Parade of the Locos, June, 2006
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
San Miguel is a beautiful Colonial town in Central Mexico. It is so beautiful that has dominated in some ways by American ex-pats. Once a year, the natives of the the town have a masked parade that is organized by neighborhoods. Neighborhood groups plan all year for this parade that is an exuberant claim of the native people of their own town. There is a mask making tradition that has a long history but in recent years, American images have become popular. The Locos parade is celebrated on the Sunday closest to June 13, St. Anthony's Feast Day and was started by the farm workers almost three hundred years ago. The flamboyant procession of politicians, actors, cartoon characters, scare crows, monsters and clowns has deeply religious roots and begins at the church with fireworks at 6:00 am. After the parade, the neighborhood groups gather to feast and have a big party.
This parade was the inspiration for El Gran Dia de Los Artistas that was sponsored by Centro Cultural Aztlan for its grand opening in its new location on Fredericksburg Road and its entry as one of the many cultural venues int the Deco District.
El Gran Dia de los Artistas was organized by Proyecto Locos, a community arts organizing trio consisting of artist and cultural innovator, Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez, film-maker and writer, Erik Bosse and artist and arts organizer, Deborah Keller-Rihn.
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
San Miguel is a beautiful Colonial town in Central Mexico. It is so beautiful that has dominated in some ways by American ex-pats. Once a year, the natives of the the town have a masked parade that is organized by neighborhoods. Neighborhood groups plan all year for this parade that is an exuberant claim of the native people of their own town. There is a mask making tradition that has a long history but in recent years, American images have become popular. The Locos parade is celebrated on the Sunday closest to June 13, St. Anthony's Feast Day and was started by the farm workers almost three hundred years ago. The flamboyant procession of politicians, actors, cartoon characters, scare crows, monsters and clowns has deeply religious roots and begins at the church with fireworks at 6:00 am. After the parade, the neighborhood groups gather to feast and have a big party.
This parade was the inspiration for El Gran Dia de Los Artistas that was sponsored by Centro Cultural Aztlan for its grand opening in its new location on Fredericksburg Road and its entry as one of the many cultural venues int the Deco District.
El Gran Dia de los Artistas was organized by Proyecto Locos, a community arts organizing trio consisting of artist and cultural innovator, Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez, film-maker and writer, Erik Bosse and artist and arts organizer, Deborah Keller-Rihn.
