My Blog group has set up a new challenge, with the theme
- “The little things that make me smile”
I could write a long post about this, describing how I
love to look at flowers, or a sparrow bathing in a pool, or a hummingbird going
about its business, or a cat lazing in the sun, or …
I could also describe how happy I feel when one of my
students finally “gets it”…!
Yes, but this blog is about Spanish America, so I will
have to be a rebel and change the wording somewhat.
Usually when thinking about my blog topic, images of
huge stone structures immediately come to mind, related to the Aztec, or the Maya,
or the Inca. Or maybe I will remember the enormous majesty of the Andes Mountains.
However, this vast area is also significant for other "SMALL
OBJECTS" and also some spectacular WILD LIFE, which I "ENJOY" very much.
So here we go!
ARTS AND CRAFTS IN SPANISH AMERICA: A SHORT LIST.
Since pre-Hispanic times, the inhabitants of the “other
America” have produced many examples of fine arts and crafts.
- They used precious metals for decorative objects that frequently were related to their religious practices.
- They used precious and semi-precious stones for their art and also for their jewelry.
- They developed beautiful pottery, some of which blended colors and figures with great mastery
- They produced beautiful textiles, woven from fibers that are still available today, which they dyed with natural colorants
- They painted colorful murals with exotic and eye-catching figures.
Source: Daderot, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
USES OF LAPIZ LAZULI.
This semi-precious stone is mined at present in two
places: Afghanistan and Chile. It is considered to be one of Chile’s national symbols.
It is used at present to create beautiful jewelry, and
I smile with pleasure every time I see somebody wearing it, or I see it in
photos. It is a beautiful blue color.
A SAMPLE OF LAPIS LAZULI
Source: Teravoit, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
DIAGUITA POTTERY.
This is a specific culture from the arid regions of
the North of Chile. They were excellent at creating beautiful pottery, with
colors that are reminiscent of the various shades to be found in this desert
region. They are famous for their subtle designs and use of color. I enjoy
observing the patterns and the endless variety they could achieve within the
same general appearance. Diaguita pottery can be identified at a glance!
A SAMPLE OF DIAGUITA POTTERY
ANDEAN TEXTILES
The South American cultures were especially fortunate
in their ability to create beautiful, colorful textiles. They had the wool of
the Andean camelids at their fingertips. The Alpaca, the Llama and the Vicuña
are valued as a source of fine woolen fibers even today.
The Incas were especially brilliant in their textile
arte, and I so enjoy seeing how their descendents still produce the same type
of textile crafts today.
INCA TUNIC CREATED AROUND 1550
Source: Public Domain, Wikimedia Common
ANDEAN TEXTILE (WEAVING)
Source: Adam Jones, CC BY SA 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
WILD FLOWERS, A NATURAL SPECTACLE.
Spanish America is specially favored in its wild
flowers, so much so, that many indigenous plants and flowers have been
domesticated over the centuries and now grace high-priced flower shops and seed
shops the world over.
Did you know that the Nasturtium originally came from
the Andes of South America, mainly in Peru and Bolivia?
And I do love this plant, so cheery and so useful. My grandmother
taught me so much about it, that I actually published a whole article on the
Nasturtium on Hubpages.com. You can follow the link here: Nasturtium
But the Nasturtium is not the only plant to originate
in this area. Here are some more!
FUCHSIA MAGELLANICA
Source: Dick Culbert, CC BY 2.0. Flickr.
DESERT FLOWER FROM THE NORTH OF CHILE
Source: Dick Culbert, CC BY 2.0. Flickr. Chile, Norte Chico
SPANISH AMERICA ALSO OWNS SOME CUTE FAUNA.
There are two animal species that I really enjoy, and
these are:
- The Pudú – the world’s smallest deer.
- The Guigna – the smallest wild feline of the Americas.
I know them both first-hand and they are beautiful,
and also very cute because of their small size. These I will leave for another
Blog post!
CONCLUSION.
Yes indeed! There are many “little things that make me
smile” to be found in Spanish America, and each of the ones I chose for this
post, will probably be included in a post of its own sometime in the future.
SPANISH VERSION
(This Blog is bilingual)
LAS
ARTESANIAS DE LA AMERICA HISPANA: UNA PEQUEÑA LISTA
Desde los
tiempos precolombinos, los habitantes de “la otra América” han producido muchos
ejemplos de artesanías finas
- Usaron metales preciosos para confeccionar objetos decorativos que muchas veces estaban relacionados con sus prácticas religiosas.
- Usaron piedras preciosas y semipreciosas para confeccionar sus obras de arte y también para joyería.
- Desarrollaron la cerámica, fusionando colores y formas con gran maestría
- Crearon preciosas piezas textiles, tejiendo con fibras que hoy en día se siguen usando, y que tiñeron con colorantes naturales.
- Pintaron bello murales con figuras exóticas y llamativas.
USOS DEL
LAPIS LAZULI.
Este
mineral semiprecioso es extraído en el presente en Afganistán y en Chile. Se le
considera como uno de los símbolos nacionales de Chile.
Se
utiliza para crear bellas joyas, y personalmente el verlas siempre me hace
sonreír, ya sea que adornen a alguna persona o aparezcan en fotografías. ¡Su
color azul es inmensamente bello!
CERÁMICA
DIAGUITA.
Corresponde
a una cultura específica de las regiones
áridas del Norte de Chile. Los Diaguitas eran excelentes creadores de bellas
piezas de cerámica, cuyos colores se asemejan a la variedad de tonos que
presenta la región del desierto. Son famosos por sus diseños sutiles y su uso
del color. Me encanta observar los diseños y la variedad sin fin que pudieron
crear siempre manteniendo la misma presentación general. ¡La cerámica Diaguita
se identifica a simple vista!
TEXTILES
ANDINOS.
Las culturas
de América del Sur fueron especialmente afortunadas en su habilidad para crear
piezas textiles hermosas y de gran colorido. Contaban con una fuente inagotable
de fina lana que obtenían de los camélidos que poblaban estas regiones. La
Alpaca, la Llama y la Vicuña son valorados como fuentes de finos textiles
incluso en el presente.
LAS
FLORES SILVESTRES: UN ESPECTÁCULO NATURAL.
La
América Hispana es especialmente afortunada en cuanto a sus flores silvestres.
Tanto es así, que muchas de las especies que se originaron en estas tierras han
sido domesticadas a lo largo de los años y hoy en día se encuentran en venta en
lujosas florerías y semillerías alrededor del mundo.
¿Sabías
que la llamada Espuela de Galán (Nasturtium) es originaria de la Cordillera de
los Andes, en sectores que corresponden
a Perú y Bolivia?
¡Me
encanta esta planta, tan alegre y útil! Pero no es la única que se originó por estas tierras, hay varias más.
LA
AMÉRICA HISPANA TAMBIÉN CUENTA CON UNA FAUNA GRACIOSA.
Hay dos
especies animales que realmente me encantan y son:
- El Pudú, el ciervo más pequeño del mundo
- La Güiña, el gato montés más pequeño de las Américas.
Conozco
a los dos de primera mano y son muy bellos y encantadores debido a su pequeño
tamaño. ¡Seguramente serán motivo de otro post en este Blog!
CONCLUSIÓN.
En
realidad hay muchas “pequeñas cosas” que me producen alegría en nuestra América
Hispana. Es probable que cada uno de los que presenté en este post, sea motivo
de algún artículo específico en un futuro cercano.
More about similar topics in a future post. Más sobre temas similares en un próximo post.
LANGUAGE TIPS FOR ENGLISH
Words that go together! * Do your best -
* Break a habit - * Take an exam - * Keep a diary – * Save time
LANGUAGE
TIPS FOR SPANISH.
Expresiones
de uso frecuente: * A la vuelta de la esquina - * Bajar la guardia - * La media naranja
How is your level of comprehension? Cómo
está su nivel de comprensión?
© 2012
joanveronica (Joan Robertson)
I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just
click the word “comments” lower down.
I LOVE this post! My husband gave me lapis lazuli as an anniversary gift a few years ago. I've heard it's also a symbol of the feminine.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE studying the Aztecs, Incas and Mayas. For a long time, my artwork would involve research from one of those cultures: their symbols and geometry. I would then create a painting based on inspiration from something they did. I grew up in the Southwestern part of the US, not too far from Mexico.
Now that I live in North Carolina, my art is shifting to reflect the culture here, but I will ALWAYS have a soft spot for mi cultura. :)
Hi Cyndi! It was wonderful to open my computer this morning and find this lovely comment! Thank you so much for your support, this vindicates my choices for my blog! I'm new to this, so it has been quite an adventure for me. Thank you again, and have a good day!
DeleteThank you for this fantastic post! I'm a history buff and have always been fascinated by the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. Love that your blog is bilingual; that's something unique. Definitely smiling after reading this. :-) Thanks for visiting my blog, as well. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbvie, I'm so happy that you liked this post! It's nice to be writing back to thank you, this is the first task of my day, it's 7.00AM here! I have found a another fan for my favorite topics! You will find a lot about the pre-Columbian cultures on this blog, so I hope you will visit again! Have a good day!
DeleteAwesome post. I loved seeing all the beautiful things that make you smile and kudos to you on weaving the topic in with what your blog is all about.
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Hi Kathy, so happy (smile!) to have you visit my post! And I'm glad you liked it, this vast continent is so full of surprises, and so virtuallyunknown.This does not make me smile, I really would like more people to appreciate these features! Still this is my small contribution! Have a good day!
DeleteFantastic post, Joan. Thanks for sharing the small, yet beautiful things that are a part of your life.
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne, so happy to have you visit! I'm glad you liked this post, and many thanks for your comment. Have a good day!
DeleteI would love to travel with you and also you as my guide! Your words have depth and invite you to great places! I love all of the textiles you showcased and look foreword to seeing the The Pudú!
ReplyDeleteHi Audra, so happy to have you visit and comment! And thank you for your lovely remarks on my writing! I promise you will eventually see the Pudú, at the moment I'm in to textiles, which have completely trapped my attention! Such colors and the symbolsand pattrerns are fantastic! I hope you arefeeling well!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis was a repete comment same as the one above! I deleted it.
Deletewhat a great post!! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop xo
ReplyDeleteHi there, thanks for the visit and the comment! It was a pleasure to be part of the hop!
Delete