Monday, October 02, 2006
Flashback Dialogues: Los Dios de Muertos, circa 1992/93
UPDATE:
Okay, so the owner of this painting viewed this blog and was in shock of the really horrible photograph I took 12 years ago. (Lets face it, I didnt take Photography that early). So, the owner snapped a shot from his digital camera and sent the file to me - to you. He wanted you folks to see all the color and glory that now dons his wall. Thanks Lono.
WARNING: REALLY LONG - I TRIED TO CONDENSE - BUT HEY, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
During this part of my life it was all about Mexico. Attending so many Mexican cultural functions in Phoenix one can only go so far. So I had the opportunity to hitch a ride with an eccentric NYU English professor to Guaymas Mexico, where she worked at the University teaching English. It was quite the experience to remember. So let's begin.
After a drunken spell and some self loathing due to missing a date with a beautiful girl, my next door neighbor pulls me out of my house in Phoenix. He bandages my fist to clot the blood that, somehow, the stereo, wall, doors and other things around my room sliced it open with fury. He carries me to his truck, and drives out of town towards the girl that is now beckoning me.
The next day, I am dropped off at a Frank Lloyd Wright house where Dr. Elaine Rice meets me. I am to help her and drive to Guaymas Mexico where she now resides with her five Shih Tzu's. She drives a Dodge Omni.
I remember it was a humid day in August and we stop at the store to buy 150 dollars worth of dog food. The monsoon season was upon us and the rains came pouring down. The rain was so bad that at one point our windshield wipers were useless. I was driving blind for a good 15 minutes just hoping the road was straight.
We arrive in Green Valley Arizona and take quarter at a friend's home of the good doctor. Jebediah Horner - who seems to be a burnt out old beatnik, but I later found out that he used to be some famous director on the Broadway circuit. He was a welcoming man and I learned a lot.
The next day, we cross over into Mexico beyond the Free Trade Zone, while being held up at the last border crossing. At this time the doctor speaks to me of Mexican revolution and how they will soon attack America. Being green at this, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise as the Mexican military comes up to my side of the door wielding his automatic rifle. 4 hours of detainment we finally are let go and we are shakily on our way. As we drive I see all the burnt out freight containers atop of derailed train beds. Within these containers, families are living and staring at us as we drive passing. I can still see their haunting eyes staring at me.
6 hours later we arrive in San Carlos. Driving in a bogged down Omni through jagged dirt roads we pass feral dogs running along side, a Federali station and finally her home. The doctor points me to my small room which actually is for the dogs. Yes, I am literally living in the doghouse with 5 Shih Tzus. I grab my external frame pack and try to make it as comfy as possible.
During my stay here, I met a crazy man. Gerhard, a schizophrenic German artist who was exiled to Mexico for some reason or other, who lived off of carving wooden fish and selling them to the tourists on the other side of the mountain. Thank god for him. He brought the casks of wine and all three of us would talk of revolution till the wee hours of morning while the bull frogs hopped at our feet.
During my stint, the Doctor gave me some Spanish flash cards so I can brush up on my language skills. I helped her out at the University as her Teachers assistant - which in turn, the students usually took my out for drinks later on and showed me the Mexican nightlife. Ahh… the women I wooed that night, dancing away to salsa music while the moon showered diamond's sparkle on the ocean from the view from the bar.
At the end of my stay, Hurricane Andrew came rolling through. I remember I was on top of Dr. Rice's roof with my black and white camera snapping away. The winds were picking up like crazy. I remember I enjoyed this since the humidity was killing me. The gusts of wind were welcoming. I finally head in late at night. I fall asleep. Two or three hours later complete chaos. Dogs barking, someone screaming, I am jolted away only to realize that smoke is crawling along the ceiling. There was about 3 feet of clear air, so I drop to my knees and open the door. The kitchen is ablaze - fire spewing out of the electrical box and Dr. Rice in mid throw of a bucket of water. I think, oh god - electrocution. Luckily it didn't happen.
Lightning struck the ground, traveled through the wires and caught her house on fire. From here on out we had no electricity. I slept my last few days out on the hammock along with the frogs.
After a week or so, my time was finally up. I had to catch a train back to the states. This is where I meet Salvador. At first he seems to be homeless, but he ends up giving me 2-40 ounce beers for my travels. He cries on my shoulder. Telling me of stories of past week, were banditos robbed the train, and his brother was shot and killed.
My train arrives, and I am on my way. I can hear Salvador screaming my name "Jonathan!" I look back and there he is with both arms up and waving. I scream back "Salvador!" This goes on for a while until he becomes a speck in my train window. After a 10 hour train ride riding on nerves I finally arrive back at the US/Mexican border. After an unnerving taxi ride which ended up on sidewalks and through the border I am finally in the US - only to lose my ID after I bought the tickets for the grey hound bus. Border patrol comes on, and I am looking Spanish as ever. Dark tan, curly black hair I have to think quick, donning a surfer accent I explain to the patrol my situation. They laugh it off.
I arrive in downtown Phoenix. Right next to the night club, where the girl I started the story with hangs out at. I poke my head into the door and there she is.
Full Circle.
After a few weeks of detox and back in Flagstaff at the University I get some studio time to paint an oil panel painting - 'Los Dios de Meurtos". This currently resides in Colorado in a private residence.
