Viejo y Nuevo

Harriet continues to commandeer Alan Irwin’s Blog…

As we strolled several blocks south of Antigua central on our way to the Cultural Center, the chi-chi boutiques became scarcer and gave way to more residential areas, fewer tourists and an occasional Colonial ruin.

The Cultural Center was created by an agreement between one of the universities and the 5-star Casa Santo Domingo Hotel. The hotel — about which Sue Benasso and I would say, “Our parents would stay here” – and several museums are installed in what was once the church and convent of Santo Domingo and the St. Thomas Aquinas College. Soft, sacred music lofts through the “lobby,” tropical, parrot- populated gardens and the broad hallways which are flanked by ancient stone walls complemented by contemporary reinforcements and halogen lighting. It is an exquisite blend of old and new. . . and there is no doubt this is a cinco estrellas place.

img_3524.JPGAmong the museos were two with the greatest appeal for us. The “Hall of the Artist” houses temporary exhibits and currently has a show by contemporary artists paying homage to Frida Kahlo. This is the 100th anniversary of her birth so we’re certain the there will be many more Frida tributes and retrospectives throughout the art world.

img_3528.JPGThe Museum of Pre-Columbian Art and Modern Glass is just that. But the display is what is quite brilliant with Pre-Hispanic objects made of ceramics and stone, sharing space with contemporary art glass pieces of similar themes and forms. And again, the space is a beautiful marriage of ancient stone walls, newly constructed walls in rich hues, iron supports and gigantic wooden beams overhead, and halogens to bring it all together. Way cool. This rates as one of my favorite museums of all time. (Note from Alan: I overhead the curator asking Harriet for an opinion about something and thought “that’s like asking a tsunami for some water.”) Okay, yes, well I did get a little thrill when the curator wanted to know which style of display placard I preferred . Me? Have an opinion? Graphics? You betcha.

Following through on the Frida Kahlo theme, we returned to the main tourist drag for lunch at the pricey, trendy Frida’s restaurant, where we were overjoyed to at last have our first good meal in Guatemala.

Next up: Food and Coffee

3 thoughts on “Viejo y Nuevo

  1. Art, schmart. Food — tell me about the food. Tom is elk hunting in the mountains of Colorado and I’m hungry.

  2. OK, I’m drooling over that pink glass piece in the last picture. Bring that one back for me…whatdyamean its a thousand bucks! cc

  3. yeah, what up with the no food critiques…those are usually my favorite as I get to go nowhere except to drop my kids off at their busy socail lives…sushi is about as whacky as I get to have…happy travels.
    Melissa

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