Mexican Folk Art on Wheels

Vochol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He has a mind of his own and is capable of driving himself. Who can forget the red, white and blue stripes, and the number 53 on its front trunk.

This iconic racing beetle became famous in the 1968 film “Love Bug”. Now Herbie’s long lost cousin, Vochol is catching up to him!

Vochol is a 1990 Volkswagen Beetle covered in 2,277,000 colorful plastic beads. And it has made his first international stop right here in San Diego!

You can catch a glimpse of Vochol at the San Diego Museum of Art until March 11. That’s before he takes off to other highly respected art institutions such as the Smithsonian Museum of American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Musée de Quai Branly in Paris.

Vochol comes from the popular term for Beetles in Mexico, “Volcho” and “Huichol” the common name for the Wixáritari indigenous group of Western Central Mexico.

It was no easy task for the eight Huichol artisans that worked on this project. They clocked in 4,760 hours and took about seven months to finish it. The project was sponsored by the Asociación de Amigos del Museo de Arte Popular (AAMAP) along with different public and private agencies.

Besides beadwork, the Huichol crafts include embroidery, weaving, hats, and pray arrows.

The Huichol are very spiritual people and their work is often an extension of their faith. For example, images of two snakes above the clouds can be seen on the hood representing rain, the sides show the gods of the sun and fire. The roof has a big sun and four eagles representing the union of man and the gods.

But wait…here’s the best part! Vochol can be yours if you are interested in buying it as it will be auctioned off in Mexico City. Time to break off the the piggy bank!

I know I would love driving this bug around town!

Touched by an Angel

This post is about a different kind of journey, an inevitable one that is at the center of every religion and culture around the world.

It’s been nearly two weeks since the relative of someone dear to my heart passed away. It was exactly during Yom Kippur, the holiest and most solemn day for the Jews. The purpose of Yom Kippur is to bring about reconciliation between people, individuals and God. According to Jewish tradition, it is also the day God decided the fate of each human being.

It was a Sunday afternoon, the sun shined high over our heads.We said our final goodbyes during a touching and lovely Jewish service. The Rabbi performed a series of prayers  and afterwards the family read a few of the deceased favorite poems. One of them was a beautiful poem by Maya Angelou.

We, unaccustomed to courage

exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into our sight

to liberate us into life.

 

Love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.

 

We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love’s light

we dare be brave

And suddenly we see

that love cost all we are

and will ever be.

Yet it is only love

which sets us free.

 

After the service, we went off on a boat on the San Diego Bay to place the remains in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean. A truly beautiful celebration of life.