Day 5: Meeting with Famous Nicaraguan Artists



            We started off the day by going to a volcano. We could normally see the crater in the volcano on a good day, but unfortunately there were sulfur clouds blocking most of the view. Afterwards, we went to a laguna where we swam, played ping pong, pool and relaxed. We also went to a local market where we could bargain and buy local crafts. The highlight of the day was meeting two local artists who were very interesting.

Today we experienced the work of two very influential Nicaraguan artists. One of them was Pedro Guerrero, who is considered one of the best potters in all of Nicaragua. We saw first hand how he hand makes all his work. He spins a large wheel with his foot below a table which causes a small platform to spin above the table. He puts clay on the platform and then sculpts it into whatever he wants. He is very delicate when sculpting because too much pressure can either deform or destroy it. The reason he is one of the best in the country is because he was crafted to do this from a young age. Many generations of potters came before him in his family, and he has been professionally making pottery for 27 years. His work is very good and almost every student bought something from him.

            The second artist we met was Carlos Mejia Godoy, who is “The Bob Dylan” of Nicaragua as many people said. We met him at the restaurant he owns. At first, we listened to him and his brother play songs, talk, describe his thought process and his view on many different topics. His music is typically lighthearted and focused on spreading joy and love, but in his early days during the revolution he wrote satirical songs on the radio. The lyrics in his songs are usually simple, but have a deep meaning for many in Nicaragua. We could tell this by the singing along, laughing and genuine enjoyment in the restaurant. Meeting these artists and going to the laguna and volcano was a really great experience, even though we were all exhausted by the end of the day.


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