2014 Itinerary

 The Itinerary for Our 

3rd Annual Oaxacan Art

Extravaganza

Fri Sept 26th - Sunday October 5th 

2014

Day One - Friday Sept 26 : (Gathering)

  We'll pick you up at the airport and take you to  the Casa, our home away from home.  Light evening meal for everyone at the Casa.

Day Two - Saturday Sept 27 (Art  Day / Visit to the Basilica of Soledad)

Let the festivities begin.  We'll spend the morning with the Maestra - our cohort in all things beautiful,  who will introduce us to the joys of our very own journals  Throughout the week we'll work on our journals, both in and out of the studio. We'll practice drawing, photography, journaling, and printmaking techniques.At the end of the trip you'll have your very own travel journal . Our first outing we go to the Basilica of Soledad, patron saint of Oaxaca  and her charming Museum composed of offerings people have left to the Virgen over the years. We'll sketch to our heart's content and return for lunch at the Casa around 2.  Free time in - the afternoon.  Evening takes us on  a trip to the zocalo and our Welcome Dinner.

Day 3 - Sunday September 28 (Tour Day - Tlacolula Market/Mitla Ruins )

After our fabulous breakfast around the large table at the Casa we depart bright and early with our beloved Guide Pablo.  This full day of touring takes us to the most bustling and active of all the local markets, the Tlacolula Market.  Indigenous people from all over the Central Valleys come to trade and socialize much as they have done for centuries. We'll have some time to visit the Baroque masterpiece known as the Silver Chapel and  sketch and then visit the archaelogical ruins of Mitla as well.

Dinner and open studio time at the Casa tonight

Day 4 Monday September 29 (Art   Day &  Artist's Studio Visits )

Jill helps us continue refining and working our sketches from yesterday and introduces us to a group project.    Lunch at 2 followed by siesta or studio time. Late afternoon  outing to visit local  artists studios and learn about the vibrant printmaking scene in Oaxaca.   Plus time to explore Oaxaca's many galleries and it's lively city center.

Day 5 Tuesday September 30 (Free Day / Tamayo Museum)

Short plasticene printing demo in the morning.  Free day to pursue your passions - stay and work in the studio, visit Mt Alban, the textile museum, or take a cooking class.  We are happy to arrange all these things for you. You will also have the option of an afternoon excursion to the home of expat Linda Hanna who runs a folk art filled bed and breakfast in the hills outside Oaxaca City. We'll take lunch with Linda and follow this up with  a visit to the  Rufino Tamayo Museum where Linda is a docent and will give us a short tour .  

Day 6 Wednesday October 1st (Free Morning & Micorfinance Tour)

Weather permitting, we'll make some sunprints in the morning, plus free studio time.  At 1 we'll leave with the wonderful folks of Envia who take us on a tour of woman owned small, home based businesses.   An authentic glimpse into life in a Oaxacan village.  Your chance to talk art, politics, relationship with some women very different from you.  Lunch at a small woman owned restaurant.  Late dinner at the casa.

 Day 7 - Thursday October 2nd  (Visit to Folk Artists  / Studio Time)

We'll call this folk art day as we go on the southern route towards Ocotlan.  We'll visit master potters, woodworkers,and weavers.  Prepare to be awed at their skill in using the humblest of materials to create works of art.  Lunch on the road at our favorite wood fired restaurant.  Evening art making experience in the studio. Dinner at the Casa.

 

Day 8 - Friday October 3rd ( A Medieval Monastery &  A Village Church/ plus sketching )

We're trying not to pack too much in but we just can't help ourselves.  Today we go a little off the beaten track and visit some of the oldest  Christian churches in the America's including  the medieval monastery of Yanhuitlan (just an hour and a half from Oaxaca City) and the small, and very old  village church at Tiltepec.  Picnic lunches on the church lawn and sketching time.  Mind blowing gothic arches, desert landscapes, shepherds, and santos await us.

Return to Oaxaca in the  evening.  Late dinner at the Casa.

Day 9 - Saturday October 4th 

Final Art Day & Farewell Fiesta

Studio time, we put the finishing touches on our journals, share with each other and have time on your own to do any last minute shopping or sightseeing.  Fabulous farewell dinner at the Casa.

Day 10 - Sunday October 5

Refreshed and Renewed, Onward & Upward -

We will arrange transportation to the airport should you need this.

Most of us leave on the 8:30 AM flight from Oaxaca! 

Other Details:

Tour cost  $1,895 & $75 material fee

 Tour price is based on double occupancy (single supplement add $375) and  includes just about everything except the following:  your transportation to and from Oaxaca City (for most folks that means airfare), any alcohol you want to consume, any goods you want to purchase (and there will be temptation at every corner), a meal or two  on your own ( these can easily be arranged at the casa at the cost of $15 per meal but we wanted to give those of you who might like to, the opportunity to sample some of the great restaurants in Oaxaca), and tips for our guides and hosts (totally at your discretion).  Please email me at jewel.murphy@gmail.com  for more information or with any queries you might have.    $500 deposit holds your space.  Because we like to have intimate, easygoing tours with lots of direct art instruction this trip is limited to nine participants.  We are looking forward to another amazing adventure and would love to have you join us. Oh yes we would!