Giant "Mandala" Kites of Guatemala, FERIA DEL BARRILETE GIGANTE, created from tissue paper

During our recent stopover in Guatemala we visited Antigua, the UNESCO World Heritage city. We were introduced to a cultural representative of Mayan descent. Our guide told her I am an artist, so when we asked for suggestions of interesting cultural experiences (other than Lake Atitlan, the Mayan pyramids and the ancient city of Antigua), right away she mentioned the “Feria del Barrilete Gigante”.

“It takes place some 15 kilometres north of Antigua, in Sumpango and in Santiago Sacatepequez every November 1. (In the Western tradition, All Saints Day, in Central America, it is the Dia de los Meurtos or Day of the Dead. 

People of Santiago Sacatepequez at tombs of loved ones

It’s a unique event where you see very colourful, spherical kites.  A special way of remembering loved ones who have gone, and ancestors.  Months of work go into the creation of the kites, constructed from vibrantly-coloured tissue paper and glued onto bamboo rods. Some of the kites are 3-4 metres in diameter.   

Segment of kite made from tissue paper - a "Mayan Kandinsky"

The images have a spiritual meaning with messages the villagers send to the departed ones. It’s taken very seriously and although most are adults, some even cry when their kite tumbles down, failing to deliver its message.”

It takes a whole village to build these kites. Men travel to the south coast of Guatemala to collect canes for spars; wire and rope hold the kites together. Groups of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepequez residents collaborate to make each kite. 

"The standard-size 3 metre in diameter kite takes up to 15 people months to design, create, and assemble, depending on how complicated the design is.

Segment of a 'spirit kite', another example of how these Mayan creations evoke the work of Kandinsky

The kites serve as a means to communicate with the spirit of the deceased, while at the same time also operating as a filter – removing any bad vibes that might exist in the cemeteries and in the sky.”  Houston Museum of Natural Science  

Upwards to visit the spirits of the ancestors

While families gather amongst the tombstones of their loved ones, high above the cemeteries, dashing through the sky, are the gigantic kites with their messages in vibrant colours.

Henri van Bentum

Floating Art Class at Sea - Sunsets Theme

We don’t mention names of the passengers in our floating art class at sea to maintain privacy.  But experiences can be shared without using names. Our sessions on "Colour and Its Magic" have Themes. One theme is “Sunsets”.   

One artist's interpretation of a sunset

Where better than at sea can you witness sunsets?  However the classes are in the mid-morning, so what to do?  “Just use the primary and secondary colours you see at sunset and away you go”, we tell the students. “Yes, you may use green for those rare occasions of a green flash."  At first this seems like an impossible task for those who need to see in front of them what they are about to paint. After all, it’s not only daytime but has to be done on a blank paper or canvas.  So it requires 100% imagination. 

 Here is another artist's interpretation of a sunset

I remember many years ago when convalescing during a lengthy illness in a sanatorium in Holland (where I began my career in art), doctors, nurses, and other patients asked, “Why don’t you paint a sunset?”. My reply was, “They go too quickly”.  They still do. The results of using the palette of the sun’s departure will always be different moment to moment because each sunset is, and will be, different. 

Years later, when I was released and worked “en plein air”, my father asked the same question, and my answer was the same. 

Back to our our floating art class at sea, with 10-30 students, each of the results for this Theme are different.  Of course there will always be someone who wants something else as a Theme. I remember one woman telling me, “I feel like doing something else. This theme of sunsets does not light my fire.” So we asked, “What then would you wish to paint today?” “Landscapes”, she replied. “Well, I am sorry”, I said, “but you are in the wrong place.  We are at sea.” So you understand what I meant about anecdotes and privacy. You can still tell them without revealing a name.

Henri van Bentum

Swiftsure sail regatta getting underway

Pacific Westcoast annual Swiftsure regatta: a handicap race, Davids versus Goliaths. The little guy ($2,000 boat) versus the multi-million dollar ones will have a chance in this popular international regatta.  The Swiftsure race began in 1850 when the Royal Navy challenged early colonists here at Juan de Fuca Strait. But the race really took off in the late 1930’s. Three yacht clubs (Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle) challenged each other for a race.  There were 45 sailboats entered. Now it has morphed into 190-plus sailboats. 

Swiftsure flotilla with Olympic Mountain range in background

There are five different races, to avoid clogging the space. 

Map showing the various race courses

We’re fortunate to be living here in James Bay, a neighbourhood village in Victoria, BC.  Not only live here but from our rental apartment we have an unobstructed view of the Olympic Mountain range of Washington State.  Marine traffic is almost nonstop.  The beautiful Inner Harbour will be the centre point of on shore festivities, designed around this event.  Food stalls, hawkers, musicians, even tents for relaxation.  All will make sure that the “human family” is entertained. 

Spinnakers 'blowing in the Wind'

We leave the port and starboard tacking and gybing, sailing against the wind,  and numerous other manoeuvres, to those able mariners. On our part, we will sit on comfy wicker chairs on our porch watching those colourful sails glide by. This is our annual contribution to the Swiftsure regatta. This time, however, the entry on this Blog is new. Swiftsure race is the longest on the west coast for all types of sailboats. Entries are from Hawaii, New Zealand, California, Washington, Oregon and elsewhere.  All this adds to the international flair. The crews are not only local, but come from anywhere in the world. Some races are half a day or one day.   

Battling the currents too

Others, like the 250 km Swiftsure Lightship Classic to Cape Flattery, bring in the boats late Sunday night or even the early hours Monday morning. Night sailing demands extra training for mental and physical preparations. They are a must.  There’s not only fatigue and other challenges to battle, but also correct navigating the winds and currents, not to speak of hitting a rock. The skipper sees to it  that each crew member has enough rest. 

Colourful sails gliding by our abode

The winners get trophies. There is no prize money.  Like we said, the little guy will have a chance against the big fellow.  For such is the nature and rule of a handicap race.  If you wish to follow the regatta live, hereis the link:  Enjoy!

Henri van Bentum

Neymar

Some years ago, I noticed a youngster playing in Brasil for a futbol team called “Santos” (the former club of Pele, the legendary Black Pearl).  The youngster’s name is Neymar da Silva Santos, but he is known just as “Neymar”.    

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior in action for Brasil

This happened to me before when another young South American wunderkind player by the name of Lionel Messi caught my eye long, before he became famous for his extraordinary talent and inborn gift of what can be done with a ball. Likewise Neymar is one of those rare, young virtuosos to be seen on the green fields of futbol.  It was not long before Pele suggested Neymar for the Brasilian national team.   

Pele:  the legendary "Black Pearl" of Brasil

So I was spot on, having recognized Neymar's extraordinary, instinctive style and talent. Once he was included in the national team of Brasil, the world began to take notice and start to make comparisons with other great players. Pele, the icon and great Brasilian player (who as mentioned earlier also played for Santos), said that Neymar is better than Messi.  This prompted another futbol legend, the Argentine Maradona, to quip “That’s stupid. Maybe Neymar is the best player in the world, but only if you say that Messi is from a different planet."  It’s difficult to compare the two.  Both great stars.   

Two young stars:  Neymar and Messi, at an encounter between Brasil and Argentina

Messi, from Argentina, is the elder at the ripe age of 25, and recipient of three Golden balls and boots, as best player of the world.  While Neymar is only 21.  For the past year or so, the big clubs in Europe have been trying to get Neymar.   So far he has refused because he loves Santos, and the fans.  And any club wishing to have Neymar would have to dig deep into its gold coffers. (Interestingly, his last name is Santos, same as his club.) But there are many rumours about an imminent transfer to Europe. (One of the clubs courting Neymar is Barcelona, the club of Messi.) Will he leave Santos this season or next?  Yesterday Neymar’s father who has played a major role in his career said it will be 2014 before that happens. I am curious where he will play next, and would be pleased if he chooses a European club, because then we’ll see more of Neymar. To have both Messi and Neymar on the same team would be the pinnacle of a magical duo.  Stay tuned. Enjoy.

Henri van Bentum

Postscript:  just after we posted this item, it was made official:  Neymar is going to Barcelona.