Wild Flowers of El Charco, Mexico

Wild Flowers of El Charco, Mexico

I am excited to announce that I am going to give a workshop about Wild Flowers of El Charco in San Miguel de Allende!

Workshop news in Mexico! 

I am excited to announce that I am going to give a workshop about Wild Flowers of El Charco in San Miguel de Allende! All the informations about this workshop is down below and I will be very happy to meet you there in October.

‘Cosmos and dahlia, abutilon and passiflora are among the several hundred wildflowers that can be found in early October after the rain season on the grounds of El Charco del Ingenio. 

We explore the unique and unspoiled El Charco landscape together with a specialist, learn about the native plants and find samples to work with later on paper. Işık demonstrates different techniques and approaches that achieve life-like paintings. Learn the skills to portray delicate petals, leaves and detail in watercolor. The class helps you to combine the scientific accuracy with an aesthetic vision to create beautiful botanical painting of El Charco’s wild flowers’

Prerequisite: Botanical Illustration in Watercolor I or intermediate skills in watercolor. 

Dates: Thu-Sat, Mon, Oct. 3-5, 7
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m 
Location: El Charco and Posada Corazon, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Instructor: Işık Güner

Registration Information
Visit:
Visitor Center, 1007 York Street (for hours, please see botanicgardens.org
Online: mervihj@botanicgardens.org

Inquiries and Consultation: For more detailed information and for the payment, please contact Mervi at 720-865-3653

 

Note 1: If a class does not have sufficient number of registrations (6) it will be cancelled 7 days prior to class. Note 2: Supply lists are sent as an attachment with your registration confirmation. The lists are also available at botanicalillustration.blogspot.com or by request. 

Full Program&Price:

2019 October SMA Tour – So Much Art and Heritage October 1-10, 2019

Tuesday, October 1 - arriving to Posada Corazon, Aldama 9, San Miguel de Allende

Welcome dinner at Posada Corazon 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 2 - Full day guided tours of  Cañada de la Virgen archeological site and the  Museo de Astronomica Prehispanica including a  pre-Colombian meal prepared by Dr. Rossana Quiroz Ennisas  (lunch included) 

We'll explore the massive temple and archaic ruins that date back to 1050 AD. This archaeological site is located just 35 km from San Miguel de Allende. It was first explored by Luis Felipe Nieto in 1985. The official excavation project started in 2002, leaded by Gabriela Zepeda. The site open to the public in 2011. We learn about the landscape calendars of the place and its connection with the broader Mesoamerican calendric tradition. We’ll also learn how this location is connected to the birth place of Aztecs, the place of 7 caves or 7 ravines in Northern Mexico (Chicomoztoc). We´ll walk 3 km (about 2 miles) along the pre-Hispanic ceremonial road that was used during the 500 years history of the site. We visit the north temple, the south temple and we end our tour at the top of the main pyramid, the House of the 13 Heavens. Alberto Aveleyra, anthropologist and our guide, shares his research on the ancient cultures of Mexico and talk about the discoveries made by the archaeologists, the burials, offerings and ceremonial objects. The Prehispanic Astronomical Museum addresses a 10 year archeoastronomical research made at Cañada de la Virgen archaeological site in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. The exhibit explains the importance of the moon cycle at the site and the use of the pyramid as a calendar device.

Thursday, October 3

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wildflowers of El Charco with Isik Güner, El Charco del Ingenio

Tour of El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden with a specialist – transportation arranged. After the tour we stay in El Charco for sketching and documenting our specimens. Transport back to Posada Corazon

2-7 p.m. Market to Meal – Tour the Market and Make a Mexican Meal with Alicia Wilson (dinner included). We start with a stroll through the town’s central food market to pick up some ingredients, peruse the variety of fresh and dried chiles and try small portions of the roasted and seasoned Mexican delicacies typically prepared and eaten in the market. From there, we’ll head over to the quaint shop of a local winery at El Jardin to try their selection and choose one suited for our meal. Back in the large, square and wooden kitchen of Posada Corazon, we’ll prepare a festive meal while enjoying a cheese tasting of a variety of typical Mexican fresh types, making fresh and roasted salsas combining different chiles, as well as all the main vegetable and meat ‘guisos’ or stews that will highlight what is in season (and, therefore, the most delicious), all variations of traditional Mexican recipes. Two cooks are working with us as we need to split the group up for some of the class. We finish with a grand meal at the end and pitchers of Margaritas (vine also included) and an e-cookbook with recipes and pictures.

Friday, October 4

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wildflowers of El Charco with Isik Güner – Posada Corazon terrace (lunch included)

Afternoon: A unique guided tour to the Los Palomas Natural Protection Area. This 90 hectares (222 acres) forest reserve is located on the mountains (2600 meters’ elevation). We hike into the canyons to see more wildflowers and perhaps some of the tropical plants which thrive down there. Pre-Columbian rock paintings can also be found in the area, mostly in the caves.

Saturday, October 5

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wildflowers of El Charco with Isik Güner – Posada Corazon terrace

Afternoon on your own 

Sunday, October 6 – full day guided tour to San Pedro de los Pozos

The historic mining town was established by Chichimeca nomadic tribes in the pre-Columbian time. Gold and silver mining were the main economic sources that created this city in the 16th century. It was an important colony on the Silver Route for centuries. Large haciendas were built by the rich, and modern shops and a railroad brought commerce to the city. The Mexican Revolution of 1910 was extremely devastating to the population and mineral production of the town. Mineral de Pozos tried to make a comeback after the war, but the price of minerals had fallen. The town drudged on, but new tunnels hit an underground sea and flooded the chambers. It got abandoned twice in the last century, and this little ghost town is now coming back to life with festivals and a Pueblo Magico (town with cultural significance) designation. This town is said to be San Miguel de Allende of the 1950’s 

Our guided tour includes;

 Main Plaza and museum

 Churches

 Venado Azul music instruments.

 Comida

 Jesuit ovens

Monday, October 7

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wildflowers of El Charco with Isik Güner – Posada Corazon terrace (lunch included)

2 p.m. Tour of Sanctuary of Atotonilco (UNESCO World heritage site since 2008) tour.

The Sanctuary of Jesus of Nazareth, better known as the Sistine Chapel of America, is a baroque temple from the 18th century known for its majestic works of art painted in its chapels, walls and ceilings.

Tuesday, October 8

9 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Plant Portraits with Siligraphy technique – Rocio Rios, Posada Corazon (lunch included)

3 p.m. Guided tour of the historic Center of SMA

You are introduced to the origins of the city, the history of the parish and its sacred images, about the golden age of San Miguel, the XVIII century, and of course about the role of the city in the Independence of Mexico. Finally, the tour focus on the recent history of San Miguel, the XX century, the art schools, and the challenges of that present San Miguel is facing. Jardin, Parroquia, the Centro Cultural El Nigromante (the former Escuela Universitaria de Bellas Artes school, and the murals by students and David Alfredo Siqueiro), Instituto Allende (and David Leonardo’s mural), Biblioteca Pública and plaza of the Soledad. If you are on the mood we can go to the Mercado to have a glass of aguamiel or pulque, the agave nectar and the fermented drink that is done from it.

Wednesday, October 9

9 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Plant Portraits with Siligraphy technique – Rocio Rios, Posada Corazon

Afternoon on your own

Thursday, October 10

Return to the U.S. either through Leon or Queretaro

 

Fee: $2300 if drawing classes are included; $1600 excluding the art classes

Includes shuttle to and from the airport (1.5 hours away), lodging for 9 nights (double occupancy) with luxurious full organic breakfast, Internet, all the program including the visiting instructor workshops listed above.

The fee does NOT include international airfare, travel insurance, meals not listed in the itinerary; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, and communication charges, medical or evacuation fees including but not limited to emergency transportation, additional lodging, additional transportation, extra guide/porter services, medical treatment, etc., and tipping or gratuities.

Payment

Non re-fundable deposit $500/person is required for this trip and guarantees your spot. The remaining balance will be split in two payments: $900/$550 due by July 15, 2019 and $900/$550 due by September 2, 2019.

If you like to read about our treat - link is here!

 

 

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