Mujeres en Cambio lunch
Thursday, March 23, 2pm
Hacienda de las Flores 
Hospicio 16
pre-sold tickets 100 pesos

Celebrating five years of Hogar de los Angeles
By Donna Quathamer, photos by Kim Francois

Five years ago, Hogar de los Angeles began as a free daycare center located in the heart of San Miguel de Allende at Prolongación Pila Seca 18 in Colonia San Antonio.

It is a safe haven for the children of mothers who come from the outskirts of town to work or to sell their wares at the local mercado. Often these children were being left home alone before this center was established.

Over the years Hogar de los Angeles has grown to be a community center in which mothers find the support they need to make a better life for their families. Besides help with their children, these families receive the services of medical care, home and bathroom construction, transitional housing, a summer camp and a food bank-all in a relationship of mutual respect.

On March 6 the families of Hogar de los Angeles celebrated five years of service. At this milestone we might be inclined to list all the great things that have been accomplished in these five years. We could count all the children who have passed through our daycare center doors and impress you with a really big number. We could talk about the 500 volunteers who have come from the United States, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Vietnam and Mexico since we opened in March 2001. We could mention how many families have been served. 

We could say that we started a transitional housing program and an economic development program and that we give medical care. We could tell you that we have built homes and bathrooms. But what we would most like to do is tell you a story about a woman named Raquel.

Raquel came to us three years ago with her twins, Ariana and Jonathan, and her older son, Misael. Her husband left for the United States with intentions of sending money to her regularly. That was four years ago, and she hasn't heard a word from him. Raquel doesn't know if he is dead, if he is working or if he has started a new family.She only knows that he is gone, and she is alone with her three children.

As we care for her children at the daycare center, Raquel works hard cleaning two different houses, earning about 500 pesos a week. A year ago she moved into our transitional housing project, and by this summer she will have saved enough money to begin construction on her own home. Yes, she will become a homeowner … a dream that she never thought would come true. When she came to us she was leery of the possibilities we offered. As she saw and came to understand the support and help Hogar de los Angeles could give, she began to see herself as worthy of the gifts she receives and does her part to make a better life for her family. 

Raquel's story is just one of 50 similar stories of the families we serve at Hogar de los Angeles-and 50 other stories of the families waiting for us to begin construction on our second community center. Yes, in five years quite a lot has been accomplished, and there is much more to do. We look to the future when we are able to celebrate 10, 15, 20 years and more.

Watch for information about our open house on April 1. We would love to have you come and see the work we do!

Mattress Makers need more helpers and bags
By Elizabeth Phipps

The Mattress Makers, a volunteer group at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, want your clean plastic bags, and they want you, too.

These volunteers recycle plastic bags to create weather-proof, water-proof and vermin-proof mattresses for children who have nothing. The mattresses are distributed primarily in the rancho territory surrounding San Miguel de Allende. After determining that a family needs bedding, the volunteers leave mattresses as a gift from the heart-no praying, no preaching, no proselytizing.

The organization-which meets from 10am to noon every Wednesday morning at St. Paul's Episcopal Church-is very loose. The program was started at St. Paul's in 2000 by Rita Krug, and it has been recognized by the state government and the school system of Guanajuato.

It takes about 1,200 ordinary plastic shopping bags to fill a mattress cover. Using donated funds, volunteers purchase the ticking material and sew the covers for filling. Eight workers can stuff a mattress in the two-hour work period. More volunteers are needed, though. You don't have to have any special skills, you don't need to know how to sew, and you don't have to make a long-term commitment to join the Mattress Makers.

Sanmiguelenses have been exceedingly generous in supplying bags at the drop-off points at Border Crossings and at St. Paul's. These donations are very much appreciated, and more are encouraged. The Mattress Makers say "thank you" (but please don't knot the bags).

San Miguel Writers' Conference a best-seller

All those who attended the San Miguel Writers' Conference 2006 seem to agree it was a great success. Approximately 160 participated in the writers' conference, San Miguel's first. About half of the attendees call San Miguel "home"; others came from Guanajuato, other cities in Mexico, the United States-and one conference-goer came from Europe.

Distinguished authors, editors, agents and publishers assembled to focus on the art and craft of writing. Many of the guest speakers and authors attended one another's sessions, sharing information and providing support. John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and City of Falling Angels, was the guest speaker during lunch. He related his interest in eccentric personalities, a character-type populating both of his novels. When someone in the audience asked if he planned to write about San Miguel-since our town, like the Savannah and Venice of his first two books, has its share of eccentrics-he did not give a definitive answer.

The planning for the second annual San Miguel Writers' Conference has begun. The conference will be held February 24-25, 2007.
The writers' conference was sponsored by San Miguel Workshops, Atención and the San Miguel Authors' Sala. For more information, you can write to info@sanmiguelwritersconference.com  or check out the website: 
www.sanmiguelwritersconference.com 

The not-so-secret life of plants and flowers

Bring out the best of your garden at the Garden Club of San Miguel de Allende biennial plant show, Sunday, April 2, from 11am to 5pm at the Aldea Hotel.  Entrance is free, and everyone is encouraged to enter flower arrangements; accompanying art objects are optional.The plants and arrangements are judged on Saturday afternoon. Call Jeannane Mitchell at 152-7809 for more information.

Biblioteca Pública board election results

All candidates running for the Biblioteca Pública board were elected. A total of 48 Biblioteca members voted, out of 71 who turned out for the election. Pictured from left are assistant treasurer Ken Rowland, director-at-large Mari Paz Espino de Castillo and president Ali Zerriffi; missing from the photo is recording secretary Teodosia (Teddy) Alten.

The nonprofit organization, now more than 50 years old, has an annual operating budget of more than 7 million pesos, welcomes an average of 450 visitors per day, provides scholarships for over 150 students and runs a number of successful enterprises including Atención and the House & Garden tour.

"Our Caring Community" available now
By Marge Zap

"Our Caring Community: Your Resources in San Miguel" has become one of our town's most reliable best-sellers. Now in its third edition, this useful publication provides up-to-date information on every kind of health need, from physicians who make house calls to the 24-Hour Association to 12-step programs to home delivery services. 
The 32-page booklet has been extensively fact-checked and updated, with expanded information on nursing homes and at-home care. Shortly before the booklet went to press, an insert was added that provides the latest information on emergency procedures and safety recommendations, along with some basic Spanish vocabulary to use in an emergency. 
"Our Caring Community" is available for 25 pesos at La Tienda in the Biblioteca Pública, Casa de Papel, Lagundi, El Colibrí, La Conexión and Solutions.