Family Name

These tiles came from Venezuela. When I purchased them I didn't notice that the blue paint on the "S" was a different shade than the others. I think over time the difference has become a bit more obvious but I still like them and have them hanging in my entryway.

Friends

Today I spent most of the afternoon with my friends Neil & Jeanie Rendall. We first met 30 yrs. ago at the Instituto de Lengua Española in Costa Rica. 

What a year we had studying together, going on excursions together and becoming lifelong friends. They returned to the US and I went on to Venezuela. That year of studying Spanish was part of their training as they moved into Multi-Ethnic Ministry with InterVarsity. Neil & Jeanie retire from IV next month and are here in IL for the 9th annual on 
Indigenous Mission and Theology sponsored by the North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies (NAIITS) symposium.

Mirror

I picked up this mirror in Venezuela. I was intrigued by the bird design. I think I found it in an outdoor market.

What is it?

This is a Cassava squeezer made of a woven basket-like sleeve. It was made in Venezuela by indigenous people. Bitter cassava needs to be properly prepared to get rid of poisonous toxins before it can be eaten. The cassava (manioc) root is grated, washed, squeezed and dried. The resulting flour can be made into a hard flat bread.

Coffee

I love coffee and coffee makers. A quick count around my kitchen uncovered at least eight. Only three are electric. The coffee pot pictured here is a traditional one from Venezuela. Currently I also have coffee from some of the countries that I have visited; France, Guatemala, Philippines, and Argentina.

String Art

A colorful parrot that I found 20+ years ago while living in Venezuela. As a geometry teacher I was intrigued by the preciseness of the work.

Kitchen

Here's a replica of a traditional Venezuelan kitchen depicting a rural setting of bygone days. Notice the wood burning stove and the colorful pet parrot in the upper right corner.

Another Nativity

December 26, 2011

A 1/2 hour after midnight I realized I'd forgotten to take a photo. So this is the make-up picture.

Broken Bow

This nativity has a story. It was given to me in 1991 by my friend Roxy Schlonecker. It comes from the studio Loma Roja in La Costa, Quibor, Estado Lara, Venezuela. Somehow the nativity fell and the arms of the violin player and his bow broke off. The arms could be glued back in place but the bow shattered. Roxy went to colleague Dallas Engel, a gifted woodworker and he crafted a bow out of wood. I love this nativity both for it's artistic detail but also because it came from Roxy and was repaired so beautifully by Dallas.

See http://wyser-photos.blogspot.com/2011/10/church.html for a link to more info about the artist.

Nacimiento

I purchased this nativity on a visit to Loma Roja the studio and home of world renowned artist Miguel Ángel Peraza of Quibor, Venezuela. It's one of my favorites.

See http://wyser-photos.blogspot.com/2011/10/church.html for more info about the artist.

Pesebre

This is a nativity set that I found in Mexico City a few years back on one of my annual Christmas shopping vacations. 

In the background are some typical houses from Venezuela.

Bodega

A bodega is Venezuela's version of a convenience store. Many are set up inside the family garage. This one depicts the historic, more traditional ones of years gone by, with stucco walls and a clay tile roof. They can still be found in out-of-the-way rural villages.

Painting

This painting is of Los Aleros, Venezuela, a rural colonial town in the mountains near Merida that was "restored" in the 1980's as a living history destination.

The brown paint is actually tobacco.

Canoe

October 27, 2011*

Another ceramic piece from Venezuela. 

*Photo taken 10/27/2011 but not posted until 10/28/2011 because of an internet outage.

Bus

Another ceramic from Venezuela. These buses are an adventure.

Ceramic house

Here's another piece by ceramist Miguel Angel Peraza from Venezuela. This is a traditional farmhouse from the rural area of the country. I just love the porches on these homes.

Church

October 18, 2011*

It was dark when I left the office so I had to find an indoor subject to photograph. Here is a ceramic church made in Quibor, Venezuela. To get to Loma Roja, ceramist Miguel Ángel Peraza's home and studio you sometimes drove up a dry stream bed. I have seven or eight other buildings by this same artist that make up a "village."

http://miguelperaza-lomaroja.blogspot.com/2008/11/un-miguel-ngel-soador-de-casas.html

* The photo was taken October 18 but did not get posted until Oct 19 because my internet connection was down.

Bus

This ceramic bus depicts many of the buses in Venezuela. I was experimenting with my new (to me) DSLR camera and liked this picture. Enjoy. 

Chimes

These tera cotta chimes hang in my diningroom. I purchased them almost 20 years ago in Venezuela. The saleswoman offered to wrap them for me so they could be brought to the US without damage. She did a fantastic job, using newspaper and they arrived safely. I've been enjoying them ever since.