18/10 – 1/11 – What has Black Calavera Been doing for the Past Two Weeks?
Hi Everybody!
So i usually do try and post everyday, although I have been so busy working on the thesis and the exhibition/ I thought I would just discuss what’s been happening over the past two weeks. The Day of the Dead is this week and I wouldn’t want to be behind on anything!
1. What’s Happening with the Thesis?
So….my thesis is called Black Calavera: The Mexican Day of the Dead and the Economy of the Skull in Popular Culture. I have been spending many late nights checking through the references, adding the photographs and making sure everything is correct before submitting everything. As many of you know, I have been documenting the skull in various subcultures such as punk, rock and street art, for the thesis I decided to specialise in the Mexican Day of the Dead.
It’s almost all finished, I just have to print it off tomorrow, my thesis will be finished on the Day of the Dead, what a coincidence! I will set up the thesis as a pdf document for anyone who is interested in reading through what I have written. This will properly happen once I completed everything at uni so stay tuned for updates!
Work in Progress Photographs attached to my Wardrobe Door.
2. Exhibition
Well the dates are getting closer and closer each day, I’ve been currently using my wardrobe door to determine how I will display my photographs. I would actually recommend this process, you can view your work from a distance and you can then determine what needs to be changed or altered. Plus the photos trigger all sorts of ideas that may influence you to try something different. This may not work out for everyone, but it defiantly works for me.
While I was writing the second chapter of my thesis, I decided to attach the photographs to the left hand side of the wardrobe door. For some reason, I had subconsciously made a cross from my own photographs which is quite interesting considering that I am not religious. I took a step back and I started to observe the placement / arrangement of the self portraits, I was surprised when I realised that I actually created a cross. This arrangement or display will be used for the exhibition that is still under construction at this particular moment, although I will post photographs once everything is completed on the 23rd of November!
3. Colourful Day of the Dead Cross from Amor Y Locura Provides Ideas for Photographic Project.
While I do love taking photographs, I have been restricted due to time constraints. I have managed to take a few photographs over the past few weeks and I thought I would post them onto the blog. Well, my dad had decided to buy me this cross made from tissue paper from a store in Melbourne also known as Amor Y Locura. For those who do not know about this very colourful and vibrant store, Amor Y Locura sells Day of the Dead merchandise from Mexico, I visit from time to time just to have a look at their new collections.
Skull on Colourful Day of the Dead Cross made from Tissue Paper
The cross is made from colourful tissue paper and I thought I could make my own one for my exhibiton. It’s currently hanging in my bedroom, I do love the colours, it’s very artistic and decorative. So if you’re in Melbourne or you do intend to visit Melbourne, make sure to visit this wonderful store on Gertrude Street. So I decided to take a photograph of my Mexican Day of the Dead keyring with the cross, the colours are definitely interesting, although the light wasn’t the best. I always have the opportunity to redo some of these photographs again at a later stage.
4. Sat 27th – Senoritas
This is by far the best Mexican Restaurant in Melbourne, I am not kidding you, the food is absolutely amazing, the staff are friendly, the customer service is fantastic and the interior design is artistic and creative, what more could you ask for? You definitely get your money’s worth and you can drink amazing tequila while sitting amongst beautifully decorated hand crafted skulls associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead. If I had the money I would eat there more often, well anyway, I decided to go there for dinner last saturday.
Not only do you get complimentary corn chips with salsa, you also get a complimentary clip of a Mexican Day of the Dead Skull along with the bill. I am a fan of complimentary items and this clip was by far the most interesting item I received from a restaurant. That’s one of the most exciting aspect while eating at Senoritas, you’re guaranteed good quality tequila, food and service with of course, the complimentary clip! I was so impressed with this clip, I’ve been wearing it on my cardigan and my bandanna.
I also collected one of their cards that was advertising event that was celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead. On Sunday, Senoriats is offering an 8 course meal and a special list of tequila and cocktails. To me this sounds like the most amazing event ever, I have also realised that there are other Mexican restaurants around Melbourne who will be celebrating the Day of the Dead. Of course I have work on the same day, but I am really tempted to travel up to Melbourne just to have an eight course meal at Senoritas. If you’re in Melbourne, drop in to Senoritas or check out their website.
Day of the Dead Clip from Senoritas
Considering that I have been talking about this clip I had received with my meal, I thought I would take a photograph. Then I had decided to use the bright blue bath / shower matt as a backdrop. It was a very random decision, although I thought that the colours used for the Mexican Day of the Dead skull complimented the bath matt and the best light in the house is in the bathroom (It’s been the place where i have taken most of my photographs)
5. Wed 31st – Halloween
I hope you all had a great halloween, I was unfortunately stuck in the library studying for my next essay, although I did see people wearing costumes and outfits around the city. Finally Australia is slowly catching up with the whole Halloween Celebration, the supermarkets were selling Halloween merchandise that is something I haven’t seen before.
Espolon had released an advertisement on Facebook that just makes me want to run out and buy another bottle of tequila! The packaging is inspired by the Day of The Dead and the tequila taste’s very good for the price! Check out Espolon recent advertisement!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TUW1yMPXsw&feature=related
http://www.facebook.com/espolontequila?fref=ts
4. 1/11 The Day of the Dead is almost here!…What are you planning to do?
Well it’s the first of November in Australia today so technically the Day of the Dead doesn’t start until this friday or saturday. This weekend I am attending a sugar skull workshop at the immigration museum, I am extremely excited and I’ve been counting down the days since last week. I’ll make sure to take some photographs and of course I’ll do a photo shoot with the sugar skull at some stage. I can’t wait! This whole year I’ve been studying the Day of the Dead and it’s almost here! What is everyone else planning to do on the Day of the Dead? I would love to hear what everyone else has planned on Dia De Los Muertos!
skullsproject 
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