UNESCO

Rigoberta Menchu with Matias Gonzalez Chavajay and Pedro Rafael Gonzalez Chavajay behind.

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Mid November 1998
Galeria Universidad de San Carlos
Guatemala City

Right: At the exhibition, San Pedro artists Emilio Gonzalez Morales, Domingo Garcia Criado, Rafael Enrique Gonzalez Mendez, Matias Gonzalez Chavajay and Mariano Gonzalez Chavajay with Mariano's painting "Capture of the Death Squad in San Pedro la Laguna."

The night of the reception UNESCO held for the Mayan artists stands out as one of the memorable events I have witnessed in Guatemala. UNESCO had just published their book "Arte Naif Guatemala." and UNESCO invited each of the 80 artists represented in the book to select one of their best paintings for an exhibition in the Gallery of the University San Carlos in Guatemala City. The President of France Jacques Chirac came to Guatemala for the reception which he, Rigoberta Menchu, and UNESCO were hosting All of the artists were sent formal invitations, inviting them but only them to the reception. Due to attendance of President Chirac security was very tight. Rumor had it that even the husband of Lucrecia Cofinia, the editor of "Arte Naif, Guatemala", could not get in.

Knowing I couldn’t attend myself, I contented myself with helping Pedro Rafael and Victor Vasquez get ready for the big event. It seemed this reception which would open the door to wider recognition of these self-taught Mayan artists. Victor, often a tempermental artist, threaten not to go, but we all insisted. In order to be sure he wouldn’t back out at the last minute I arranged to go to San Juan and travel with him to Guatemala City. The artists had all brought their best traje tipico [traditional dress]. I took Victor over to the University Gallery to drop him off with the idea of going to a movie, but even though I was sure the reception would last well beyond the time listed on the invitation, Victor insisted that I come back to pick him up at 7:00, a commitment which precluded a movie. Just as I turned to leave many of the Tz'utuhil artists arrived as if by magic at the same time. I took the photo of them below with a camera Emilio Gonzalez wisely brought.

Left to right, front row. Santiago Atitlan artist Miguel Chavez; San Pedro artists: Emilio Gonzalez Morales, Domingo Garcia Criado, Mariano González Chavajay, Matias González Chavajay, Pedro Rafael González Chavajay, and Rafael Enrique González Mendez. Second row, San Juan artists: Antonio Coche Mendoza, and Filipe Ujpan. Although similar note the difference especially in the pants between the traje of Santiago Atitlan and San Pedro la Laguna. The two young artists from San Juan changed into their traje inside. This proved disastrous for them because in their excitemnet they each lost one-hundred quetzales they had hidden in their traje.

Instead of a movie I walked to the Zocalo. A huge crowd of people gathered together waiting in front of the Palacio Nacional, and from all the limousines parked in front I knew Jacques Chirac was there meeting with President Arzu of Guatemala. Presently dignitaries, reporters and photographers began leaving. President Arzu of Guatemala appeared with President Jacques Chirac, goodbyes were said , photographs taken and with a large entourage of police cars, sirens blaring, the motorcade sped off for the reception with the artists. I hung out at the square watching people for a while before walking back to the reception. Being from chilly San Francisco, the warmth of Guatemala in the evenings is always a pleasure because people gather and talk.

Left: Emilio Gonzalez Morales with Rigoberta Menchú. Center: Pedro Rafael Gonzalez Chavajay, Matias Gonzalez Chavajay, Rigoberta Menchú and Antonio Coche Mendoza. Right: Emilio Gonzalez Morales talks with Guatemala's first Mayan woman representative in Congress.

Walking back to the University San Carlos I found police, reporters and limousines everywhere. one whole street was blocked off. It seemed comfortable to just hang around, but soon I found that if I stood in front of the Guatemalan Congress across from the University I could see through a gated archway into the courtyard where the reception was taking place. The police seem to leave me alone. A young man, the son of an artist from Quezaltenango, recognized me. I had brought Victor to the reception at the same time he dropped off his father. The reception would obviously end very late and so we talked to pass the time.

With much hustle and bustle people began gathering around the gate as Jacques Chirac’s entourage began getting ready to leave. Rigoberta Menchu and Jacques Chirac appeared at the gate talking surrounded by crowds. The drivers started the buses and limousines, and the police escort readied to go; reporters and photographers ran around lighting up the night with their flashes. Finally all the cars in he motorcade were filled waiting only for President Chirac. The press and crowd thinned at the gate leaving Rigoberta and Jacques alone. Suddenly when no one except the boy and I were looking Rigoberta reached up and kissed Jacque Chirac on the lips. Everyone missed the best photograph possibility of the evening.

When Jacque Chirac finally enter

his car the motorcade began leaving, sirens once again blaring.. The gates were open and the guards were mostly gone. The reason for the restricted entry was gone. I saw a guard about to close the gate and so I told the artist's son that now was our chance to enter. We easily slipped in.

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