spring 2012 Issue Sixteen
 
  In this issue:

Angelika Bauer prints
Sale: Women Artists
La Neta Neta
Books: 13 B'aktun; Developing Destinies
Maya Textiles: sources
Guatemalan Political Situation
Scholarships for Maya children
Maya Textile Identification
Maya Calendar Portal
Links
 
  eBay auction:
Angelika Bauer Portfolio

I was asked by a close friend to post an item on eBay for her. I held off posting it until today because I thought it might interest some of you. 

A rare portfolio (500 copies in 1983) of prints by German artist Angelika Bauer is up for auction on eBay starting this morning. It consists of eight prints of plants (maiz, chipilin, water nymph and avocado), and weavings (guipil, tocoyal—woman's halo headdress, a man's shirt, and embroidery on a man's pants.) Each print depicts the object in color with a black and white drawing of an associated activity. eBay listing
 
  One Week Sale:
paintings By Maya Woman artists

Tz'utuhil Maya artist Maria Teodora Mendez is pictured above. Vicenta Puzul de Gonzalez's new painting Bendición del Lago is shown on the right. The sale runs until Tuesday, April 10. Included in the sale are a number of new paintings.

50% Off:
Vicenta Puzul de Gonzalez
Maria Teodora Mendez
Maria Elena Curruchich
20% Off:
 Paula Nicho Cumez
 
  La Neta Neta

The purpose of the online publication La Neta Neta  is to showcase the positive contributions that immigrants from Central America make to the United States. It covers all the arts—music, dance, theater and painting—as well as social and cultural issues. It is beautifully laid out and easy to read. The only drawback for some readers is that the text is in Spanish. But even so, you will be impressed by the photographs. The first issue in September of 2011 featured Guatemalan singer Ana Nitmar (pictured right).

 
  Books:
  13 B'aktun
Mayan Visions of 2012 and Beyond

Written by Gaspar Pedro Gonzalez, Translated & Forward by Robert Sitler.

Tz'utuhil Maya artist Diego Isaias Hernandez Mendez did the cover illustration for 13 B'aktun. His illustration plays on the doomsday hype, even though the content of the book does not support that scenario.

“13 B'aktun is an open door to ancestral knowledge, a sacred ceremony with the fire of wisdom from one of the most luminous civilizations in the history of humanity. It breaks down [doomsday] fears and provides an explanation of Mayan prophecies through the oral tradition.… It is a jewel for those who love the truth and respect cultural identity.”
—Marco Antonio Sagastume Gemmell, Human Rights Advisor, University of San Carlos, Guatemala.

Available from Atlantic Books: 13 B'aktun

 
  UTube Video
Developing Destinies:
 A Mayan midwife and town

Update: The  Barbara Rogoff has posted a video on You Tube about her book Developing Destinies.

Mentioned previously: Developing Destinies has a Facebook page that has many new color photographs and information. There is a link to a pdf flyer that tells a lot more about the book than there is space for here. Barbara is donating all the royalties for the book to the San Pedro Learning Center and other projects. You can purchase it through Amazon.
 
  Guatemala Political situation:
  The New President
David Hamilton's Guatemala Blog:

David Hamilton, owner of Indigena Imports, has a blog on the political situation in Guatemala. David writes about how the new (right wing) president Otto Perez Molina wants to legalize all drugs.


 
 

The former Dicatator
Nisgua article on rios Montt

For those few of you who don't already know, NisGua is the place to keep in touch with what is happening with human rights and the political situation in Guatemala. There is currently an article how about former dictator Efrain Rios Montt  is being put on trial for human rights violations during his tenure.
 
  Scholarships for Maya Children

Arte Maya works with Casa Rosario to provide scholarships for young people to stay in school despite their family's financial situation. The students receive from $50 to $200 a year depending on need. For most, this is enough to pay for books and tuition for the entire year. Vicente Cumes, director of Casa Rosario Spanish School, manages this program so that no money is wasted, and 100% goes to children. The program is named VIRMA for the two women who started it—VIRginia Shrader and MAhiya Norton. Children that VIRMA has supported are pictured below. Click to learn more and donate

 
  Maya Textile Identification

The Ixchel Museum of traje [native Maya dress] in Guatemala has just published a fold out map (or unfolded as a two-sided poster) identifying huipiles [Maya blouses] of the 117 Maya communities. Currently this is the best publication for learning what town a huipil represents. It is not yet available on the Ixchel Museum website, but can be purchased for $15 by ordering from foiminfo@gmail.com.  
 
 
  Maya Calendar Portal:
 

The best website for learning about the Maya calendar is the Maya Calendar Portal. You can find good information on it, despite of its commerciality For instance, you will find a YouTube video of an elder Maya priest talking about the meaning of the end of the 12th B'aktun and beginning of the 13th B'aktun.
 
  Links: