Guatemala English language Magazine
The Museo Lacustre de Atitlán stunningly presents an important underwater archaeological site The task of conveying the wonders and rarity of an abandoned, underwater Mayan burial and ceremonial site to dry, fully clothed museum-goers on the surface was quite a challenge for the Museo Lacustre de Atitlán, the informative underwater-themed exhibit dedicated to Samabaj. Although the actual Mayan site is […]
Read more“This museum represents one part of the country,” says Director Daniel Aquino Lara. “Guatemala has a distinctive past with distinctive identities. But years ago, this is what people identified with.”
Read moreby Hilary Kilpatric “I want to wear the traditional dress of my people, but I also enjoy contemporary fashion. I love starting with something traditional as a base and modifying it into something fashionable and sexy. This way I am able to wear clothes that display my heritage while keeping up with the latest fashion trends,” explained Angélica Mendoza, the […]
Read moreBeing the fishing fanatic that I am, I always love investigating what is happening around Guatemala in the fishing industry and trying my luck at fishing in all its various forms. One of my favorite little fishing villages on the Pacific Coast is El Paredón Buena Vista. This tranquil little town, with its sandy streets and friendly locals, was more […]
Read moreArt Exposition at Museo Ixchel showcases Guatemalan artist’s book illustrations When Leslie Nanne first decided back in high school that she wanted to be an illustrator, she admits having a few concerns: “I was afraid of becoming a starving artist,” she says. “But I was even more afraid of choosing a ‘safer’ profession and always wondering whether I could have […]
Read moreWendy Carpenter’s work in weaving, dyeing and basketry spans more than 35 years. The accomplished fiber artist has spent the past nine years working with craftsmen and women in Central America and Mexico on textile designs and organizing sewing cooperatives, as well as custom-cutting jadeite and quartz geodes for making jewelry. Her Maya Woman series on exhibit at La Antigua […]
Read more“I really like the way we work together. We all get the same materials and we weave at home without disregarding our usual responsibilities,” explains Rosa, one of the group’s leaders.
Read moreAn art gallery that doubles as a research center It’s not just technology that has changed since El Attico first opened its doors in April 1988. Back then it was an antique shop that doubled as an art gallery; now it’s an art gallery that doubles as a research center. “The antique shop was dwindling, while the art gallery was […]
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Close to 10 years ago, while admiring some Christmas decorations at San José Catedral in Antigua, I was astonished at the poor state of preservation of the colonial paintings. All of the original colonial art had been moved to the new capital in 1773, except for the 1680 paintings of the apostles by Mexican artist Juan de Correa (1646-1716). Restored […]
Read moreby Hilary Kilpatric “I enjoy working with palm because it is found locally and it is the traditional material used by the people here. Plus using palm for artisan goods does not damage the environment,” said Catarina Tamup de Leon, leader of the Palm Weavers, when asked about why she loves her work. The Palm Weavers group is located in […]
Read moreby Karin Bergstresser When you live in paradise, you have a responsibility to maintain a healthy ecosystem. U.S -born Kenneth Wood, who has lived in Guatemala for over two decades, makes his contribution to the environment by turning old newsprint into art. He collaborates with ADISA, an organization in Santiago Atitlán that offers employment to young adults with physical and/or […]
Read moreAntigua used to be second to Seville, Spain for its Lenten celebration until recently. It is now considered the largest celebration in the world with 50 activities during the 40 days of Lent. In March processions fill the streets of Antigua with the fragrance of incense, pine needles, flowers and coroso (a pod also used for carpet making). The increase […]
Read moreGuatemalan Bus documentary wins awards at film festivals Guatemala is no stranger to the iconic symbol of North American transport—big, yellow school buses crowd the streets of tiny pueblos and carry thousands of Guatemalans up and down the country every day. But how do these buses go from the United States down to Guatemala and become transformed into camionetas? Mark […]
Read moreThe first Sunday after the first full moon of spring is Easter, this year on March 27. Count back seven Wednesdays to mark the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent on the Christian calendar. It is Ash Wednesday, and the date in 2005 is February 9. In La Antigua Guatemala this means the beginning of vigils (velaciones) and processions, […]
Read moreBridging cultures and continents with Guatemalan crafts Many of us living in (and visiting) La Antigua Guatemala love to stop by Casa de los Gigantes (7a calle oriente #18) from time to time to see what’s new in the “House of the Giants.” It is well worth your time to investigate every nook and cranny for some treasure or another. […]
Read moreby Hilary Kilpatric “I love what I do. I have acquired considerable experience, and it is rewarding to see people appreciate my work. We work with sustainable woods, and everything we do is entirely done by hand. It is our way of preserving the environment,” explains lead carpenter Teo Hernández. The carpentry team consists of five, who work just outside […]
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Una impresionante exposición de piezas arqueológicas que muestran la visión del Mundo del Artista Maya, se presentará en el marco del XII Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz, acompañada de un ciclo de conversatorios a cargo de expertos en el tema. La XII edición del Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz, además de presentar al público originales eventos musicales, también contará con […]
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THOR JANSON reporting from Yaxhá National Park — As of Monday December 17th, plans are going forward to close the Main Plaza of Tikal to the public from 9:00pm on the 20th until 5:00am on the 21st, although things are evolving and changing every few hours. At Yaxhá the administration had an emergency meeting this morning to discuss what to […]
Read moreCosmic Dance of the Ancient Maya The Rab’inal Achí dance-drama traces its roots to pre-Columbian times and is probably the best-preserved, authentic Mayan cultural event in Mesoamerica. The choreographed dance/play depicts creation myths, dynastic political rivalries and even predicted the Spanish conquest of the land of the Maya centuries before it occurred. Since remote times the Maya used musical theater […]
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One of the blessings of traveling is the opportunity to gain some fresh perspectives, especially during the holidays. When we visit another culture we expand our own perspectives and gain valuable insights. Guatemala travel experiences stimulate a greater appreciation for the magnificence of life and a greater appreciation for ourselves. Touching exotic and ancient cultures activates our awareness that there […]
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All year long he hides under the bed or in the junk piled up in the corner, casting misfortune or worse on helpless mortals. But on Wednesday, December 7, at 6 p.m. sharp, the Devil gets his comeuppance, as he is tossed out of the house along with the trash and set ablaze in the Quema del Diablo (Burning of […]
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Much has been speculated by foreign writers about the “end” of the Maya calendar, including that it is the end of the world. According to Professor David Stuart (Mesoamerican Center at the University of Texas), much of this evolved out of the book Mexican Mystique (1975), which we all read in our classes at the university. Written by an author […]
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“Pienso e colores como en luz flotando atravezando lentamente el tiempo y el espacio” con esta declaración Byron Rabé nos introduce a su obra “La danza de la armonía universal”. El artista guatemalteco está presentado en la galería “Panza Verde” una colección en la que une la cultura maya con su arte. “I think in colors like floating light traversing […]
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Kites of November Written by. Louise Wisechild On Nov. 1, visitors travel to Sumpango and Santiago, Sacatépequez, to stand in awe of los barilletes gigantes, the giant kites made specifically for the Day of the Dead in these two Kaqchikel Mayan villages. As large as 20 meters, the size of a six-story building, the kites are decorated in figures, landscapes […]
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100 Mayan Princesses converged upon the imperial city of Cobánwith the hopes of becoming the next Daughter of the King
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Written by. Julie Potvin An oasis of literature in Guatemala City’s Historical Center Just behind the Palacio del Gobierno, in Guatemala City’s zone 1, on 5a calle at the corner of 5a avenida, art meets literature under the roof of a cultural center that promotes fair trade, as well as a more inclusive and sustainable economy for Guatemalan society. Since […]
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This incredible pageant will take place in Cobán, Alta Verapaz on Saturday July 28 – 4pm The annual Rabin Ajau pageant exalts the purity and essence of the indigenous cultures from the four cardinal points of Guatemala and brings together in a harmonic convergence all the Maya ethnicities of the Land of the Quetzal and the Jaguar. The Rabin Ajau […]
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Every place you go, everywhere you look, sweeping is going on Written by. Melba Milak. Volcanoes erupt; boulders and rocks bounce down mountainsides; big ocean swells on the Pacific crash into the beaches; dust and dirt blow through the air and sculpt little piles of spindrift. And yet, the Guatemalan people have found a way to deal with these forces […]
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Weaving in the present with fibers of the past
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May is the “Month of the Museums” and a great time to visit Guatemala’s historical treasures.
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