Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca Goes Off With a Bang

Words and photographs by Ehren Seeland A series of juguetes shoot into the night, sending the neighborhood dogs into a barking frenzy. Bam, bam, bam – these handmade fireworks are liberally applied to the open skies of Oaxaca in order to announce birthdays, weddings and other notable events. Unlike traditional fireworks, they do not produce…

In focus: Fundación En Vía Volunteer Andrea Rodrigues

Words and photographs by Andrea Rodrigues How did you hear about the En Vía volunteer program? I had been reading about microfinance and liked the concept of providing opportunities and empowering woman through addressing the issue of access to affordable credit. I wanted to do some volunteer work with microfinance and started researching organizations, which…

Cultivating Culture in Oaxaca

Words and photographs by Ehren Seeland From dance and film festivals to a myriad of art exhibitions, the city of Oaxaca is teeming with cultural offerings. Diligent ones can arrange bounteous weekly schedules via Que Pasa Oaxaca and Oaxaca Calendar, while the spontaneous can easily stumble upon more options than one is able to ingest…

Volunteer Work Leads to a Soulful Home in Oaxaca, Mexico

Words and photographs by Ehren Seeland “We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there.” – Pascal Mercier Trumpet music wraps around me as I am swept into a…

Market Spotlight: The Backstrap Textiles of Santo Tomás Jalieza

Words and photographs by Ehren Seeland Mexico supports an expansive history of textile production in a range of natural fibers like wool, silk, maguey and cotton that is woven into veritable art pieces. These creative works speak to tradition, storytelling, community and rich family legacies. While quality textiles can be found throughout the country, some…