Dioramas & Retablos of Puerto Rico~

On April 9, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Miniatures

(Please click to enlarge to see details). I am fascinated by miniatures, dioramas and retablos depicting historical and cultural life found throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and Puerto Rico. San Juan has an extensive collection of dioramas depicting the island’s history of colonial occupation located in the Museo de las Americas.

These Puerto Rican miniatures fascinate me because they bring life under colonal rule alive in a multi-dimensional manner.

Check them out and see for yourself.

Do you get a sense of servitude in paradise in these miniatures?

The artistry is detailed and life-like.

Art can speak so much more eloquently than words.

The art of miniature making continues today throughout Latin American in the form of retablos, or folk art. This is an example of a retablo of a building in the Old City of San Juan that was on display in the museum.

And this is one…

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If I had a Hammer First Stop Metal Shop

On April 9, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn First Stop -- Metal Shop, If I Had a Hammer4 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “If I Had a Hammer.”

If I had a Hammer

If you could learn a trade — say carpentry, electrical work, roofing, landscaping, plumbing, flooring, drywall — you name it — what skill(s) would you love to have in your back pocket?

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/hammer/

First Stop ~~ Metal Shop

When I was in school during the mid to late 70s I always enjoyed the boys shop classes which were wood and metal shop. Girls shop classes bored me to tears. I still remember this dress I was supposed to be making in sewing class around 1972/1973. Hated sewing, cutting patterns, trying to put those puzzling pieces into something that one could actually wear! Needless to say the dress never got made and I probably got a C in that class. Cooking class was equally despised. Actually I Love to eat but at the time I was very happy to leave all that to my Mom and sometimes my Dad if Mommy was sick. Gagged on those rare steaks my Dad would fix. He said meat would build our blood. I don’t know about that. I think my Father saw us as young vampires!! LOL!! Despite this I am a good cook now.

Anyway I digress. Back to shop classes. Since the Women’s Movement was hot and heavy at this time Metal working opened up for girls. Loved that class! Made lots of dustpans and ash trays. Wish I could have expanded this skill. Who knows where I would be today if I could have gone to the next level. Blue collar Men’s work beats Pink collar Women’s work in money and skill level any day.

Today my eyesight is very poor and I can no longer see well enough to do anything creative with wood or metal however I do enjoy creating collages, creating blog posts and taking photographs. As soon as I hit retirement in approximately three years I will devote more time to these activities.