Report from Mexico-a John Bridge exclusive

[mosquito]

Recently when I posted that I was going to a Tattoo convention in Mexico, John asked me to bring some pitures back. Of Course since this is a tile forum, I ended up shooting more tile pictures than tattoo pics. It was a two day conglomeration of some of the wildest stuff I have seen,with several days of touring some of the smaller cities around Guadalajara. I hope I get this picture linking stuff right, I've never done it here in the forum before. It was funny, because after a while, my husband and daughter were pointing out some aspect of tile work and telling me I neede a picture of that.

In "the Guad" , everything is tiled. The floors http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/popular_pattern.jpg , the walls, http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/wall.jpg the ceilings, http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/ceiling.jpg
although in this case, seen frequently, the tile is actually the structure of the roof. And of course the churches. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/church.jpg In some houses there are fountains tiled right into the wall. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/fountain.jpg

A lot of the tiling was really bad, I guess because everything is tiled, the regular workers do it and the result is some really bad spacing and odd layouts.Here is a shot of how they get their supplies up to a high work site. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/highworksite.jpg Whatever it is they tie it on and haul it up.

Back at the convention a lot of tattooing was going on http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tattooing.jpg Some of it was quite good, actually. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tattoo.jpg There were a lot of visitors there of all kinds. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/visitor.jpg Everyone had brought along their tool boxes with the tools of their trade. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tattoo_tools_of_trade.jpg

We visited Tlaquepaque, where they were remodeling the town square. frames of concrete were laid, http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/paving.jpg
then the pavers were set inside the frame. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/paving2.jpg http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/pavers.jpg In some areas the walkways were paved with half bricks laid in a pattern in coarse sand or small gravel, beat in flat, then concreted in. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/pave_bricks.jpg Of course after watching all that hard work we had to relax at the local restaurant, where we noticed this nice tile frame around the window. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/cerveza.jpg We thought about you, John, shame you couldn't be there.

To be Continued.....

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[mosquito]

We found a really neat store that had a lot of Mosaic pictures. I have included some of my favorites, They came in sizes from 6"x6" up to 4'x5'. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/OurLadyofGuadalupe.jpg http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/adam_and_eve.jpg http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/bird.jpg http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/fruit.jpg http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/village.jpg

Back at the convention, other weird stuff was going on..Piercing http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tattoo_tongue_piercing.jpg
http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tattoo_pierced.jpg and even though it is difficult to see, I have included one of the suspension, where this guy ran three hooks deep through the skin of his upper back and was suspended from chains. He was up there dancing around and goofing off like there was nothing to it.http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tattoo_suspended.jpg

Next we ventured out to Tonola. This area had a lot going on. There was one store that sold Marble tables some were mosaic http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/marble_table-mosaic.jpg some were larger peices, I'm not sure what you would call it http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/marble_table.jpg and some were just huge slabs of marble. They sold bathroom sets with sinks, sink surrounds in 4 pieces, mirror, tp holder, the whole works, all hand painted and glazed. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/sink.jpg You could buy all types of talavera tile http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/TalaveraTile.jpg or you could order it special hand painted in the pattern you wanted. Tile-framed mirrors were very popular, you could set them with whatever tile you wanted. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/mirrors.jpg
My daughter found this ring, made out of tiny glass mosaic. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/OurLadyofGuadalupe.jpg

There were many marvelous things to see, I wish I could have included them all. But alas, the time to return to the states had come, I hope you have enjoyed my Mexican report and I really hope that I have done this picture linking thing right.

Next reporting will come to you from Nome, Alaska. I bet tile isn't as common up there, but maybe when I get back I'll have enough money to do the bathroom the way I want to, and John's ebook will be out so I can Kerdi up a storm.

[mosquito]

So it looks like maybe I only messed up on two pics. One was of a pierced guy. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/tatoo_pierced.jpg
and the other was of the mosaic ring, http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/glass_ring.jpg Hey John, this picture thing is pretty neat, you're going to have to let me do it again sometime :)

[mosquito]

Make that three pics. Here's the mosaic table. http://www.tileyourworld.com/stuff/JenScott/marble_table_mosaic.jpg

[John Bridge]

Hi Jennifer,

I see you figured it out.

Folks, I loaded these pictures onto one of our web sites so that Jen could post them. Thought people would appreciate it.

I've worked on the hanging guy. I think we can see him now.

Also, I'm going to move all this to the Mud Box. ;)

[LadyGodiva]

I absolutely love Mexico, and I've appreciated seeing the many pics you posted. You brought a smile to my face this morning :)

By the way, I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful tile work anywhere in this country. Maybe we'll have to send our tile guys for lessons :tongue:

[John Bridge]

I go to Mexico periodically for lessons. Not tile lessons, though. Beer drinking lessons. :D

[LadyGodiva]

John dearest, you need to take in the 'tile' part with the beer drinking :tongue: :D

[John Bridge]

Oh, you mean I should stop using bullnose to do outside corners and just overlap the field tiles. Also, I should gather unwashed beach sand with which to make my mortar, and I should plunk the tiles down in the rustic manner, paying no attention at all to lines and spacing. And I should grout in a haphazard manner, leaving copious amounts of cement on the edges of the tiles?

Well, okay then. ;)

[cx]

See, old dogs can learn new tricks. :)

[Shaughnn]

Eli,
You're suggestion is actually insulting on a number of levels. There's an awful lot of awful tile down "Mexico way"; Sloppy, inappropriate, unrefined and mostly decorative. I'm sure that there are excelent mechanics kept busy by the monied minority but the rank-and-file work is mostly rank and vile.
Thanks for your informed opinions, though. :fim:
Shaughnn

[John Bridge]

I'd like to suggest that we now get off this tack and appreciate what Jennifer captured for us. There are some really cool pictures in here. ;)

[LadyGodiva]

Shaughn, you missed the humour, but OLD man John caught it :bow:

Jennifer, I bought 5 different sized mirrors in Mexico a couple years ago. I just love the tile work around them :)

[oma]

The only places I have been in Mexico were Cozumel and a little place about forty km south of Cancuun for scuba trips, so I really don't know that much of their tile work, but I'm curious. Is the tile usage something that was Spanish influence, or native to the Indian peoples who were there prior to the Spanish? I know the natives have great natural ability for stone masonry, but I don't know the evolution of their architecture and design. Any comments or insight?

[sugarbeth]

Drooling over all those tiles/mosaics for sale. I just bought a tile mirror like that from an import store the other day.

[John Bridge]

Don't know a lot about that particular aspect of tile history, but talavera tiles are an evolution of earlier tiles from both Spain and Portugal. Portugal, particularly, still uses similar tiles to accent door and window frames in otherwise modern architecture, for example. I don't know for sure, but I do strongly suspect that the Indian pre-culture of Mexico (and South and Central America as a whole) predominates.

[Albert]

oh no idont like whut eye see. pleez tell me im rong. whatis that hangin from outta duh front of hangman's pants?? :sick:

albert

[mosquito]

Its was a rubber chicken, this was at the end of a very weird comedy routine.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Look at the noose around that poor chicken's neck and what it's doing to him.



:shake:

[tileguy_n_ky]

I too returned from Mexico and beyond. Though, I did not take any pics of the tile work. I was in Cozumel and Costa Maya. Also in Belize. One thing that all three had in common was glass tile in a lot of the outdoor fountains. The work was unique, I will say that. Tile is definetly used throughout the region. Much more than here in Ky. Saw several places that the rotundas were tile on the roofs. Especially in Cozumel. Costa Maya still fairly undeveloped. Thought long and hard about buying some bowels to bring back and resale. In Cozumel the bowl, four countertop tiles, soap dish, toothbrush holder, little shelf, TP holder and towel bar pieces were going for $300 USD. The bowls alone go for that price or higher locally.

Thinging of explore the import business.

Ok, right off the next trip but never really import anything. :shades:

We (my wife and I) were on a cruise. That boat would be a tile man's dream. Though, it would need to be a good size crew. Tons of granite on floors and walls (3 decks of walls in some places). Also, more glass tile around all the pools.

[Hamilton]

If you were on your way to a tattoo convention you must have some
youve collected jennifer. Got any pics? :) If so lets see them. Ive only
got one done by an apprentice and soon to add a new memorial piece for
a friend who passed. If youre willing to share im sure alot of folks would
like to see what you have collected so far :) who knows maybe we should
start a photo thread "Show Me Your Tattoo" lol :rolleyes: