Barcelona!

I heart El Xampanyet












































































































































































































































The best part of a journey is the people you meet along the way. And the food.

Photo above is brunch at PICNIC

kisses from Punta!

“Give me silence, water, hope..." Pablo Neruda

And you are..?

In this photo: Charly García


The other day I found myself buying the biography of Miley Cyrus for my 9 year old daughter. When reading through it, I found this part interesting: "I'm left handed by birth, and although so is my father, he is absolutely convinced that I am right-handed. I think it's because he’s always said that lefties have to 'learn the world upside down' and more than once he has had a hard time finding a left-handed guitar. Anyway, Dad made me use my right hand and it worked. For the rest of the things in life, I'm left handed, but I write with the right."

This got me thinking cause I am also left handed and I often encounter obstacles that remind me of that. I write with my left hand, use my right hand to play golf, right foot to kick a ball and I’m not too sure what I use to play the piano but the fact is that I have too much strength in my left hand which requires special attention when it comes to playing the piano. In dance class, the teacher always says I have to first stretch the right leg or right arm. When I there’s a queue I stand on the left and always end up watching everyone pass before me... same thing in the underground.

If you're right handed, you use the left hemisphere in the process of action. If you're a lefty you use the right hemisphere. The left hemisphere is the center of operations relating to language, writing, logic and mathematics. The right hemisphere is associated with music, art, creativity, spatial perception, genius, imagination and emotional experiences.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Napoleon Bonaparte, Marilyn Monroe, Pablo Picasso, Woody Allen, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Nicole Kidman, to name a few, are all lefties.

Argentinian rock star, Charly Garcia once said, "Had I been born thousands of years ago, they would have thrown rocks at me cause I'm a lefty and I have a half-white mustache ...I just learned to use the flaws as virtues;” Seriously, there is nothing wrong with being left-handed.

David Bowie commented, "There was a time when left-handedness was frowned upon in Great Britain. And that made me isolate from the others. So I think that has been one of the signs with which I will evaluate my journey through life. 'Okay, mother fu… errs I'm not like you, so I will try to be better than you "

Having the right hemisphere more developed does make us different… That’s a good thing. To be different, I mean.


Post by: Valeria Mendez Cañás

Occupy Antarctica

Have a fantastic week!!

Courtesy Michael Simonds

Malnatti

This is an interview to Daniel Malnatti, an Argentinian journalist I read in La Nacion, feel free to share your thoughts.


I read on the internet that as a child you wanted to be a priest, is that right?

-Yes, I am a believer. I have a natural tendency to believe. I need to believe. As a teenager I wanted to be a priest. Then I believed in justice and became a lawyer. Now I’m in a world of beliefs which is a bit more complex, a private religion called neurosis.

Private-Why?

-Because everyone adapts it to his or her own life. You have the person who walks without stepping on the lines of the sidewalk tiles to the perfectionist who stays up working all night.

And you are…?

-I prefer not to answer.

Well ... we're all a little neurotic.

-Yes, 94.9% of Argentina's population is structured with a neurotic personality


Aha. This data is very accurate...?

-It is. This is official data of the Psychoanalytic Association of Argentina and the Artemio Lopez consultants, who are the only ones authorized to speak.

How is this picture completed?

The other 5% of the population shows decidedly psychotic features. And it is precisely this equation that makes the production and GDP remain high.


Reviewing: the neurotic 94.9%, 5% psychotic, and the remaining 0.1%?

-Schizophrenic. People who question and answer themselves.

Revealing

lol!

How beautiful is that action that produces a strange and invigorating reaction in your entire body? A reaction that is physical, psychological and chemical at the same time and that changes the way you feel? "Laughter is a funny sound but when I laugh it’s a great feeling. " - Billy Crystal.

Statistics from a recent study show that children laugh about 300 times a day while adults only laugh about 10 to 15 times a day. This result is a bit worrying, no? I relate laughter with how well we are, ourselves.

When you laugh, according to Freud, the ego seeks to find pleasure and refuses to accept suffering that comes from the outside world.

According to Victor Frankl “Humor can provide the necessary distance to overcome any situation, even for a few seconds. “Attempts of developing a sense of humor, to see things in a humorous light are a trick I learned while we mastered the art of living, for, even in a concentration camp, it is possible to master the art of living ". - VF

Laughter is a privilege that men do not share with any other species, it seems; it is possibly the last thing to be lost. Once, a man was sentenced to death in Texas and as they were about to sit him in the electric chair someone asked him if he wanted a cigarette. He replied: 'No thanks, I'm trying to quit smoking' ... #okay

Laughter is cathartic, like dancing, it produces a break in the situations, it is pure profit. Laughter changes the look that you have on the self, raises self-esteem, develops hope, stimulates creativity, makes you younger, healthier and improves your relationships with others.

So ... why not laugh more and take things a little less seriously!

In this photo: Mich and Julia

madness

When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body. No... don't blush. I am telling you some truths. For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away... (Iannis to Pelagia)


From Captain Corelli's Mandolin Film directed by John Madden and based on the novel of the same name by Louis de Bernières

Film @ Malba

Malba Museum, Buenos Aires.


A film is an art form based on the present. It’s also an experience that we are unable to process 100%. A good film has the virtue of making us think. It contains stories, poetry and images that we can often relate to. This is what the critics that organize the Simultaneous Film Festival 4 + 1 say.

The idea of this festival is original. The project consists of presenting the same films simultaneously, in different countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Spain. The idea is to approach the audience with these amateur films that have been awarded but have not had enough diffusion.

For the curious minds interested in good films- regardless of their popularity - head to Malba from October 26th to 30th.

Buenos Aires Jazz

Jazz is to Americans what tango is to Argentinians (uhm… or some say its country music?)

Jazz was born in New Orleans (that’s right, not Chicago, not NYC) just as tango was born on the banks of the Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires. Like tango, Jazz is also a product of diversity. New Orleans was French, then it was Spanish, then it went back to being French until it finally became American (although, you know what they say in Nola: “third world and proud of it”). Anyone who has been there, has probably noticed how different NOLA is from the rest of the US. In many ways, it's more like Argentina.

New Orleans Jazz was created by immigrants from Africa who met to sing religious hymns, but in the process, their voices started to merge generating different harmonies. Thus, variations on these melodies came to life.

While European music requires careful listening and who interprets it must remain faithful to the score - even in the execution of the expression, in jazz, there is a kind of game. Musicians follow certain rules, but mostly improvise and put their own vibe into the music.

To those who are eager to expose their ears to the sharpness of this genre and also those who simply want to enjoy the pleasure of hearing this music without much thinking, we invite you to the Fourth Edition of the Festival de Jazz de Buenos Aires. Advance ticket sale starts today, while concerts start the following week.

Enjoy!

Punta del Este Food & Wine

José Ignacio, Uruguay.


Since last year, Punta del Este is part of the world’s circuit of haute cuisine: next month, a weekend with 5 unique events will take place, where chefs from the United States, Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay will present their best dishes with the finest Wines of Uruguay.

Based on the success of the first edition, for the 2011 edition, the Festival will be in November again, the perfect excuse to visit Punta del Este in this exceptional time of year.

Opening day: November 11, 2011 Their message: “Escape to the best flavors of the world”

Ok, I’m there. I just booked my flight :-)

Have a nice weekend!!

Buenos Aires Photo 2011

If you love photography, this month, don't miss Buenos Aires Photo. It's an opportunity to check out some of the best photography in Latin America and the world. The exhibition will take place from October 27- 30; hosted by Palais de Glace in Recoleta.

Photos kindly provided by: Gachi Prieto Gallery & Elisi del Rio Arte Contemporáneo - stand 19 - featuring works by Carolina Magnin, Gaby Messina, Lena Szankay, Arturo Aguiar, Daniel Kiblisky and Simón Altkorn.

Enjoy! xo

October

The course of true love never did run smooth.
- William Shakespeare

happy friday!

Visual Arts Prize

One way for Argentinian artists to become known is to win the Visual Arts prize that the Salon Nacional awards each year in any of its 8 categories (painting, etching, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramic arts, textile arts and installations).

Salon Nacional was founded in 1911, with the idea of fostering Argentinian artistic development and this is what they've done for the last 100 years. Salon Nacional has always been recognized as a very important space where pieces of art are legitimated and aesthetic parameters are set.

Only a few days remain before the exhibition of the works of this years winners are taken down (October 16), if you have time, it is worth a visit.

Where? At the Palais de Glace, Libertador Avenue 1248.

Enjoy!

living it up

Photo: "hot springs" by Ryan McGinley



The concept of a bon vivant is associated with the idea of leading a good life, to live well. But what is to live well?

The other day I read an article on LNR where they talked about the good life with Argentinian chef, Mallmann.

For some, the concept of a bon vivant is overly idealized. It means having a life of luxury, 5 star travels, eating at expensive restaurants, buying big brands, a socially important status and collecting art.

For me, that sounds about right, but I also think a good life is related to living life with passion and intensity. To find the beauty in whatever you do. Whether it’s appreciating a painting, feeling the music with your eyes closed, reading, enjoying a good meal, the smell a flower, dancing, visiting a new place, laughing with a friend, reaching a goal and celebrating the love you receive and that you give every day.

That's also happiness.

In this article that I read, Mallman said something that I'd like to share:

A bon vivant "is a person who tries to live romantically, a person who likes to live each day the best way possible. It has to do with your mood, with who you are, with the time of the year, the clothes you like to wear, where you go, what you eat...”

When I was writing this post, I also ran into this definition: "a bon vivant is someone who can say, I live very well, my children are alright, I am not the richest but I can still do pretty much everything that I want to do; I have a partner who has always loved me and who I love and have fun with, I have achieved most of my goals and I'm satisfied"

Finally, I leave you with the definition that Coco Chanel gave when they asked her: "what is fashion?"

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

Well said Coco! I love this definition of fashion and I find that it has much to do with the concept of a bon vivant. But more importantly, what is it to you?

Enjoy today!




Post by: Valeria Mendez Cañas

Happy Mother's day!

Although as a grown up, I don't spend as much time with my mother as I'd like to, I do have the best time ever when we are together. We love to travel, spend long hours at cafés, just talking about life and catching up, going shopping, going to the movies, going to see a play; to the beach.

I could write a book about my mother; But I'll try and be short. I feel that today is a day to be thankful. I am thankful for the mother that I have and for all the things that she taught me: the importance of family and friends; being true to myself and always following my star. I also have her to thank for my love of art - I remember growing up, our homes were always filled with art, books, flowers, music and often a beautiful smell of food.

Aside from the fact that my mother is a great cook, what I love the most is how she has always insisted that having a meal was a moment to be enjoyed. It was a moment of sharing, the family moment. I always think about that, and how I will try and reproduce that moment when I become a mother. I remember it so vividly. I think it's fair to say that I don't cook as well as she does!! but it's the idea behind that memory that warms my heart.

From her I also learned a great deal about generosity and compassion. She has made it a point in her life to not only be a loving mother and a wonderful wife and friend to my father, but also a loving, caring person. She has always cared for those less fortunate and gone to great lengths to help anyone who is in need.
Her love is unconditional and strong;
When asked what do you do? She (even today) has always said: “I am a mother" and... "a grandmother of 4" she adds now...
Happy mothers' day, mom. I love you.

Plato's cavern

I'm reading Laurent Gounelle's "I Will Not Leave Without Telling You Where I go" and have come across a few passages that deal with something that we sometimes resist: change. The translation is mine because the version I'm reading is in Spanish.

"Today a lot of people live in Plato's Cavern without even realizing it. They are afraid of what is unknown to them and reject any sort of change that affects them personally. They have ideas, projects, dreams but they do not fulfill them because they are often paralyzed by fear. Their feet and hands are held by handcuffs to which they only have the key to unlock. Keys hang in their neck but they never take them.

Life itself is made up of continuous change. It would not make any sense to hang on to the status quo. Only the dead remain still. We not only have to accept change, we also have to start it in order to be able to evolve in the sense that is most convenient to us.

[...] Resistance to change is what makes adults and children differ. Children feel like evolving while adults often do everything they can not to. (perhaps not at a conscious level)
When we no longer feel like evolving, we start to die very slowly...

[...] If you want to be young all your life, continue evolving, learning, discovering, don't lock yourself up in habit that makes your mind get stuck nor in the comfort of what is already known to you because before you know it you could become numb."

Plato's Allegory of the Cave remains a powerful metaphor for understanding the limitations of human perception and the transformative journey towards true knowledge and enlightenment. 

Remember that destiny is also an excuse for not making things happen. You create.

closed doors and open hearts

Almacén Secreto



A few years ago closed- door restaurants began to open in Buenos Aires.

Young chefs began to open the doors of their houses with the idea of treating guests with a delicious home-made meal, sharing nice conversation and allowing people to interact with people they don’t know. Sometimes, guests can also enjoy wine tasting, acoustic music shows and art exhibitions before, during or after dinner.

The first one we went to is Casa Saltshaker. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. There were just two or three tables, so it was a nice opportunity to meet and chat with strangers from other places. We shared a table with a couple from Chicago and had a very nice time chatting with them.

These closed door restaurants are accessed by recommendation, naturally.

The proposals are varied. Some open weekends only and others on weekdays. Reservations are required.

If you have not been to one these closed- door restaurants yet, here is a list we put together.

Treinta Sillas
Freire y F. Lacroze, Belgrano.
15-4492-7046

Diego Felix. They like to experiment with exotic flavors, spices and Latin-American scents.
4555-1882

La Cocina Discreta
4772-3803
15-6571-1002

Casa SaltShaker

Almacen Secreto. North West, Argentina cuisine.
Aguirre 1242, Villa Crespo.
4854-9131

Caracoles para Da Vinci
Hidalgo 878, Villa Crespo
15-5526-6918

Casa Coupage. Haute Argentinian Cuisine
Soler 5518, Colegiales.
4777-9295



Enjoy!! xo

routes

"If there were dreams to sell, what would you buy?"
- Thomas Lovell Beddoes

it's complicated

Argentine singer, Andrés Calamaro, wrote this song called "One can't live just from love"


I bought this great book by Walter Riso "A Guide to Avoid Dying from Love. Ten Principles of Emotional Survival". I found it tough yet excellent. A short and perhaps interesting read for those who say you can work out relationship- related problems on your own and that getting psychological help has never crossed your mind.

I may be wrong, but I checked and did not find a version of this book in English, so I’m quoting some interesting points I found. I hope it helps those who are looking for a relationship, those who are already in one and all you love birds who may be thinking of ways of making your love life even better.

"Feelings do not cover everything in a relationship. Specialists say that 'Love isn't enough' and they may be right. Our choice of a couple should be more thought out and less visceral: "I like a lot of things in you, I want you, but I am still not sure weather you fit in my life or not, even though my body and my being push me towards you in a confusing way'. I am sorry for love fans but for people who live in an earthly world and have not transcended yet, love isn't usually that unconditional (the amount of deserters in the subject gets bigger every day) nor it moves mountains, if you don't pay enough attention to it, if you don't know how to handle it, it crushes you, it overwhelms you.

You should put your enthusiasm aside for a moment, before making a blind decision and connect to a more controlled processing system (I am saying you can stop being so hippomaniac or in love for a few moments, you can try to relax voluntarily). Once you have arrived back on earth, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages, pros, cons and expectations and try to see reality as it is (not blinded by love). This, will allow you to, in the future, be able to integrate feelings, reality and emotions and to realize when one is missing or excessively present.

Functional and healthy couples love freely (they are able to use their own time however they please), in a non possessive way (no one belongs to the other) and without the need for the other to be present at all times (they can be on their own, do their own thing). If you are capable of deciding about your own timing, if you don't feel you are 'owned' by someone and at the same time you feel you can walk through life on your own, you have entered the grounds of mature love.

A good relationship requires at least three factors to work at the same time: desire / attraction; friendship and tenderness. If your relationship is lacking one of those components, it could be going down hill. Analyze them and make your own decisions.

The following, is a phrase by Stendahl that has always caused a great impact on me because of its beauty and realism: 'Love is a very beautiful flower but you have to have the courage to go look for it at the edge of an abyss.'

In love you sweat, you fight, you make up, you create day by day. If you are a very romantic person, you will have a minimal resistance to the hardships love brings.

Some think that love causes suffering, others are naïf enough to believe in the ingenuity of romantic love. Realistic love, however, may be half way between those two poles. Love, in a relationship, isn't always a fairy tale though some insist on calling it that. It brings good and bad times, you will have to learn to deal with.

If behaviors and negative attitudes go over the limit, you will have to jump; if there is respect within what is acceptable and feelings are sponsored by solid love, you go on in your relationship. Love grows and develops.




Post by: Valeria Méndez Cañas

sunset

Contrary to popular belief, Punta del Este is so beautiful during spring time. Of course, although just a hop away from Buenos Aires, the weather in Punta is sometimes drastically different than here. Like most beach towns, you have that sea-breeze and freshness that you don't have in the city which is much warmer and less windy. Yes. Sometimes, the wind in Punta is a pain, but you can still do pretty much anything you want...

So I thought I’d share with you what I like to do when it's not summer and I can't go to the beach and be a beach bum all day. I consider myself a beach person. I’ve always loved the beach. My mum lived in Hawaii for a very long time, and to me, that was bliss. Just going there and staying with her for months at a time. That is when I started to surf. I became one of "them" lol.

Anyway, when it's cold in Punta, I like to SLEEP. This time around, I was asked: "how can you sleep so much". I can always sleep "much" but when I'm by the ocean and all you can hear is the roaring, hypnotizing sound of the waves and birds, how can you possibly not sleep so much? So I'll sleep like 10 hours or 12. I get up late and I have a good breakfast (something I don't do in ba) I’ll go for a morning walk on the beach or play tennis (which for a person who is not so good, like me, demands an enormous effort - cause of the wind, I mean). Then, a nice home-cooked lunch or maybe go to a yummy place such as Fasano (which opens all year round), La Huella or the Yatch Club, which is also fun. Usually, if we do go out for lunch, we'll run into friends. You would be amazed how many people go there all year round. Years ago, this was a summer destination only (from December to March). That has changed.

After lunch, I'll read a book and listen to music, chill for a while. In the afternoon I like to go for a swim (indoor pool, I'm not crazy, but you do see people going for a swim at the beach). How do they do it? I'll swim for about half an hour, relax, and maybe swim a little more. Other afternoon options are riding horses, biking, visiting friends, spa treatments or visiting the small art galleries and shops. There is this one book store (it's in the peninsula, actually) that I love. It's called El Virrey. I can spend hours in there. Boutiques are also nice to visit. I've seen some new ones popping up lately and they have some very cool stuff. Wool sweaters in Uruguay are the best.

At night, we’ll have friends over for dinner or go out. This time we did a little bit of everything cause some friends from Villa la Angostura were in Punta also, so it was nice to have them and other friends over for dinner and drinks. Spending time with friends is my favorite part.

Hope you have a chance to visit Punta whether it’s during the summer, or anytime. It’s a truly beautiful town with a special energy that will make you feel GOOD.

Do you often take mini-breaks? what do you like to do? what relaxes you?



Photo: Punta sunset by Mich

So, where's the wine?

Exquisite restaurants in Buenos Aires are plentiful and though beef is the most popular dish, the city has been diversifying it's culinary options for years. With new restaurants popping up everywhere, one has a hard time deciding where to go. Some restaurants are hip, some are classics, some are innovative, romantic, exotic, etc. so, in the end it's all about your mood for that day.

Whether it’s Italian, Mediterranean, Peruvian, Vietnamese or French that you fancy, there is a place to satisfy your whims. But, every now and then, you may also ask yourself: where's the wine?

Many restaurants in Buenos Aires have a short, basic wine list as they are given a selection of wines by specific bodegas so that they "promote" them to their customers. This way, people get to taste and learn about these wines. For the bodegas, having their products in restaurants is indeed a good way for their wines to get out there and it also works well for restaurants, as they have a good selection of wines for their customers provided by the bodegas at a good price (if not for free).

However, some restaurants take their wine selection quite seriously and make a constant effort to actively search for the best wines available in Argentina and the world to include in their cavas.

Below are some examples that we think you'll enjoy:


Sottovoce
Sober and plain atmosphere. An interesting variety of pasta and the best wines to go with your meal.
Address: Libertador 1098, Recoleta, Buenos Aires..

El Mirasol
Classic, with a history of satisfying even the most demanding palates. Their wine list is long and fantastic. If you like Malbec, Catena Zapata Estiba Reservada (1996) is possibly the best wine you'll ever try! It's vintage, so obviously the price is on the high side. Our favorite waiter is: Franklin. Hi Franklin!
Address: Posadas 1032, Recoleta,. Buenos Aires.

Danzon
Modern industrial wine bar with flowers and candles everywhere; Danzón was the first winery in the city. Possibly one of the best wine lists in all of Buenos Aires.
Address: Libertad 1161, Recoleta, Buenos Aires.

Oviedo
Delicious food and wine. This place has only one thing in mind and that is to blow your mind- grilled meats, fresh fish, roasted lamb, risotto, among other exquisite preparations here are hard to equal. Their wine list is outstanding. Try the Achaval Ferrer Quimera 2006.
Address: Beruti 2601, Barrio Norte, Buenos Aires.

These recommendations are only a small portion of the many choices awaiting wine lovers in Buenos Aires. Tell us which ones you like or if there are any that you'd like for us to include in our list.

Enjoy

almost spring

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver,
The Summer Day


Photo: Kukla

Tomas Nessi

Tomás Nessi, will be giving a piano recital for Mozarteum Argentino, at Teatro Gran Rex on September 21. The program will include works of Frédéric Chopin and Sergei Prokofiev. Tickets are free and can be requested at the theater's box office a few hours before the show.

It's a curious thing the music this Spring brings us. Tomás won the 2009 Biennale Youth Contest, so it's interesting that this year right after watching him, we get to listen to the winner of this year's edition. How lucky!

Tomas' resume is long for his age: 20. He started his formal studies in La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires, at the age of 9 but he first approached piano at 5.

He has given recitals in La Plata, in various concerts halls in the city of Buenos Aires and also throughout different provinces of Argentina.

He has performed solo with the Chamber Orchestra of the City of La Plata, Academic Camerata of the Teatro Argentino de La Plata and Symphony Orchestra of the Argentinian Public Television, under the direction of Roberto Ruiz, Carlos Sampedro, Bernardo Teruggi and Marcelo Zurlo.

In 2004, he won third prize in the First National Contest for Young Players organized by Radio Nacional and Temporada Allegretto in Argentina.

In 2005, he won second prize in the contest "Constructing Peace and Unity", organized by Northlands School and Asociación Música Viva.

In 2006, he got first prize at the "Alberto Ginastera" National Piano Contest, organized by Scala de San Telmo and the International Contemporary Music Encounters Foundation. This allowed him to offer a recital in the International Festival of Contemporary Music directed by composer Alicia Terzian in 2008.

In 2009, he won the Shell-Festivales Musicales Biennale Contest for Young Talents, and later toured some provinces of Argentina and recorded a CD along with the winner of the Singing and Chamber Music categories.

In 2010, he won three scholarships that allowed him to keep expanding his talent: Fondo Nacional de las Artes', Mozarteum Argentino and Instituto Cultural de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.

In 2011, a German Academic Exchange Service granted him a scholarship to continue studying at La Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, Colonia Germany.

We hope you enjoy this program and this musical month in Buenos Aires.

Exhibition: Carlos Paez Vilaro

The works of Uruguayan artist, Carlos Paez Vilaro, are on view at the Museum of Tigre this month.

Paez Vilaro is not just a painter, he has used and related to art in every way he thought imaginable. He has worked on murals, ceramics, sculpting, etching, collage and photography, he has researched Afro-Uruguayan culture and music for years; plays a percussion instrument called tamboril to the beat of "candombe" (popular music in Uruguay that has its roots in Africa), he has written "candombe" lyrics, poems and published several books.

At the age of 6 he got interested in art, he drew pictures he sent to children's art contests in Buenos Aires. Always feeling attracted to Buenos Aires, as a teenager he crossed the river that divides both countries and came to work. He got a job sticking the heads of matches at a factory and lived in a rented room in a hotel for people with low incomes, similar to a "conventillo". There, he discovered his passion for immigrants and the way their cultures mixed with ours. He liked music and dances which he attended in order to draw pictures of the couples in the dance floor.

The way he has lived through art is surprising. He has exchanged his work in order to pay for many of his expenses. Painting is what made him feel like doing things in life, it opened many doors for him: the door to the world and the door to meeting interesting people and making friends.

He took architecture to new limits when he built his iconic paradise in Punta Ballena, Uruguay: "Casa Pueblo", located on a bay, overlooking the sea, made of curvy lines in immaculate white. The idea of "conventillos" inspired his creation of this place. It has a museum, an atelier and a hotel.



















His second version of Casa Pueblo was constructed in Tigre, Buenos Aires, his home in Argentina. He discovered the place by chance while on a walk with his wife on the banks of the river.

Maybe it’s thanks to art that Carlos Paez Vilaro found unimaginable strength that kept his hope alive in the most adverse situation. In 1972, the plane that took his son, Carlitos to a rugby tournament in Santiago de Chile, fell in the Andes mountains. A small group survived 72 days in the snowed peaks of the Andes. Paez Vilaro travelled to Chile along with other relatives to support the search of the plane and possible survivors. When the search officially concluded and there was no more hope left, he continued looking. When relatives began to return to Uruguay, he stayed and continued to hope. People thought he was crazy.



















When he was finally boarding his plane home, he heard the crew talking to the airport Police that had come looking for him. A shepherd had seen two young men in the mountains. Carlos ran to a taxi and told the driver he had no money. The taxi driver placed his wallet on his knee and said: "take what you need". His son was alive: " I had whistled behind the Andes to let Carlitos know I was there, while the moon was looking at me from the sky".



















We hope you have a chance to see the heartfelt work of this artist and to visit Casa Pueblo in Punta del Este, Uruguay.



Post by: Valeria Peimer

Almost perfect

There are certain things that happen every day that prevent our country from being as good as it could be. You would easily notice these things if you visited.

People are always complaining for varied reasons. Protests are a common reaction to some sort of unjust treatment, some injustice. There is a contrast between people that accept and respect rules and those that don't. This is generally a reason for
arguments. In situations where you would expect to get a mature response from a citizen you receive the opposite.

For example, people here like to cut in line (at an airport, bus line, store, bank, etc.). Some will take your parking space even if you were there first. People will even take parking spaces reserved for pregnant women or handicapped individuals. When you stop at a red light or if you’re traveling in public transportation, you often get approached by people claiming to belong to an institution asking you to make a contribution. Sometimes they give a pretty good speech and convince you; even if they don’t, you somehow end up giving them money.

We’ve already covered the issue of disobeying traffic rules. It’s a classic.
Most of the time, you can get away with almost anything. If by some remote chance you do get stopped while doing something wrong when you’re driving, you will either be "invited" to bribe the police officer in order to avoid getting a ticket or get away with some lame excuse.

If you park your car on the street, you will be approached by "cuida coches" (unofficial car keepers) and be told to pay an arbitrary amount of money for a service that you have not requested (the service of looking after your car). Most of us will pay, as we care for our car and don’t want an angry car keeper taking out his anger on it, do we? If you don’t pay, you may find a scratch on your door, usually done with a key, pen or sharp object. Although illegal, no one is there to keep these people from doing this.

A typical way of protesting about an issue is to block streets and freeways (this method is also used by unions and student groups) and to make noise with their "bombos" (a local percussion instrument). Does this attitude solve anything? Do they think about the people that are stuck in the riot? Does it occur to them that these people could be late to work? Protesters would answer: "who cares!" and go on making more noise or, why not, burning a few tires.

This is pretty much a portrait of daily life in Argentina. Why could this be?

When Argentina started out as a nation in the 1800's, our leaders had clear
ideas, they wanted to become a modern, developed nation. Argentina had
a democratic government and democracy allowed an open debate on
important issues in a professional way. Democracy had made everyone more tolerant.

In the 1800's, it was thought that education, hard work and patience were
the way towards developing personally and as a Nation.

In the 1900's the government's capacity to exchange ideas deteriorated throughout all the different governments Argentina had – Conservative, Radical, Peronist, Military. Many leaders chose friendship, family ties and political loyalty instead of merit to fill government jobs. These decisions, among many others, took a toll and hindered the country’s true potential. These decisions drifted Argentines away from their road towards sustainable progress and order and put them on their way towards laziness, chaos and a desire for instant gratification. It is now that matters, and by being clever, we can achieve what we want, even if the means to achieve it it are not entirely right.

We call that "viveza criolla", the unofficial daughter of intelligence, it has
little to do with effort and a lot to do with individualism.

In a mature society that works well, institutions function as they should, jobs are
assigned to the people that are most qualified for them, values exist and
are respected, ideas are put into practice and education is highly valued.

Felix Luna, a famous Argentine historian once said he was unwilling to
write about certain topics in Argentinian history because it made him feel
ashamed. We have many virtues as a country. We are blessed in so many ways.

I wish we would just wake up and change our least appealing features for good.



Post by Valeria Mendez Cañas
Photo: Buenos Aires, 1920.

Roads and Flavors

Next week, people, traditions, places and products from all over Argentina will gather at La Rural to display their products as a way of showing the true meaning of identity.

This year, joining the food fair, we will also find crafts and tourism stands from several provinces.

For five days, food, wine and routes from all regions of Argentina will be in one place.

Hand in hand with more than 400 farmers and craftsmen the whole country will have the opportunity to discover itself. Organized by Fairs & Exhibitions for the seventh consecutive year, Caminos y Sabores (Roads and Flavors) establishes a channel with no intermediaries between the producer and consumer.

Sponsored by the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI), Export.Ar Foundation, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and the Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Roads and flavors is not just an opportunity to taste typical local products of the country but also a good way to understand the processes of local producers. It’s an invitation to explore a myriad of Argentinian culinary and sensory experiences, where the relationship between producers, environment and community is key in achieving outstanding quality.

Roads and flavors market is an opportunity to buy a wide range of products directly from each province and people of Argentina. The fair is an invitation to learn about the products we consume and how our choice of food can support local economies and small families. The link between producers and consumers acquires a new dynamic and allows closer ties.

Roads and flavors 2011 is simply an appointment with the roots of Argentinian identity, the scope for regional economies and a path to strengthen small producers. There are foods, drinks, crafts and special areas for the promotion of tourist destinations and festivals.

The fair offers a business model that seeks to promote family and local production of each region. Caminos y Sabores wishes to create awareness of the value that small businesses have in all provinces of Argentina. There are no middlemen, so most of the percentage of sales go directly to the artisans and producers.



From 14 to September 18 at La Rural

Iberá Marshlands, Corrientes, Argentina

Spring at Rincón del Socorro


















Little creatures

This week, I had the pleasure of meeting someone from Rincon del Socorro. Thanks to his kindness I've got this little secret to share with you. I'm thinking about going soon, so I'll tell you more once I have been there. For now, I leave you with these gorgeous images and information so that you can also plan on visiting this wildlife paradise at some point.



















There are few regions in Argentina that can compare to the richness and diversity of species that are found in the Esteros del Iberá.

In the last twenty-five years biologists are beginning to understand the importance of this vast fresh-water system to the biological community of Latin America.

Rincón del Socorro is a 12,000-hectare (29,700 acres) former cattle ranch on the edge of the Iberá wetlands in Northeastern Argentina that has been made into a nature reserve. Rincón del Socorro has a small, refined eco-lodge in the ranch.

Meals are predominantly prepared with organic fruit and vegetables, most from their kitchen garden. Meat is all free-range. Fine organic cuisine and the Argentine barbecue tradition as well as grilled vegetables, good Argentine wines, homemade breads and special deserts ensure a pleasant culinary experience at the lodge. When the weather is good, lunch and dinner can be served outdoors.

There is a range of activities dependent on the interest, energy and time of each guest. Rincon del Socorro is ideal horseback riding country and visitors can easily see wildlife; such creatures as carpinchos, freshwater otters, alligators, marsh deer and with a little patience and good luck, one just might see the illusive Maned wolf, howler monkey or the sprocket deer.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this place as much as I did! xx


Special thanks to Estancia Rincon del Socorro for images and information.

men

Photo: Ricardo Darín for Etiqueta Negra


One of the reasons why I like Psychology is that after years of studying it and practicing, you develop this ability to stop, contemplate and start again; to alter reality in a way that is suitable to yourself. I realize not everyone can acquire these skills nor is courageous enough to face his or her own limitations, but what happens when one accepts reality as it comes, without questioning it?

Let's take the concept of manhood, for example, and examine it. Although roles have changed somewhat in Argentina, in the popular imaginary men are taught to act tough, to be like "machos".

Traditionally, boys are educated by their mothers. Although in modern times, fathers are more active when it comes to child care, most fathers continue to be busy working and trying to be successful while most mothers stay home. This shortage of contact between sons and fathers creates an emotional gap between them in which there is perhaps not enough room for bonding, for closeness. This is why, it is in childhood, that boys often develop difficulties in learning what relating to other men is like.

They turn to their mothers with whom they talk, share their problems, their successes and failures, their everyday life. Boys see their father's through their mother's eyes. Boys are taught to "be strong" and to "put up" with things. What later happens when these boys become men is that they want to overcome the pain this has caused them without really dealing with it.

Facing that pain means accepting and talking about their father's failures and also dealing with change.

We like the work of Guillermo Vilaseca, who has thought about some of these issues deeply and has developed a program for men. They meet to think about themselves, their masculine condition and their relationship with the world, their fathers, their sons, women and work.

Men are used to having power, being tough, feeling important, proud and sure of themselves. But things are changing and the world is moving to a more feminine, communicative, empathetic, intuitive style.

Some men are receptive to this change, they understand that it’s not always about power, strength, dominance, etc. Mr. Vilaseca's work, along with various studies in Psychology show that when distances in bonds are shorter, individuals are likely to better off in their relationships.



Post by: Valeria Mendez Cañas
Editor: Mich Cameron

you and i

Good, healthy love feels relaxed and comfortable. This does not mean there will not be differences or arguments. One can argue comfortably because there is respect, and when you are reaching a war zone you realize it is better to stop before you hurt your partner. You both know that it’s not a matter of winning or losing. It’s not a competition.

Communication, as we know, is one of the most important factors in a relationship. Being able to communicate and to pass on to your partner a message without interference is key in a healthy relationship. When there is love between two people who are responsible for their words or their acts, no one is afraid of being misunderstood and communication is clear, even when what is being said may be painful or irritating.

Good communication does not leave doubts or double meanings, and it never tries to get a speculative advantage of the other. Arguments are used in a positive way, arguments are used to build agreements.

In love, the other one is always on the same side of the street, although his or her thinking may be different because caring is what is most important in the relationship. As you see, true love is the one that has gone past the barriers of being in love and the narcissistic period of the relationship.

In love, there is happiness for the other's happiness. His or her own existence produces happiness; this is only possible with people who feel free, sure of themselves, independent and satisfied with their own lives.

People with the capacity to love are generous and thankful. They value their present and don't cry over what they never had or think they should have had. They have a great capacity to learn and a hopeful outlook on life.

In your opinion, what other points make a relationship healthy?


Patricia Faur - Estres conyugal, Ediciones B, Bs. As., 2011.

University of Buenos Aires.

The University of Buenos Aires today.

The University of Buenos Aires (UBA) was created between 1861 and 1873. The founders thought that education, science and technology were the keys to national progress and autonomy. This was the golden era of Argentina. Education was one of the government's top priorities, particularly, elementary school. The government provided free, public, non religious education and adapted school programs with the aim of facilitating
entrance to university.

Unfortunately, the evolution of public education has been parallel to that of Argentina itself. Education has become disorganized, politicized. Administrative jobs are assigned politically, budgets are permanently short and faculty strikes are common.





















There has been a lively public debate in recent years on how to change UBA
and improve its funding, but not much has been achieved. Because the university is free, chaotic and looks surreal, it remains a mystery how great minds come out of there. Here is a list of some of its students, researchers and graduates' recent achievements:

A team from the Law School won the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot
Court Competition, 2007-2008 edition.

In 2007 a doctor from the University of Buenos Aires won the L Oreal prize
for Unesco for Women in Science. A doctor in Physics, from the same
University had previously obtained it in 2003.

The Program for Climatic Change created by UBA researchers has been recognized worldwide and some of its members make up the Intergovernmental Panel for Climatic Change, project that contributed to making Al Gore win the Peace Nobel Price in 2007.

Dr. Mónica Pinto, President of Eudeba (UBA's publishing company), was awarded the National Order of Merit from the Embassy of France for her outstanding work in Public International Law.

2006 Konnex prizes to the best figures in Argentine humanities were awarded to 17 members of UBA, members of the faculty, researchers and graduates.

UBA research teams work on subjects such as biodiesel, nanotechnology, advances in breast cancer and climatic change.

UBA Graduates won prizes at the International Research Scholars (2007-2011), Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Prize Young Animal Scientist (2007).

A student from the School of Natural Sciences is the creator of Google Sky, a tool that lets you see images of the sky.

Going back in time, out of five Nobel Prize Winners that Argentina has, 4 graduated from the University of Buenos Aires and one from the National University of La Plata.

UBA, is another metaphor that well describes our country: so contradictory, so terrible, so marvelous.

Garabito

Ricardo Garabito "El Banquete" pencil, tempera and watercolor.
Courtesy Malba, Buenos Aires.


Ricardo Garabito's art is not frequently seen in Buenos Aires. He cannot exhibit his work every year because it takes him more than that to evolve. He is not the type of artist who would hang his work anywhere just to be "in" the artistic scene of Buenos Aires. It is only after working on numerous paintings that he feels he can choose the best ones and show them to the public. Born in 1930, he has exhibited his work only 11 times. That's why Malba's exhibition of his oil paintings, drawings and watercolors until August 29 is special.

Critics say he is a realist. He paints human figures and still life but uses color as the Fauvists did, chooses subject matters as the surrealists did, puts 3-d figures in 2-dimensional backgrounds and has a peculiar way of using light. Fitting him only into the category of realism would simply not be enough.

His topic is ordinary life. He depicts men, women, still life and a lot of plastic: bottles of bleach, bathroom cleaner, buckets, milk bottles and food cans. His most interesting characters fit into the category of "mersas", an Argentinism used in the 60's and 70's referring to people that did not take care of their own manners or personal appearance.

Some of his models have unfashionable hair cuts from neighborhood's beauty salons, men appear wearing white under t-shirts and women wear fashion items in their chubby bodies and in the most unfashionable way possible. Garabito's characters are anti heroes! His painting is ironic, borders on vulgarity and funny. He has seriously managed to laugh at the aesthetics of every day life.

Garabito studied painting for three years until his teacher - Horacio Butler - told him it was time to move on. He realized that if he was going to paint, he could not copy what other colleagues were doing in an attempt to fit in. He decided to be authentic, to be himself, and that, he achieved indeed.

On view at MALBA: Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415



Post by: Valeria Mendez Cañas.