ORENDA BOP

Musings , observations and inspiration juice looking at cultural contrasts and social art practice around the world -by Greer Pester

[greerpesterarts]

Can Harvard’s most popular professor (and Confucius) radically change your life?

Michael Puett’s book The Path draws on the 2,500-year-old insights of Chinese philosophers. He explains how ‘straightening your mat’ can help you break out of the patterns that are holding you back

Interesting ideas one the importance of Ritual in society.

[greerpesterarts]

El nopal, esa planta plasmada en la bandera de México y cuyo fruto es la tuna, tiene múltiples beneficios para los humanos. Descripción, distribución,

[greerpesterarts]

Adventures in Milpa Alta - part 2 :

We then started to climb the hill behind the Nopal fields. On route we found scatters of bones and strange sacks of bones hanging over a ruin. A man on horseback shouted up to us that there had recently been a disappearance and that we should look out for ‘anything suspicious’ including bodies .The venture had an eerie undertone but we continued to scramble up the rocky side to drink some Pulque ( made from the fermented sap of the maguey cactus) on the top overlooking the farms of Milpa Alta .In the centre of the peak was a large crater with the words ‘Stay with me” written at the base of it with stones.

 Across the other side we could see the endless view of the city and the Amaranth fields below Tulyehualco ( where I visited last year to research the production of Alegrias and popped Amaranth seeds). It all felt very symbolic and surreal. The guard of the spot invited us into his bare clay house with an epic view and as we left to make our descent back into the town , giant hailstones came ploughing down ( the size of Marbles) armed only with my sunhat and scarf we slid and battered our wet way down the side of the mountain.We then fought off a banda of dogs with some volcanic rocks , squeezed 6 into a an old volkswagen beetle for the ride home and finished the adventure eating tlacoyos with Nopal and potatoes in Adriana’s house. It was quite the magical adventure.

[greerpesterarts]

 Adventures in Milpa Alta researching the glorious Nopal :

As part of this years research in collaboration with First Food Residency , I am looking at one Mexico’s most iconic foods ; the Nopal .

Also know as ‘OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA’ or  commonly referred to as ‘Prickly pear’ in English. It is a powerful and iconic symbol  which not only is a staple in the Mexican diet , as a motif it is printed and painted over various artesanias in Mexico ,likewise to ancient aztec patterns it has also taken on a life of its own on printed wears and fashion accessories worldwide. A unique form this distinctive shapely plant  has deep history in Meso american times.It is said that when the aztecs discovered the land that is now the beast that is Mexico City ,they were told to look for an eagle with a snake in its mouth ,perched on the branch of a Nopal tree.When the aztecs found this spot they began building the magnificent ancient city of Tenochtitlan located on an island in Lake Texcoco, in the Valley of Mexico.The extensive  and rich canals soon became the the capital of the Aztec empire.

 You can see this image in the centre of the flag of Mexico.  Although other parts of the cactus are eaten in other parts of the world ; like the Tuna fruits, Mexico seems to be the only country that eats the ‘leaves’ or ‘pads’ as a staple.  You often find them mixed through delicious salads to dress your taco in,or blended through a fresh jugo verde, slightly slimey in texture they are highly nutritious. 

On Sunday I travelled to the far ends of the expanding city to the town of Milpa Alta , famous for its farming of maize and nopal and as the borderline into nature from the chaos of Mexico city . We took an1 hour and 1/3 bus ride from Taxquena in the south part of the city. Milpa Alta is an area known as one the primary national producers of Nopal in Mexico. I travelled as part of a group of UNAM  industrial design students to visit Adriana Aristeo Diaz whose family run their own Nopal farming business in the town of Milpa Alta. Adriana’s masters project is to revive the rich pre hispanic cultural history and knowledge connected to Milpa Alta  and she wants to do this through a digital platform, she has extensive knowledge in the history and farming of the lands. She kindly took us on a tour of the town and to one of the main first markets where the Nopal is brought fresh and prepared to be sold to locals ,vendors and businesses in the city. 

We then took a taxi to the outskirts of the town where the layers upon layers of Nopal fields begin , we could see the Nopal at various stages of its growth.The young pads are the ones that get stripped and turned into food produce.The larger pads with less spines continue to grow. To seed new Nopales they simply cut a young leaf and stick it into the ground to begin the process again. It is a highly durable and resistant plant.

[greerpesterarts]

World's First Cactus Biogas Plant Opens in Mexico

Nopalimex has built the world's first cactus-powered plant in Mexico. The company is utilizing a digester to make biogas from prickly pear cacti. In addition to powering Nopalimex's operations, the digester's 8-ton daily production will fuel the town of Zitacuaro's vehicle fleet in central Michoaca...

[greerpesterarts]

[greerpesterarts]

Creating is not just a 'nice' activity; it transforms, connects and empowers

If we want a world full of innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers, we need to enable and sustain making from a very young age

[greerpesterarts]

[greerpesterarts]

Today my family said goodbye to our MOTHER MOUNTAIN - Peggy Cummiskey - 5000 miles across the water in Scotland. As I can’t be there , I decided to make my own altar  last night to mark her passing .I even found a magic frog in a pyramid which I got the young brujo (wizard/witch) to bless before I brought it to the altar.My friend Sejen bought her 2 maizes in beautiful red and gold , I put out a pack of cards , and a couple o quid, as one of my final memories of her is gambling over new market. I also put all my treasures and trinkets for strength and direction out to lap up the wonderful vitality and strength of her spirit.There is Myrrh and a herb mix with copal and other fine essences + lilies ,roses and a big bright Girasol-Sunflower and lots of the sweet smelling white flower Santa Maria. I also wrote a piece for the speech my cousin Angela was reading out at her funeral , it is attached below. As I am 6 hours behind , they are all probably tucking into fine scran and carby treats and drinks at 100 Glenmore right now , so wish I could be there to laugh and share stories and cuddle and show my love and respect  to this wonderful hurting family . But for now I’ll put on my finest frock and lippy , hit the market for some lentils and delicious things to make soup (Aunty Marie /Uncle Paul pleasee pass on the recipe! - for the moment i’ll attempt to improvise from memory , food can be my one true comfort right now) and ill drink vodka lemonade into the evening in her honour.

She was brilliant and I will miss her so much.We were blessed to know and love her. Here’s a few words about her pizzazz below:  

-------------------------------------

PEGGY's PIZZAZZ:

Nana was a bold force of strength and honesty , she never failed to tell you exactly what she thought ,whether it be you'd put on the pounds or she liked your hair better the way it was before, she also loved to drop a sexual innuendo or two in where possible just to shake it up a bit, a women with no fear or tact and a pulse for life to be in awe of. What negativity she had to deliver she always tried to balance with positivity .You could always laugh with her and  like all great comedians she was always happy to laugh at herself.

Memories of my nana go back to being wee and feeling excited at the prospect of white bread ,Nana's famous lentil soup in a bowl with a face on it , soft buttery scottish plain bread and a glass of ginger of my choosing - a rare treat ! After this rare treat she'd often slip more whitebread ,twist n squeezes and club biscuits secretly in our pockets behind the back of our glorious and health crazed mum. Always contributing and assisting us with the anti-brown bread revolution.

Her home has always been a chaotic and wonderful array of frills, colour ,soft toys ,family photos and ornamental frogs ;plus the hustle and bustle of various family members of all sizes coming and going ,but most importantly : FOOD, you'd never go hungry at Nana's , her feeding was her grand love demonstration and all of iceland's best deals were locked up in the garage incase the apocalypse should come.

She was always  glamorous and elegant ,never without her lipstick or big black hair untamed, warm and inviting to any lost souls , but at the same time she was no walk over and knew exactly how and when to put her strong moral foot down and tell you her mind if you should cross her or anyone else. She was fierce and brilliant ,I always remember witnessing the bickering between her and papa ; papa pulling faces behind her back with his big bulging eyes and falsies whilst she nagged him about this and that. It was always a steady flow of cheeky bickering disguising a deep and ancient love.It gives me great pleasure and comfort to think of them together once more.

Many thanks to them the Cummiskey hub is always a place full of music and songs and an ever flowing bar. Music is the Cummiskey lifeblood and I find great comfort in music and singing during these difficult times and shifting dynamics of our family. Those classic songs bring my soaring and aching heart back down to a familiar place in the strong roots of where I've come from.

An old boyfriend of mine once described arriving to meet my nana like meeting some sort of gypsy matriarchy ; she was the glue ,the magic and central orb of the Cummiskey clan , never short of the news passing through the network of our extended family. She showed such dedication and support and passion to the massive family she created.That force flows through all those she has formed and influenced ,there is a boldness and warm generosity in Cummiskeys, it is clearly evident in her children and grandchildren ,whole hearted ,open and grounded people. It is a spirit I recognise and encourage in myself .I am extremely proud to be part of her great legacy and I shall be honouring her wonderful spirit from 5000 miles across the pond in a country whose culture is most reminiscent of her essence ,the beautiful ,warm hearted and ballsy Mexico. I send big Peggy style busty embraces to all of you who are honouring her today. Her fire lives on. Heres to Peggy's Pizzazz , we'll see you on the other side!

[greerpesterarts]

17 Must-Try Amaranth Recipes That Will Have You Going Gaga Over This New Trendy Grain - Oola.com

Quinoa who? The newest trend in healthful grains is amaranth, a gluten-free protein option that was first cultivated by the Aztecs. Not only is amaranth grain packed with protein, but it's also full of calcium and antioxidants and makes an amazingly effective appetite suppressant. Start reaping the benefits of an amaranth-rich diet with these recipes!

[greerpesterarts]

The Bright + Dark Death Heart Hues. 

 Death crept up and sat beside me , it arrived on a dreich Sunday evening during a happy space full of poppyseed pudding and old friends ripping into each other.It arrived on my mothers face losing colour before me as she came off the phone, responding ‘no I am not okay’ and pressing out pearly tears of fear that made my heart shudder. Its always difficult to see your parents cry, to witness their pain and loss. One of the pillars of your existence crumbling into your hands momentarily. After a disappointing week with the dramatic state of worldly affairs and a long grey day , death reared its unfamiliar head and slipped into one of the young gems of the Cummiskey family. I felt it like a cycle of rushes : shock, panic, pain , confusion , ache , repeat. How could he be gone ? It doesn’t make sense. I played over the series of events and time ,how quick time had come. I cried and let this deep ache well up inside me and sit on the surface to take in the world. Things started moving softly and slow ;the present , an open gash absorbing you in every second , when we got home we moved around in circles trying to support one another in our slumps, bumping into forgotten cups of tea or tasks. So present and foggy, so slow , so raw and real. I focused on what was going on in my heart and my head and how the two just didn’t quite click. My head told me my bright blue-eyed, kind soul and cheeky charmer of a cousin was gone and my heart sung at his presence in it ,confused and in doubt of his departure from it. Phrases repeated in my head , so young ,so special, only 39 ,so much left behind , so much potential gone.And that family glue , the big stone and jewel centred in the core dynamics of his own freshly created family , his mum ,his dad, his siblings , his cousins and best friends , the tearing away feeling of the loss of a brother, a son ,a father, a partner, a cousin, a friend. Torn away from a unit leaving a gaping hole in how it functions. I feel it all , I feel it all for them , for me and for him.  But he is still there in the little compartments in my heart and head , smiling and slagging everyone off ,his baldy head gleaming ,he’s whole heartedly and curiously embracing everyone and everything around him.Wise and wonderful.  Heart ,mind and big belterous sparkly eyes open and ready to receive , to pull a cheeky face ,to say it like it is, guarding his morals and sharing love and honesty to all around him.He is alive in my heart and those who hold him in theirs. 

In an strange way , death arrived like a gift , life slowing down so you can take in what it is made up of and the people who enhance ,enlighten and connect us to our history and being. Consciously feeling the life blood circulating and uniting everyone in their grief for human loss.To re assess that which is important to you, to pull up all that is there, deep down and taken for granted and bring it up bold and vividly ,right in front of your eyes.

RIP Jamie , thank you for your colour. <3

[greerpesterarts]

Well hello there! Welcome to your Glasgow West Food Assembly. Our launch party is on Wednesday 9th November where you can meet our fabulous producers and try some tasty treats! Our produce includes fantastic fresh fish, mouth watering meats (including the must have steak pie!), beautiful artisan breads (only available to order until Sunday evening), juicy jams, chilli preserves, eggs, vegetables and dairy free must have mozzarella, to name a few... Once launched you'll find great products direct from quality farms every week. Come and meet the producers and and enjoy a new way to eat well, while supporting local agriculture.

[greerpesterarts]

The 50 Most Beautiful Words in the Irish Language | Smartling

To celebrate the beauty words and to highlight the importance of translation, Smartling presents 50 of the most beautiful words in the Irish language.

[greerpesterarts]

Good eggs: the health news that vindicated my 25-a-week habit

Not long ago, people thought eggs were full of salmonella and cholesterol. Now scientists say one a day could help prevent strokes. One a day? That’s nowhere near enough, writes one confirmed enthusiast (whatever Edwina Currie tells her)

[greerpesterarts]

Las hermosas tortillas ceremoniales: meticulosas pinturas sobre maíz (FOTOS) - Más de Mx

Son ofrendadas, sagradas. Las tortillas pintadas con ilustraciones que aluden a la cultura otomí tienen una significación profunda.

[greerpesterarts]

Carla Novi’s beautiful performance/ installation piece at Harvard about the 43 Ayotzinapa students who went missing in Mexico on the 26th of September 2014.

[greerpesterarts]

In austerity Britain, why don’t schools teach self-sufficiency? | Kathleen Kerridge

Our grandparents knew how to knit, sew and cook on the cheap. With so many people experiencing poverty, these skills must be taught once again