Decades ago I was introduced to extraordinary paintings by Mayan artists living in Guatemala. Here is the work of three artists from San Pedro La Laguna, a town located on the shores of Lake Atitlán.
First two paintings by Matías González Chavajay:
Meet the artist Matías González Chavajay:
Meet the next artist, Vicenta Puzul:
“These paintings are based on Joseph Johnston's … visionary encouragement and support, over decades, to the artists in developing their unique points of view and styles. In the process, Joseph has contributed to the livelihoods and satisfactions of many Mayan artists and to the immense pleasure and inspiration available to us the viewers." -Barbara Rogoff, professor of psychology at the University of California Santa Cruz and author of Developing Destinies: A Mayan Midwife and Town
Meet the next artist Domingo García Criado:
The final artist is Diego Isaias Hernández Mendez:
In addition to the spectacular colors and design of these paintings, the subject matter is quite unique!
More accolades for Joseph Johnston:
"For three decades, Joseph Johnston has been collecting and preserving paintings by Maya artists from Tz’utujil communities on Lake Atitlán.
The collection is unrivaled in its scope and significance. Complete with biographies of the artists, accounts in their own words, and careful documentation, it is rich and inspirational to view and invaluable culturally and artistically.
It deserves to remain intact, and to continue to instill deep respect not only for the human spirit of Maya artists, but also for their own appreciation of history, creativity and beauty." - Dr. James Loucky, Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology
View the collection with fascinating histories and biographies of the artists:
Arte Maya Tz'utujil Collection
Joseph is diligently trying to place all these paintings in museums. So far he is in conversation with seven museums who may take 100-120 paintings.
I continue to work on my mega-painting Fish Without Bicycle which measures 4’ x 8’. I’m working on adapting watercolor painting techniques to the egg tempera medium on traditional gesso priming on wood.
Art & Love: My Life Illuminated in Egg Tempera is the memoir of my quest to master the ancient medium of egg tempera painting, gain confidence as an artist, and find lasting love.
I’m in layout! Here is a collage of a few pages designed by the fabulous Domini Dragoone. Still lots of corrections to make and proofreading to do but it’s starting to look like a real book!
Next month will be the cover reveal ! And I’ll be looking for ARC readers.
ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy or Advance Review Copy. ARC readers read the book way before publication and hopefully post an honest review on GoodReads or other sites. Did you know that even bad or mediocre reviews are helpful because all reviews makes the book more discoverable on algorithms, plus it looks phony if a book has all five star glowing reviews.
Some friends and I went to India Basin Waterfront Park, San Francisco’s newest park. After, we went for dinner along 3rd street and happened to choose a restaurant two doors up from the Third Rail Bar, site of one of my favorite Amos murals, Irish Hill 1892. (The neighborhood used to be called “Irish Hill.”)
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I posted “Chinese Lantern”, (Abutilon × hybridum) in my very first Substack, but since it’s blooming again on my patio and is so beautiful, I’m sharing it again:
As always, I leave you with a…
Last month I asked you whether I should ditch this feature and the poll results were:
Keep this feature: I like it - 78%
Take it or leave it: - 22%
Other poll options: -0%
So I’m keeping it for now. Here is this month’s surprise song:
Try a Little Tenderness…Great American Songbook???
I had no idea this song was written in 1932! (Lyrics and music by Ray Noble.) Thus it is part of the Great American Songbook.1 Here is the scratchy 78 RPM version. It was introduced as a ballad or a song for dancing the fox trot:
Actual singing starts at 1:29 Any ads are not mine!
And here’s the version we know and love: Otis Redding’s Try a Little Tenderness:2
This is Redding’s last performance just one day before his fatal plane crash on December 10, 1967 at the age of 26. The crash also claimed the lives of six others, including members of his backing band, the Bar-Kays.
We need a lot of tenderness!!
-Lora
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The Great American Songbook is not an actual songbook — it’s the canon of American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 1920s to the 1950s. I love this poignant and clever vocal genre.
Lyrics: Try a LIttle Tenderness (Redding version)
Oh, she may be weary
Young girls they do get weary
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah yeah
But when she gets weary
Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah
You know she’s waiting
Just anticipating
For things that she’ll never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah
But while she’s there waiting, without them
Try a little tenderness (that’s all you gotta do)
It’s not just sentimental, no, no, no
She has her grief and care, yeah yeah yeah
But the soft words, they are spoke so gentle, yeah
It makes it easier, easier to bear, yeah
You won’t regret it, no, no
Some girls they don’t forget it
Love is their only happiness, yeah
But it’s all so easy
All you gotta do is try, try a little tenderness, yeah
All you gotta do is, man, hold her where you want her
Squeeze her, don’t tease her, never leave her
Get to her, try, try
Just try a little tenderness, ooh yeah yeah yeah
You got to know how to love her, man, you’ll be surprised, man
You’ve got to squeeze her, don’t tease her, never leave
You’ve got to hold her and rub her softly
Try a little tenderness, ooh yeah yeah yeah
You’ve got to rub her gentle man, all you gotta do, no no
You’ve got to love her, squeeze her, don’t tease her
Gotta try nah nah nah, try
Try a little tenderness, yeah, watch her groove
You’ve gotta to know what to do, man
Take this advice
Housekeeping…🧹
Are you getting annoying messages from Substack?
If Substack is sending you mailings you don’t want, here’s how to make it stop. Unfortunately I can’t do this for you (it’s not allowed) but contact me if you have trouble and I’ll walk you through it.
1. Log into your Substack account.
2. Click on your profile icon and select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu.
3. In the 'Settings' page, go to the Notifications section.
4. From there, turn off the toggle next to 'Recommendations to read'.
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