Museum of Antioquia

This square of Plaza Mayor(same name as Madrid square) had a gorgeous back drop with the Palacia del Cultura ( unfortunately closed upon my arrival). There were the standard vendors selling souvenirs and food, and plenty of benches. 


Perhaps, it was the usual museum  setting with the park and the souvenirs, the hot dogs, and snow cones, but it had a special charm. Families walked with their children, tourists walking in and out of the museum, the sky bright, bright blue-it was spectacular.  

 There were a few museums in town to see, but this one was suppose to be the “must see.” 

It was interesting seeing the eras of Colombian art over time from romanticism to modern artwork. They had all different rooms on three floors with impeccable architecture. They had the Botero sculptures right in the entrance and featured in these paintings with the "large bodies," which is not common to see, but Fernando Botero pulls it off. 

From Wikipedia: 

Fernando Botero
While his work includes still-lifes and landscapes, Botero has concentrated on situational portraiture. His paintings and sculptures are united by their proportionally exaggerated, or "fat" figures, as he once referred to them.^[10]

Botero explains his use of these "large people", as they are often called by critics, in the following way:

"An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why. You adopt a position intuitively; only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it."^{[citation needed]}

Botero is an abstract artist in the most fundamental sense, choosing colors, shapes, and proportions based on intuitive aesthetic thinking. Though he spends only one month a year in Colombia, he considers himself the "most Colombian artist living" due to his insulation from the international trends of the art world.^[10]

In 2004 Botero exhibited a series of 27 drawings and 23 paintings dealing with the violence in Colombia from the drug cartels. He donated the works to the National Museum of Colombia, where they were first exhibited

Various works

Handicraft Old Market

The National Artisan market is my favorite market in Nicaragua. It's a great place to buy souvenirs and tours are available explaining the history. In here, they sell local food, baskets, pottery, hammocks, paintings, journals, shoes, t-shirts, and everything under the sun. The level of their creativity is astonishing as they come up with realistic ways to keep things.

                                   

In this market, I met some wonderful artists. An artist working strictly through his spiritual force and a painter for 30 years. I just sat and watched the brush slightly move on the canvas. I told them I need to take the time to do it. He said, "God will allow you the time when you are ready." This man left me with something to think about and I love that. His wife was just as kind and complimentary of my passion and my work.  

   This was pretty strange art

 

Another woman sat with me and explained with me the different kinds of art she was selling. I was really curious about the bigger women who hold the fruit in pictures. She said these women are "Mesquitas." These women are real women who usually can be found in the markets selling fruit. A famous Nicaraguan artist started this trend, but he did not end up selling many paintings. People did not have the response he was hoping for, but he continued to paint. The Ramas and sumos also come from the villages around Masaya. They are known to be strong and passionate women. While we are speaking, the tourists are in front of me with their tour guide saying and "There are the paintings." Then they just keep walking onto the next venue. It's quite interesting how I sit and have a  fifteen minute conversation and they just focus on the shopping. Of course, I don't want it to be this way for people-I don't.  

                                                   Ginger Pineapple Juice

Then I'm next door buying a T-shirt and trying it out strutting down the market like I'm on a cat walk. There was a pink and a black one and I chose the black one. 
The problem is that these people were so nice that I just wanted to keep buying from them! The most popular item to buy was a hammock and I found an amazing one for $12, but I did not have enough at the moment.  The other ones were $20 and up, which is still a good price, but when you're in the moment you question buying it.  

 

              

 

Famous Nicaraguan Masks

      

When I came back for this hammock, the guy was gone. But he did give me a Nicaraguan rain stick for $10, which I really just loved.  Souvenirs were not my thing, but in this market with the great prices-they were my thing.   Paintings were one of my main things to buy and there was an abundance of them.  I ended up buying a few paintings from a simply happy boy named Ricky. I bought amazing coffee for my Mom and a few more things for some important people.
After 4.5 hours(average tourist is 2), I left with my happy purchases and went on my way.

 

Outside the market I did some arepa cooking. This was not for a photo, she let me make one and I was shouting, "Arepas hot and ready," My American magnet only grabbed a few guys-she cashiered and I plated them. 

(They were almost ready so this was not a difficult task).

                                                        Traditional men's Masaya outfit 

                 

Painting Session

When it comes to my interests, I would not say they have significantly changed overtime, but I would say that some interests are becoming true passions.  For example: writing, art/ painting, poetry, hiking, cooking, and traveling. 
One that has truly come to life is painting.  I have always had a passion for art exhibits, museums, and cultural art.  This time I am interested in making the painting myself.  It's such a therapeutic relaxing passion with some classical music and a peaceful space. 

              

My little friend, Elizabeth, shared this same passion and we decided to do some painting together. She didn't understand my classical music, but she didn't mind it either. After work, her dad walked in and had a huge smile on his face. It was clear he had a tiny crush on me and I adored his daughter. 
After our painting, Elizabeth, even made me a quesadilla with my favorite white cheese. I asked what this would do her thighs and she said, "Who cares."  I said, "Good girl." 

          

               My Knock off Salvador Dali

         

Leon Art

                     Favorite one