Rather than split these two entries (as both the theme and dress are the same), I am choosing to combine Teotihuacan and Monte Alban.  Each of these pre-Columbian archeological sites are spectacular examples of the kind of early civilizations that were found throughout Mexico and Central America.  Monte Alban is in southern Mexico, sitting gloriously up on a hill above Oaxaca City; where Teotihuacan lies in the volcanic foothills just outside Mexico City.  Founded about 500BC, Monte Alban was a thriving metropolis by the time Teotihuacan was founded in 100BC.  A much smaller community of primarily Zapotec inhabitants, Monte Alban reached a peak population of 17,000; a fraction of Teotihuacan’s multi-ethnic population of 125,000.  By 1000AD both sites had basically been abandoned. Fast-forward another 1000 years; here I am, trying to make some interesting images amongst the ruins.

I visited Teotihuacan first, climbing the Pyramid of the Sun with my good friend Jorge Arroyo.  Even amongst the vendors and tourists, it is easy to see that this place was a very spiritual site to its previous inhabitants.  Reaching the top, we felt compelled to sit facing the sun, burning a little Palo Santo wood and giving thanks for all life has brought us, good and bad.  Lots of tears, hugs and high fives later, we climbed down feeling cleansed and re-energized.  At the bottom I began creating images, but as usual, I was short on time and the whole thing felt hurried.  There was also the extra challenge of having tourists everywhere, walking in and out of my shots (thank god for the clone stamp tool).  When I visited Monte Alban about a month later, I got up very early and was one of the first people in the park, but by ten am there were swarms of visitors arriving by the tour-bus-load.  Undaunted, I created quite a spectacle of myself doing these “frozen” poses, thankfully the Mexican people are very accepting of artists.

I am not really sure what I think of these images.  My first reservation is probably the most obvious, as in: “what is a gringa doing taking these kinds of images in a Mesoamerican archeological site?”  I’m not really sure I can answer this, but maybe it is nothing more than an attraction and deep appreciation for the grandeur and beauty of these locations.  I think that by not donning some native costume or other artifice, I lend some credibility to the images as I present myself just as I am: tall, blond, and white.  Maybe acknowledging that I am inspired by the place, as I am in nature, is enough to legitimize the work. I don’t know. I would love to hear what you think, and to which images you are drawn.  You can always leave me comments at the end of the entry.