Readers’ Forum

Scrap metal becomes functional art By Joan Fabricant

Several years ago my husband and I visited San Miguel for the first time and bought a condominium. In the course of renovating it, we were wondering what to do about an unsightly and useless ceramic gas heater in the bedroom.

We knew Bill Fares, an artist who recently moved to San Miguel. Bill and his lovely wife Pam invited us over for drinks one evening to their home in colonia Independencia. When we entered the living room we were struck by an impressive sculpture that he had designed for the fireplace. It dominated the room—quite an object of beauty. Then he lit it. The effect was dramatic. The sculpture is heated with gas burners that are an integral part of the piece. The flames are of various sizes and intensity adding to the dramatic visual effect. We were entranced. He explained that he had found a local blacksmith and plumber. They gathered pieces of scrap metal, Bill designed the sculpture. Now we knew what to do about the gas heater in our bedroom.

Although we were scheduled to leave San Miguel in two weeks Bill came over to our place with a plumber the next day. They measured the fireplace opening, and only a week later returned with a finished piece that was unique as a stand-alone work of art. In a half hour or so, they removed the old gas heater, installed the sculpture into the fireplace and lit it. It transformed the room.

The sculpture heats up front and back, and much like a wood burning stove, radiates heat and light from the flames. That night we sat around watching the flames dance, and in a short while when the room warmed up, we turned down the gas, lowering the flame and discovering what amounted to another sculpted form. When we get back to San Miguel we’ll talk to Bill about replacing the living room stove, or maybe an outdoor fireplace. 

Letters



Editor,
As a recent visitor to San Miguel, I am amazed and appreciative of the many organizations that offer support, both financial and emotional, to the community at large.

In particular, one of the groups I have been attending weekly is the Gathering of Facilitators for Healing held in the home of Larry Mills on Privada de Pila Seca. At one such gathering, I submitted the name of a dear friend in the US, who is presently afflicted with cancer, to receive a long-distance healing by the group. I was delighted to learn she felt the healing and responded to it by rallying.

Marilyn Widrow



Editor,

In case you missed it, thanks to Carol Schmidt, her article about our Child Bereavement Program—now called Yo, Tambien, Siento (I, Too, Feel) has been placed on the Google Alerts for San Miguel de Allende. I hope you enjoy reading about this very exciting new outreach program. Go to www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/93588 

Mark W. Baker
Director, Hospice San Miguel



Editor,

Some time ago, a very tatty Old English Sheepdog was left at the SPA. The dog was in such poor condition with a coat so matted and muddy that there were serious thoughts that it might have to be put down. It was difficult to assess the gender as it squatted to urinate and the undercoat was even more matted. To cut a long story short (no pun intended), in the magical hands of Mr. Metro, this old English bag of rags was transformed into a beautiful, young male who was adopted the following week!

Some of us already take our dogs to be groomed by this master of the scissors in his lean-to premises behind Parque Juárez, because he charges less than most local groomers, but now he needs our help. His 26-year-old son, Jose, was admitted to the public hospital last December and was diagnosed as having an inflammation of the gall bladder. After treatment with antibiotics, he had surgery in early February to remove his gall bladder, but unfortunately there was already damage to his pancreas which was even more severe. The local hospital has now given the unfortunate young man an appointment to see a specialist in León on March 23, and in the meantime he is at home, having lost 20 kgs (44 lbs) in weight and unable to eat any solid food.

If anyone is able to offer any kind of help, be it medical, financial or transportation to León, please call (preferably in Spanish) 154-5524 or contact me at 152 8593, in either language.

Zena Lazarus