William Haseltine

Dr Mari Carmen Ramirez, Wortham Curator of Latin American Art and Director, International Center for the Arts of the Americas at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, discusses Latin American Art at the Aspen Ideas Festival. What follows are my notes based on a talk given by Dr. Mari Carmen Ramirez at the Aspen Ideas Festival, July 10, 2010: The ICAA:The International Center for Arts of the Americas (ICAA) at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston is a unique resource … More »

Crete is an Island roughly the size and shape of Long Island that lies approximately halfway between the Peloponnese and the coast of North Africa. Steep mountains, some rising two thousand meters, make up more than half the land. They divide the Island into deep fertile valleys and create an intricate coastline of bays and coves as they plunge into the sea. Most of Crete is limestone raised far above the ancient sea beds. Alabaster quarries are still active… More »

Kochi (formerly Cochin) is a city on the South Indian coast, in the State of Kerala boarding the Arabian Sea. There in fact two Kochis, the fabled spice city of the Malabar Coast on Fort Cochin Island, and a newer modern city across the channel. These two cities lie at the mouth of a natural harbor formed where the Vembanad River meet the sea. The region is beautiful. It is warm, fragrant and tropical. Inland waterways form intricate canals through dense tropical… More »

The Youth Orchestra of the Americas is just winding up the 2010 four country, 20-city tour of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Highlights included concerts with Joshua Bell in Colombia and the South American premier of Philip Glass' Cello Concerto, recorded for commercial release in the Fall, in Quito, and performed in Quito and Lima, and most importantly the launch of the Colombian Youth Philharmonic, in partnership with Batuta and Fundacion Bolivar Davivienda,… More »

I had long wished to visit Lake Titicaca, the largest lake, by volume, in South America that lies on the boarder of Peru and Bolivia. The beauty of the lake, the natural setting, the clear water, the surrounding snow capped Andes, the people who maintain many of their traditions combined to create a visit that far exceeded expectations. The visit was made more pleasant still by staying at an Eco Lodge, Casa Andina on Sausi Island. Casa Andina operates two types of… More »

The Nazca lines are patterns etched in the broad alluvial plains of the Peruvian Coast by the Nazca people who inhabited this region between 200 and 700 AD. Some lines are kilometers long, others as small as 200 meters. The Nazca people are also known for the colorful geometric designs on their terra cotta pottery and beautiful woven fabrics used a burial shrouds ,many of which are preserved in pristine condition as a result of a dry climate that rivals that of… More »

I recently visited Mike Doug's installation "Big Bambu" on the roof garden at the Metropolitan museum in New York. Last summer Mike Starn invited to view the sculpture's earlier incarnation at the former Tallix Foundry in Beacon New York. Big Bambu is a must visit for anyone interested in art who visits New York. How often do we see a work of art in progress, much less get to clamber around it, all atop the roof of the Museum with spectacular views all around. The… More »

I visited to the Campus of the University of Mexico City (UNAM). This is the largest of Mexico's Universities. More than 600,000 students are enrolled at the many campuses of this great University. Each of the Mexican states has its own university system. I remembered spectacular murals and beautiful architecture from a visit many decades ago. The reality far exceeded my expectations.The campus, built between 1950 and 1952, was designed by three architects Carlos… More »

On my recent visit to Mexico City I visited the very pleasant neighborhood of Coyocan. The area is named for the coyotes (coyotle) that used to inhabit the region. This is one of the earliest settlements of the Spanish. Cortes and his officers built spacious homes here, many of which are still standing and occupied. Each is enclosed by a high protective wall. They have an attractive open architecture with large enclosed gardens. Most of these homes line one of the… More »

The National Museum of Art is located in the center of the City not far from the Zocolo. It is just opposite the Museum of Minerals. It houses a fine collection of 19th and 20th century Mexican art. The building itself is a work of art. The grand staircase is beautifully designed the bronze balustrade was imported from Italy.The slides that follow are a tour through the museum. All of the major Mexican artists of the first half of the 20th century are represented. … More »

The Franz Meyer Museum is a unique collection of European, and Colonial Mexican decorative and fine arts. It was assembled by one man, Franz Meyer, while living in Mexico. The collection, along with enough money to maintain it, was left to the museum. The building is centrally located, not far from the Palace of Fine Arts. The museum itself is a beautiful early colonial building. The entry is flanked by two churches, each built atop the remains of an Aztec temple.… More »

The Tamayo Museum is located at one end of the Chapultepec forest, just across from the Museum of modern art. It is set in a part and surrounded by contemporary sculptures. The building, designed by Theodoro Gonzales and Leon and Abraham in 1981 is in what I call "contemporary Aztec", low massive rough stone. Evidently the museum itself is being expanded so many galleries were closed. Only an exhibit of contemporary work was on display. Tamayo's own collection… More »

Last December I had the great pleasure of dining at El Bulli, shortly before it closed for a two year hiatus. The description that follows is a memorial to a great restaurant, one I hope will re-open sooner than later. El Bulli is Ferran Adria's restaurant located in Catalonia on the Bay of Roses not far from the French border. The site is tucked into the side of a small cove, surrounded by pines and steep hills. The sound of the waves is gentle, the air pure. It… More »

Venture just outside of Washington DC for a weekend of symphony and opera in the Virginia countryside. More »

This new South American style not only presents a strong culinary presence, but also demonstrates the regions economic and cultural significance More »

A Peruvian wonder atop the Andes makes for good pictures and a great trip More »

Inside the beautiful and varied collection of art More »

The beauty of the river, and the miraculous plant and animal life that live in and along it More »

A look into the beautiful and exotic town More »

Surprising Lima. A city of 9 million people, founded over 2,500 years ago, extending over 50 miles of coast. Beautiful broad avenues, tropical flowers, ancient haciendas, 450 archeological sites, beautiful neocolonial buildings. A delight!! More »