Issue 17

Fall 2012 Issue Seventeen

This year I made a very difficult decision – to discontinue the Arte Maya Calendar after eleven years. I considered passing it on, but every scenario also included significant involvement on my part. The calendars took up much of my time during the year, and took time away from focusing on the Maya artists. I will now refocus this energy on exhibitions of the paintings and publishing material on the Maya Artists. My first effort, a free e-book, I offer (below) in this issue of the newsletter. For those of you looking for a 2013 Maya/Guatemala calendar, there are links and information at the bottom of this newsletter.
Joseph Johnston

In this issue:

Volcanic Eruption
Free E-book
Massacre Survivor Story
Julian Coche Mendoza
Taa' P'it
Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya
Spanish School Videos
US Marines in Guatemala
Maya Calendars
Links

Volcán de Fuego Eruption

The Volcán de Fuego, one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala, erupted the 12th of September, 2012. This is the biggest eruption since the 1940s. Authorities evacuated around ten thousand people. The eruption has already subsided, and volcanologists had predicted a short duration. The photos at the top of the page and above are the most dramatic that I could find of the current eruption. Click on them for larger images. Follow this link to a Prensa Libre article and video on the eruption.

Free E-Book:
Raices:
Roots of Contemporary Tz'utuhil Maya Painting
This book traces the influences both Maya and Spanish, that influenced the Tz'utuhil Maya culture from which the contemporary Tz'utuhil painting movement blossomed. The book has 19 original illustrations, and is 26 pages long. Available in two digital formats.

Download PDF file (for computer)
Download PDF file (for iPhone)

I have tested the two formats on my computer, an iPad, and iPhone. There may be other devices on which it does not display correctly. Please let me know if you have a problem on your device so that I can correct it or make another version for this and future publications. Please feel free to share this book.

I highly recommend this article from ProPublica. It is one of the most compelling personal histories I have come across.
Oscar Alfredo Ramirez Castenada
1982 Guatemala Massacre Survivor Tells His Story

by Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, and Ana Arana, Fundación MEPI May 25, 2012, 6:59 a.m.

Chapter 1: 'You Don't Know Me'

The call from Guatemala put Oscar on edge.

Prosecutors came looking for you, relatives in his rural hometown told him. Big shots from Guatemala City. They want to talk to you.

Oscar Alfredo Ramírez Castañeda had plenty to lose. Although he was living in the United States illegally, the 31-year-old had built a solid life. He worked two full-time jobs to support his three children and their mother, Nidia. They had settled in a small but cheerful townhouse in Framingham, Mass., a blue-collar suburb of Boston.

Oscar usually did his best to avoid contact with the authorities. But he decided to call the prosecutor in Guatemala City. She said it was a sensitive matter about his childhood and a massacre in the country's civil war long ago. She promised to explain in an email.....Continue Reading

Featured Artist:
Julian Coche Mendoza
Two weeks ago, Arte Maya acquired ten paintings by Julian Coche Mendoza. To help promote Julian for anyone who isn't familiar with his work, all Julian Coche paintings (including these ten) will be on sale for 33% off until Day of the Dead (November 2, 2012.)

Taa' P'it:

Taa' P'it Kortees, an Intercultural Learning Center for Tz’utuhil Mayan children, is a unique, Mayan-founded non-profit in San Pedro la Laguna in the Highlands of Guatemala. Taa’ Pi’t serves 120 students between 6 and 11 years old with programs in: computer technology and ecological education founded in the Mayan cosmovision and built on the strengths of the Maya culture. These programs change the capabilities and attitudes of the children, influencing their families and the community, and help strengthen the Maya Tz'utuhil cultural heritage.

Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya

Guatemala 2012
December 16 – 28, 2012.San Pedro La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
An extraordinary journey to a Mayan village on Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan Highlands
This trip benefits Taa' P'it and The Compassionate Listening Project
For information contact: Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya
“When choosing between two paths, ask yourself which one has heart. Who chooses the path of the heart is never wrong.” Popol Vuh, the sacred Quiche Mayan book of creation.

Casa Rosario Spanish School Videos
Casa Rosario Spanish school has added four short videos to their website that provide a glimpse of life in San Pedro la Laguna. The third one is a favorite because it shows what it is like to live with a Maya family.

US Marines/Guatemala Anti-drug Operation
Huffington Post had an article about a United States Marine operation in Guatemala to provide military assistance to the Guatemalan government with the drug war. In light of the history of United States military involvement in Guatemala, and the atrocities carried out by the Guatemalan military during the 1980s, many people have expressed concern about this operation.

Maya Calendars
For ten years NISGUA supported the Arte Maya Calendar by paying for and selling half of the print run. Without NISGUA's help the calendar would only have lasted one year. This year they have published a 2013 calendar of photographs of Maya Guatemala. The sale of their calendar funds much of their operating expense for the year. The work of NISGUA promotes human rights in Guatemala.

*******

Shihoho Nikawa has produced a retrospective 2013 Arte Maya Calendar. Shihoho was the NISGUA contact who worked with me on the Arte Maya calendar for many years. Shihoho’s 2013 calendar, in Japanese and English, consists of paintings that were published in earlier editions of the Arte Maya Calendar. The calendar includes the Maya glyphs for every day. Although the calendar is primarily intended for Japanese audiences, readers here can purchase copies directly from Shihoho. Because of the exchange rate between the dollar and the yen, it will cost $25 plus $8 shipping. If interested contact Shihoho at recom@jca.apc.org.

Links

Paintings: Julian Coche Mendoza
ProPublica article: Massacre Survivor
Eruption: Prensa Libre video
Intercultural Learning Center: Taa' P'it
Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya
Casa Rosario videos
Article: Marines in Guatemala

Calendars:

NisGua: 2013 calendar
Arte Maya 2013 calendar recom@jca.apc.org

E-book download:

Download PDF file (for computer)
Download PDF file (for iPhone)


Fall 2012	Issue Seventeen
	This year I made a very difficult decision – to discontinue the Arte Maya Calendar after eleven years. I considered passing it on, but every scenario also included significant involvement on my part. The calendars took up much of my time during the year, and took time away from focusing on the Maya artists. I will now refocus this energy on exhibitions of the paintings and publishing material on the Maya Artists. My first effort, a free e-book, I offer (below) in this issue of the newsletter. For those of you looking for a 2013 Maya/Guatemala calendar, there are links and information at the bottom of this newsletter. Joseph Johnston

	In this issue: Volcanic Eruption Free E-book Massacre Survivor Story Julian Coche Mendoza Taa' P'it Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya Spanish School Videos US Marines in Guatemala Maya Calendars Links

	Volcán de Fuego Eruption

	The Volcán de Fuego, one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala, erupted the 12th of September, 2012. This is the biggest eruption since the 1940s. Authorities evacuated around ten thousand people. The eruption has already subsided, and volcanologists had predicted a short duration. The photos at the top of the page and above are the most dramatic that I could find of the current eruption. Click on them for larger images. Follow this link to a Prensa Libre article and video on the eruption.

	Free E-Book: Raices: Roots of Contemporary Tz'utuhil Maya Painting This book traces the influences both Maya and Spanish, that influenced the Tz'utuhil Maya culture from which the contemporary Tz'utuhil painting movement blossomed. The book has 19 original illustrations, and is 26 pages long. Available in two digital formats. Download PDF file (for computer) Download PDF file (for iPhone) I have tested the two formats on my computer, an iPad, and iPhone. There may be other devices on which it does not display correctly. Please let me know if you have a problem on your device so that I can correct it or make another version for this and future publications. Please feel free to share this book.

	I highly recommend this article from ProPublica. It is one of the most compelling personal histories I have come across. Oscar Alfredo Ramirez Castenada 1982 Guatemala Massacre Survivor Tells His Story by Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, and Ana Arana, Fundación MEPI May 25, 2012, 6:59 a.m. Chapter 1: 'You Don't Know Me' The call from Guatemala put Oscar on edge. Prosecutors came looking for you, relatives in his rural hometown told him. Big shots from Guatemala City. They want to talk to you. Oscar Alfredo Ramírez Castañeda had plenty to lose. Although he was living in the United States illegally, the 31-year-old had built a solid life. He worked two full-time jobs to support his three children and their mother, Nidia. They had settled in a small but cheerful townhouse in Framingham, Mass., a blue-collar suburb of Boston. Oscar usually did his best to avoid contact with the authorities. But he decided to call the prosecutor in Guatemala City. She said it was a sensitive matter about his childhood and a massacre in the country's civil war long ago. She promised to explain in an email.....Continue Reading

	Featured Artist: Julian Coche Mendoza Two weeks ago, Arte Maya acquired ten paintings by Julian Coche Mendoza. To help promote Julian for anyone who isn't familiar with his work, all Julian Coche paintings (including these ten) will be on sale for 33% off until Day of the Dead (November 2, 2012.)

	Taa' P'it: Taa' P'it Kortees, an Intercultural Learning Center for Tz’utuhil Mayan children, is a unique, Mayan-founded non-profit in San Pedro la Laguna in the Highlands of Guatemala. Taa’ Pi’t serves 120 students between 6 and 11 years old with programs in: computer technology and ecological education founded in the Mayan cosmovision and built on the strengths of the Maya culture. These programs change the capabilities and attitudes of the children, influencing their families and the community, and help strengthen the Maya Tz'utuhil cultural heritage.

	Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya Guatemala 2012 December 16 – 28, 2012.San Pedro La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala An extraordinary journey to a Mayan village on Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan Highlands This trip benefits Taa' P'it and The Compassionate Listening Project For information contact: Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya “When choosing between two paths, ask yourself which one has heart. Who chooses the path of the heart is never wrong.” Popol Vuh, the sacred Quiche Mayan book of creation.

	Casa Rosario Spanish School Videos Casa Rosario Spanish school has added four short videos to their website that provide a glimpse of life in San Pedro la Laguna. The third one is a favorite because it shows what it is like to live with a Maya family.

	US Marines/Guatemala Anti-drug Operation Huffington Post had an article about a United States Marine operation in Guatemala to provide military assistance to the Guatemalan government with the drug war. In light of the history of United States military involvement in Guatemala, and the atrocities carried out by the Guatemalan military during the 1980s, many people have expressed concern about this operation.

	Maya Calendars For ten years NISGUA supported the Arte Maya Calendar by paying for and selling half of the print run. Without NISGUA's help the calendar would only have lasted one year. This year they have published a 2013 calendar of photographs of Maya Guatemala. The sale of their calendar funds much of their operating expense for the year. The work of NISGUA promotes human rights in Guatemala. ******* Shihoho Nikawa has produced a retrospective 2013 Arte Maya Calendar. Shihoho was the NISGUA contact who worked with me on the Arte Maya calendar for many years. Shihoho’s 2013 calendar, in Japanese and English, consists of paintings that were published in earlier editions of the Arte Maya Calendar. The calendar includes the Maya glyphs for every day. Although the calendar is primarily intended for Japanese audiences, readers here can purchase copies directly from Shihoho. Because of the exchange rate between the dollar and the yen, it will cost $25 plus $8 shipping. If interested contact Shihoho at recom@jca.apc.org.


	Links Paintings: Julian Coche Mendoza ProPublica article: Massacre Survivor Eruption: Prensa Libre video Intercultural Learning Center: Taa' P'it Journey to the Heart of Guate-Maya Casa Rosario videos Article: Marines in Guatemala Calendars: NisGua: 2013 calendar Arte Maya 2013 calendar recom@jca.apc.org E-book download: Download PDF file (for computer) Download PDF file (for iPhone)