R.I.P. OLD JOHNNY WINTER

The breathtaking story runs a night into a woody house trapped by the fire, on the dusty Texan field. There inside, in one of the bedrooms second story, lays a baby, a black woman, the servant with her bare feet who run on the floor porch. She opens the door and breaks through the menacing flames. The house can crack without any advice, but valiant and decided her upstairs, right towards the room where the baby in his carrycot cries. 

Among the smoke, she enveloped with a blanket, held in her arms, rushed to the kitchen, to the door. Few minutes after, she is running on the green lawn, at the light of the red flames which furiously bit the structure.  Many meters and saved at last, the heroine opened widely her eyes, screamed loudly when the house creaked and fell down as a dying bison. That child in those merciful arms was John Dawson, the great blues guitar player known as Johnny Winter. I understand that is the truthful love to the blues. On it resides his justification of being in debt with the black people. The anecdote, reliable or not, is beautiful. I have long since heard for first time from an old man, and review the story of a musician who gave himself with soul and life to the guitar, and blues.

Take a gaze to the map, and we observe Texas is the sister of Mississippi. Texas is a sunny and vast territory filled with desert and plain, with its tornados and cowboys. In a suggestive manner, let´s say that it is the window to the West, and the backdoor to the South, to a sandy landscape, full of stones, scorpions and  rattle snakes, in those enchanted lands where people – in antique times – used to celebrate “corrida de toros”, in that so curious world  where live together Spanish- fashioned houses with Mexican tequilas and a hats, boots and guns, so usual in Texans. Texas, without any fear to doubt, offered traditionally good material to this music genre: Albert Collins, Albert King, ZZ Top, them all, sacred cows, who spread their chords and notes in the world. In Texas Robert Johnson had recorded at the ‘30 his handful of songs to leave his legacy.

Respect Johnny Winter, his case appeared biased to the paradox, ´cause his hot way to play has an original touch, besides, that contradicts his surname, and contrasts with his almost Nordic-pale. From his long discography, the first LP I have ever listened was “Scorching Blues”, recorded in 1974 accompanied with the Muddy Waters band, died at 1973.  The following I listened was “Captured Live!”, Third Degree, Still Alive and Well. Since the first second in whichever Winter´s song catches you that burning characteristic at the hour to play, and sing.. In his voice is guarded the proverbial wisdom of the Blues, his belief was the same to the slaves sons believed. Believes that we hardly understand. The magnetism sexual besides all of Mojo; the joker demon Eshú (known also as Elegba, Legba or Elegbara) who was a wicked tramp sawing seeds of discord, the voodoos from the Yorubas cosmology, in West Africa to establish in Haiti and in the low lands of New Orleans…with the cult of snakes and the secret ceremonies of black magic. That source of music and rites had departure from the black continent to arrive in Caribbean Antilles, and then Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas…

Let´s get some review of songs of him: Dallas: sang with slide technique, and a Dobro, in that he rolled Indian Scales; Bad Girl Blues, he sings about the love between women, and sounds two Dobro´s in lapses, those guitars sound as a calling of mermaids; Rolling and Tumbling: a Robert Johnson´s classic turned a furious blues and figures into the list of “The Progressive Experiment Blues”; Mean Town Blues, an accelerated boogie with an unforgotten duel of guitars. The Indian scales which Winter inserts in his phrases are commons in the Hendrix style too, making honor to his Cherokee bloodline. He used to his own way in Voodoo Chile, and in some home record of Hound Dog, and in other opportunities. I advise that they both find out an origin to play, they both mix the native with the African. Winter had the pleasure to show us that marvel called Dobro, he played as few this one with slide, even hotter and overwhelming than his own masters: Hooker y Waters.

Johnny Winter – despite to have been a guitar hero – kept himself further from to be a rock-star as Hendrix. The Foxy Lady´s songwritter was in a very another sinthony, his soul and expectatives, beyond the blue ocean, in London, main city of fashion and vanguard. The Texan, at his own way, had his roots very sank into the wool fields, in the work-song slaves, who worked from sun to sun. He used to understand with the purely nigro, with the faithfully rural. And, if he developed a face quite rocker, he would never left the songs of the Deep South. As guitar player and singer always found the wild chords provided by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, JL Hooker.  

If we compare with other Texas bluesman as Steve Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter is hard to give him some precedent. The high-pitched sound from his Gibson Firebird X, his sharp technical pick, the very fast scales fingers, his tireless musical arrangements while he sings, are technical y simply matchless.

Texas is today the ground where the life is hard. Texas was the musical school to Johnny Winter, where he listened to his early idols, made the first steps with ukulele first and guitar then, at twelve years old. He saw many musician of the époque, was the producer of Muddy and Hooker. His great jump were at 1969, in the famous Woodstock. Drugs, alcohol, fast life to die young, he was while live one of the few who could survive of that stormy generation, skipping the abyss who ate to Morrison, Hendrix, Joplin or Brian Jones. He must through a long rehab after his sudden fame.

Now, being that the music is the art elevated at its maxim potency” as Nietzsche said, an outstanding guitarist also represent this thought. I love the Johnny Winter music as I could cherish to a lush walnut that drops so deep his roots very deep in the soil, I´d love to, as a strange avis in terra. Because he had shown many faces at music, he could found out the original roots of the Blues.

Within few years will be scarce musicians as him. The world will spread like a big fat octopus its technological tentacles, optical fibers and webs.  Will come biological wars without turn around. Then it will blow hunger winds, hurricanes of embezzlement. The man will imítate to the machines, with no time whether the love or the friendship. Artistically, won´t exist those old musicians or pure artists.  It shall remain those, who push buttons and turn perils, those ones who go out the tone, those who gift their goodwill to the musical marketing, to the unsustainable politics who impoverished the people.  It will abound those who ignore to Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, David Bowie, BB King. Don´t trust of them. 

[Translation / author: Andrés Ugueruaga]

PICTURES OF ALECIA

It is a pleasure for us to share this note with Lic. Alecia Jacqueline Kelly, an accessible person, who was enthusiastic to collaborate.  In this small space of diffusion, we always want to give an opportunity to our “interviewee”, and this is not an exception. Alecia replied in good spirits to our inquiries, immersing us into a narrative which does not lose objectivity, and the same time, carries us into her own perception of her art, without omitting details about her life, the place where she lives, its landscapes and her wonderful family.

For this motive, what we could add it is not as significant as we read her own relation.  [Editor/s]  

I was born in Hemet, a city in the desert Southern California, but moved before I began kindergarten to the more rustic and almost untouched mountains of beautiful Northern California, where I lived until graduated from High School.

I have lived many places over the past ten years, including Hawaii, and the east coast of the United States  -Pennsylvania and North Carolina- before returning to Redding in Northern California, where I now reside with my little son -who will be three in November- to be close to family.

Redding is where it  maintains a residence of World renowned Spanish Architect and Engineer Santiago Calatrava’s famous Sun Dial Bridge spanning the Sacramento River (n.e.: again mentor del Woman Bridge; Puerto Madero, Argentina), to only miles from scenic Whiskeytown and Shasta lakes. In addition we are only an hour or so from the impressive and gorgeous Mount Shasta (one of the 5 highest peaks in California with 4.322 meters high). This environment is peaceful and inspirational but also offers something for those who seek adventure with various popular activities such as wakeboarding, white water rafting, skiing, hiking, along with others activities ....

Some of my personal life: I majored in “Environmental Science” in college the Hawaii and have my bachelors of science degree in Environmental Studies. Although I have no formal training in art it has always been a hobby and a passion. I have always found a way to stay involved somewhat with art whether it is painting murals for various projects or designing logos and flyers. I have recently been "blessed" with the opportunity to illustrate the sequel to Gino the Minnow (environmentalist pet) written by Scott W Wolford.

I enjoy collaborating and supporting other local artists as well as artists I know from different places I have lived.  Jen King’s work with ceramics is unique and creative and Adam Louie, a friend and photographer, has captured some of the splendor of our landscape and geographical features here.

My life also includes other activities besides painting as swimming, hiking and running round in Shasta County enjoy. I like being active and spending time outdoors with my family. I try to take advantage of weather conditions Redding, located at the top of the Central Valley in California, where the climate is temperate.

Immersing ourselves in the kind of "impression" I do. I mainly use acrylic paint on canvas, but I painted some murals on different surfaces with different media.

When I capture something on the canvas, my inspiration often comes from the waters, the nature of these "unique" creatures and quirky characters that I found while working at the Waikiki Aquarium, Hawaii,-while I was in college-.

My paintings are decorated with vivid colors and contrast. I do a little painting "alla prima" (n.e.: It is a technical style or painting where, instead of building layer by layer the colors, the painting is completed in one session while the paint is still fresh "Alla premium "comes from Italian and means 'the first'), but I am very fond of painting" base "or creating a base paint and glazing. (n.e: technique of glazing oil painting was a popular method used by the Flemish and Dutch painters from the 1400’s style were developed by Jan van Eyck, one of the first masters of oil painting with this. seeks bright realistic colors).

In large parts of several panels is useful to plot the location of my subjects initially with pencil. The beauty of using acrylics, is his ability to create layers of color, I take ...

I like to paint outdoors, but when the paint is very warm acrylic dries faster so it is necessary to return to the prior art. Those are my preference because I find it easier to work while cleaning my lines I focus on those details in my works.

I paint often for peace of mind as a kind of therapy but find inspiration all around me.  In flowers I see at the market, the color of the sky, watching children play or my sister Lexie Kelly swim (n.e.: Lexie Kally, open water swimmer, participates FINA World Grand Prix circuit).  I am motivated by positive attitude and trying to find a bit of beauty in everything.  I also loved living in Hawaii so at any time can think of a special beach or vantage point from the island and find instant inspiration.

I would paint all day every day if I could!  For now paint in the morning when my home.

I definitely prefer some type of background noise when I paint whether it is the sound of my son’s voice, music or the news.  Music is great because I can always find something to “match my mood” or compliment the tone of the art I am working on.

I have done large pieces that have taken forty hours or so because of all of the detail and the size.  Sometimes I have several pieces that I am working on for various projects simultaneously and stop and start as time permits. Others take only an hour. I can be much more efficient of course if I have a clear vision of what I want the painting to look like however sometimes eliminating the "element surprise" takes some of the fun.

Also I have my personal preferences, love Colleen Wilcox art. (n.e.: is an artist who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. She likes to paint with acrylic on canvas and creating designs of surfboards and accessories. Their stylized flowers, swirls and waves are inspired by the observation nature. Colleen artistic style is steeped in emotion, vibrant energy, and dynamic movement. Their work expresses a love of island life and appreciation for the natural beauty of Hawaii).

I have been painting recently different subjects on request (some people have asked me to paint photos of a favorite place, a pet or a theme.)  I like being able to make something personal for people and I am eager to continue working.

The opinions we leave for our readers ...

Thank you very much for sharing your works Alecia!

PINTURAS DE ALECIA

Es un placer para nosotros compartir esta nota con Lic. Alecia Jacqueline Kelly, una persona accesible, que se mostró entusiasmada en colaborar. En este pequeño espacio de difusión, siempre queremos dar una oportunidad a nuestro "entrevistado", y esto no es una excepción. Alecia respondió de buen humor a nuestras preguntas, nos sumerge en una narrativa que no pierde la objetividad, y al mismo tiempo, nos lleva a su propia percepción de su arte, sin omitir detalles acerca de su vida, el lugar donde vive, sus paisajes y su maravillosa familia. Por este motivo, lo que podamos agregar no es tan significante como lo que surge de su propio relato. [Editor/s]

Nací en Hemet, una ciudad en el desierto al sur de California, pero me mudé antes de empezar el Jardín de Infantes a las montañas más rústicas y casi vírgenes de la hermosa región del norte de California, donde viví hasta que me gradué de la Escuela Secundaria.

He vivido en muchos lugares en los últimos diez años, incluyendo Hawaii y la costa este de los Estados Unidos -Pennsylvania y Carolina del Norte- antes de regresar a Redding en el norte de California, donde resido ahora junto a mi hijo pequeño  -quien cumplirá tres años en noviembre- para estar cerca de la familia.

La ciudad de Redding es donde mantiene una residencia el mundialmente conocido Arquitecto e Ingeniero español Santiago Calatrava mentor del Sundial Bridge (puente del Reloj del Sol) que atraviesa el río Sacramento (n.e.: también mentor del Puente de la Mujer; Puerto Madero, Argentina), a sólo millas de la pintoresca Whiskeytown y lagos Shasta. Además estamos a sólo una hora del impresionante y majestuoso Monte Shasta (uno de los 5 picos más altos de California con 4.322 metro de altura). Este ambiente es tranquilo e inspirador, pero también ofrece algo para aquellos que buscan aventura con diversas actividades populares tales como wakeboard, rafting, esquí, senderismo,  junto a otras actividades…

Algo de mi vida personal: Me licencié en “Ciencias Ambientales” en la Universidad de Hawaii. Por otro lado, no tengo ningún entrenamiento formal en arte, siempre ha sido un hobby y una pasión. Siempre he encontrado una manera de mantenerme involucrada con el arte si estoy pintando murales para diversos proyectos o en diseño de logotipos y folletos.

Recientemente he sido “bendecida” con la oportunidad de ilustrar una escuela con Gino del Minnow (mascota ecologista) escrita por Scott W. Wolford.

Disfruto en colaborar y apoyar a otros artistas locales, así como los artistas que conozco desde los diferentes lugares en los que he vivido. El trabajo de Jen Rey con la cerámica es única y creativa; Adam Louie, un amigo y fotógrafo que ha capturado el esplendor de nuestros paisajes y las características geográficas de aquí.

Mi vida también se compone de otras actividades que disfruto además de la pintura como la natación, el senderismo y correr todo el año en el condado de Shasta. Me gusta estar activa y pasar tiempo al aire libre con mi familia. Trato de aprovechar las condiciones climáticas de Redding, situado en la parte superior del valle central en el estado de California, donde el clima es templado.

Sumergiéndonos en el tipo de “impresión” que realizo. Uso principalmente pintura acrílica sobre lienzo, pero he pintado algunos murales en diversas superficies con diferentes medios.

Cuando plasmo algo en el lienzo, mi inspiración proviene a menudo de las aguas, la naturaleza de esas “únicas” criaturas y personajes estrafalarios que encontré mientras trabajaba en el Acuario de Waikiki, Hawai, -mientras estaba en la universidad-.

Mis pinturas están decoradas con colores vivos y contraste. Hago un poco de pintura “alla prima” (n.e.: Es un estilo o técnica de pintura dónde, en vez de construir capa por capa los colores, la pintura se termina en una única sesión, mientras la pintura está todavía fresca. “Alla prima” viene del italiano y significa ‘a la primera’),  pero soy muy aficionada a la pintura de “base” o la creación de una pintura base y acristalamiento.

(n.e.: La técnica de acristalamiento de la pintura al óleo fue un popular método empleado por los pintores flamencos y holandeses a partir del 1400. El estilo fue desarrollado por Jan van Eyck, uno de los primeros maestros de la pintura al óleo. Con esto se busca colores luminosos de gran realismo).

En las piezas más grandes de varios paneles es útil trazar la ubicación de mis temas inicialmente con lápiz. La belleza de la utilización de acrílicos, consiste en su facilidad para crear capas de color, las que aprovecho…

Me gusta pintar al aire libre, pero cuando está muy cálido la pintura en acrílico se seca más rápido por lo que es necesario retornar a la técnica anterior. Esas son mis preferencias, porque me parece que es más fácil de trabajar y a la vez limpiar mis líneas  me centro en esos detalles en mis obras.

Yo pinto a menudo por la paz que esto trae a mi mente, es como una especie de terapia y encuentro inspiración a mí alrededor. En las flores que veo en el mercado, el color del cielo, mirando a los niños jugar o a mi hermana Lexie nadando (n.e.: Lexie Kally, nadadora de aguas abiertas, participa del circuito mundial Grand Prix FINA). Estoy motivada y siempre con actitud positiva y tratando de encontrar un poco de la belleza en todo. También estoy encantada con recuerdos de Hawaii por lo que en cualquier momento puedo pensar en una playa especial o algún punto de vista de la isla y encuentro la inspiración necesaria de forma instantánea.

Me gusta pintar todo el día y lo haría todos los días si pudiera! Por ahora pinto en la mañana, cuando está más tranquilo mi hogar…

En el momento que lo hago prefiero algún tipo de sonido de fondo, si es el sonido de la voz de mi hijo, la música o las noticias. De igual forma la música es genial, porque siempre puedo encontrar algo para "igualar mi estado de ánimo" o complementar el tono de la técnica que estoy trabajando.

Si pienso en algunas obras, he hecho grandes piezas que han llevado aproximadamente cuarenta horas de trabajo, por los detalles y el tamaño. A veces tengo varias piezas en un mismo trabajo o varios proyectos simultáneamente y me detengo e inicio en el “tiempo que me lo permito”. Otros proyectos toman sólo unas horas.

Puedo ser mucho más eficiente, por supuesto, si tengo una visión clara de lo que quiero. Sin embargo, a veces eliminar el “elemento sorpresa” se toma algo de la diversión.

También tengo mis gustos personales. Me encanta el arte de Colleen Wilcox (n.e. es un artista que vive en Honolulu, Hawaii. A ella le gusta pintar con acrílico sobre tela, así como la creación de diseños de tablas de surf y accesorios. Sus flores estilizadas, los remolinos y las olas se inspiran en la observación de la naturaleza. Estilo artístico de Colleen está impregnado de emoción, energía vibrante, y el movimiento dinámico. Su obra expresa un amor de la vida de la isla y el aprecio por la belleza natural de Hawaii).

He estado pintando recientemente diferentes temas bajo petición (algunas personas me han pedido que pinte fotos de un lugar favorito, una mascota o un tema). Me gusta ser capaz de hacer algo personal para la gente y estoy ansiosa de seguir trabajando.

Las opiniones las dejamos para nuestros lectores...

Muchas gracias por compartir tus obras Alecia!!!

FEMALE MONASTICSM ¿What are they searching for?

We have the pleasure to introduce to Andrés Ugueruaga, who works and lives at Reconquista, Santa Fe. He often collaborate in many webpage’s y has published the following books: “El bronce de los días,” “Ensayo y Crítica,” “En las clales de la eternidad.” He has collaborated in the Mexican Cultural Journal “Sábado Uno más Uno”, and nowadays publishes in our page. [Editor/s] 
Translation: Andrés Ugueruaga.- 

According to Wikipedia, the oldest habit of the consecrated women to the chastity survived since before Christ to our days. The fact surmounts to the Antique Egypt’s warm sand, 2920-2613 B.C., when those women were the same sap, the Harem of a forgotten god. The theory estates the highest hierarchy was to be his Wife, but she must saving her vows of chastity. That was the Akhenaton´s days, the first monotheism divinity. Since then, the woman has got the possibility to give to a god away, destined her existence, time, energies just to him.

Female Monastic life then derives from the masculine one. They both had risen in Rome, when holly maids were ordained to the goddess of the Home, Vesta. Although there are people who do not be familiar with the Monastic Female life, despite the writings by some historians as Plinius the Old and Philo of Alexandria testified about the day in day out of them. At their lines rests the proof of their penny-wise lives, fasting, dedicating to the reading of wisdom books, professing what they read.

One day Jesus born, the waters had separated. The Chastity of the Christians, finds their heritage among the Roman and Egyptian monasticism, but those tried to fade the own roots of the tree.

Black tunic, not colored, a cape without tassels, the same color in the wool sleeves that embraces since arms to the fingers, the haircut, a cape without tassels on the shoulders. That was the aspect of a woman dedicated to the Monasticism according to Athanasius, a historian of that earlier époque.

Then and then, the centuries rushed so far and in a hasty blinking, came the witches’ chase, the invention of the printing, the creation and fall of the Communism, the arriving of the neoliberals. Too much water ran under the bridge, even today the cloister sister’s lack of the hierarchy into the Church of the men; it is unknown which really are their necessities, we hardly discern that they transmit the Message of God.   

But what does look for these women? In the collective imaginary, they cover their heads with peculiar capes, a crucifix hangs over their white breasts, and a black tunic, performing humanitarians works in a slight and calm manner…Affording the works with a smile.

They have got many faces to develop. First of all, the extreme renounce to the erotic life it is a serious topic. Georges Bataille alleged, influenced by Freud, that the physic reproduction guards affinity with the death. The chastity therefore is the contradiction of that. Then the complete surrounding to the mystic love as spiritual practice is a possibility to be everlasting.

To deep at this thought, since the Stone Era to the Space Conquer, the life always is difficult. Always the shadows of the pain fell over this world under the sun; however, some lives went beyond the joy and worldly passions, the voluptuousness, the friction of the bodies, the blood, the seasons, the corruption, and the sin of the flesh. Those breaks the cycle to be born the new being and the death of who has gave birth to.

The celibacy is a rule where those considerations inn, it tries to cut the rules of life. With dove eyes, they refused to give to the world would offer something new as a truth, that’s why they resigned, dedicated to the simplest habits. Suddenly, the full 21th Century have welcomed with the open doors. The banks are the new cathedrals and the money the new god. Consumers, hyperrealist, globalized onstage into its careless seeking to pleasure, goods, materialism, but its sufferings always were there: the illness, the death, the abandonment and the starvation.

They avoided all the doubts, maintained his eyes on archaic exercises of prayers, contemplation in convents. A way to live far from the hurricane of promotions, shopping rooms, bounced checks, storms of social classes, the woman vindication – they are a naturalized fact although what strange they are if we would analyze at an objective perspective, after all the nuns kept their paths. Into this happy world which pretends to deny the pain and the death, their religiosity wants to look this fact in front of, to find the transcendent light beyond all. God calls them and they asked going to Him. When we see an antique and oriental root, for them all it deals with the same sap into the life tree. But what do they want to make us believe, these chaste women, consecrated to be the Wives of God? Of a God often draw with platonic brush-strokes, twisted today by ecclesiastic institutions besides many others interests? They are the internal organs of that body called Church.

Many of them were on: Juana Inés de la Cruz, Santa Teresa, Teresa of Calcutta. They left a testimony to us.

Haiti, African countries, Philippines, India, force us to talk about a second aspect. Congregations of nuns profess the help to relief to poor countries, in diverse points of the globe. Stoic, their universe stars system respites in the chastity, faith and hope, the own trident that put them into the stillness eye-of-the-storm. ‘Cause the world is a hard place, but in front of a calm spirit, the reality drops its weapons.