Palenque vs Alvin Ailey

Music and dances from Palenque are full of strong and not necesarilly precise movements, while in Alvin Ailey are valued due their precision and organic feeling. 

It is important to distinguish the roots of both of them. Palenque's culture has African roots, mixing strong drum beats and spontaneous dancing with unique expressive melodies that sing to the liberty. On the other hand, in Alving Ailey, they try to focus a lot more on the beauty of the movements and how delicate they are. Their origins are european and they work hard on precision by rehearsing really hard. 

Colombia: art and culture of the Caribbean

This is a video about Carribean Art, based on a visit to Museo del Caribe. Hope you like it!

- We recommend you to watch it in a dark room... some parts may not be very clear with daylight -

Enjoy!

Graphics.  Graphics and illustration have totally shaped my own culture. I have always loved how a great aesthetic can improve a product by itself or simply make it cooler, and also how beautiful and expressive illustrations can be.

I started around 2007. A friend of mine asked me to join to one of her forums. I downloaded Phoshop CS2, and the fun started. I began reading (and watching) tutorials and trying to improve my skills. I joined to bigger communities and soon got sort of a type of "popularity" among the rest of the members. It motivated me so much, and I kept me trying to improve my own technique.

Now, I just try working on graphics (digital artwork) on my free time, collaborating with an amazing comunity: Hysterical Minds... where I try to give my best on every exhibition. They actually just released a book, and they feature some of my work there (I just can't wait to get that book in my hands :3).

How has it shaped my own culture? I believe that art is an important part of life, and I actually enjoy a lot to appreciate it. My life would be incomplete without it. However, I don't feel like working on it my whole time, since it would turn out as a routine, and would lose the fun part. That's why I keep it as a hobby and I try to enjoy it as much as I can during my free time.

We are passing through the time of predominance of design. Nothing could be profitable if it's image is not properly presentated or with a good aesthetic. I enjoy participating on it... and I know it can take me further.

If you want, you can check some of my artworks in my portfolio. The following are some of my favorite ones:

 

 

 

Kiva

If I had the resources to help one of those women from Kiva, I would decide to help Blanca Isvelia  ( http://www.kiva.org/lend/512269#aboutTheCountry ). She decided to take control of her finances and ask for a loan. 

I feel her profile very consistent and full of enthusiasm. She seems really ambicious and good for business. She actually already had a Kiva loan so, I believe she is very responsible and has been succesful with her initiative. She wants to keep selling dairy products such as milk or cheese, which sounds as a profitable business here in Barranquilla. As I see, she received her loan and she's paying it back... thank God she's doing well. 

Matatu Drivers

Matatu drivers are treated really bad by Kenyans, calling them drug dealers and thieves. These opinions are based on stereotypes, which are very wrong and do not reflect the real meaning of being a matatu driver. However, there is a specific group of people who appreciate their work, that lets them arrive to their destination. But how do matatu drivers achieve new speed records transportating people? Breaking the law. That's why there is a majority that feels that matatu drivers are not good at all.

We can compare matatu drivers to mototaxistas here, in Barranquilla. They frequently break the law in order to get to some places and transportate people. Their job is appreciate by a small group of people who enjoy the risks of going with a mototaxista, and wants to get somewhere very quickly. Many people do have the same negative opinions about mototaxistas as Kenyans do with matatu drivers, since they may be related to several accidents in Barranquilla.

Afro Colombians

Afrolatinos have had to pass through a lot of difficulties, being subject of racism in many latin countries. The opportunities that are given to them are way less than the ones given to the rest of the society.It seems like Afrocolombians - costeños, specifically- are victims of this mistreatment too.

In the Colombia's Caribbean Coast, is really common to find afrocolombians all across the streets, in the supermarket, in schools, etc. However, they are treated as if they were "less" than the others. People consider that being called "negro" is an offense, refering to other adjetives like "stupid" or "slow". Even if afrocolombians have shown that they are pretty much the same than everybody else, people keep following stereotypes while refering to them.

M Y  F A V O R I T E  C A R N I V A L  M O M E N T

I'm not a huge fan of Carnivals. It's not that I do not appreciate how they represent Barranquilla's culture - as I already said in some past posts - but I do not feel confortable at all in that environment. Actually I went to a trip during these Carnivals days... however, I can say what's the only moment of the Carnivals that I really enjoy: Festival de Orquestas. 

Parades... please no. I do not enjoy parades at all. But I do enjoy the amazing concert of "Festival de Orquestas". I think it is quite amazing to watch how those artists can achieve to make a whole crowd move and share a beat, a rythm, a sound. Nontheless, there were not only great artists but also really bad ones. It is so hard to see how some of them did their best and gave an incredible performance, and, in contrast, to see some annoying ones, trying to give their "own touch" singing some covers... really sad.

In conclusion, even if Carnivals are not my thing, I think Festival de Orquetas was quite great. I enjoyed almost every performance!