Gayle Brennan Spencer – sending random thoughts to and from South Austin
At right: Arbor Day first-day cover illustrating the immensity of the landmark Montezuma cypress tree in Santa Maria de Tule, six miles outside of Oaxaca, in the collection of Museo del Filatelia de Oaxaca
Having cast my ballot, I need a break from the news to reflect on anything but the election. So I’m offering both you and me a pictorial distraction from a trip earlier this year to Oaxaca.
Continue reading “Postcard from Oaxaca, Mexico: Reflections of vivid colors and fluttering flags”
Above: Museo Antonio Pasqualino Internazionale delle Marionette
Opera dei Pupi, a traditional form of Sicilian puppet theater originally focused on tales of the Crusades and French knights, was on the verge of disappearing when it attracted the interest of surgeon Antonio Pasqualino. He set about collecting everything he could related to the art and sparked the interest of others with the 1965 founding of the Association for the Conservation of Folk Traditions. A decade later, the association established the International Puppet Museum, naming it in memory of Pasqualino following his 1995 death.
The collection has become international in scope and is far from stagnant. The museum fosters cultural exchanges by hosting an international festival annually, nurturing contemporary artists and staging performances for all ages. We were surprised to witness a group of 11- and 12-year-olds howling at every punchline delivered in a dated traditional show.
Continue reading “Postcard from Palermo, Sicily: Marionettes and mummies”
Postcards from Barton Springs 