Before I show you what I created in Mexico for my art retreat and workshop, I feel that I have to show you what influenced my creations. If you have not been to Mexico City, then you may not know that it's one of the most artistic cities in the world where street art is encouraged and people travel there to go on street art tours which take them all over the city.
One of our stops was a museum, specifically the Antique Toy Museum of Mexico City. This workshop was titled "Rise of the Forsaken Toys", so it's only fitting to go to a toy museum (which also displays a lot of street art). A long time love of toys lead the owner Roberto Shimizii to fill a multi-level building with toys from all over the world which displays approximately 40,000 items but houses a collection of over a million. Vintage Barbie dolls caught my attention, who knew there were so many?
The entire place was wall to wall toys, clustered into themed areas, the entire worth of this building for a toy collector can't be imagined.
There was also local street art, mostly on the roof and it was incredible.
A view from the roof shows how prolific the street or wall art is as well as how a each roof is used, there were cats, dogs, pigeons and clothes lines on the roofs of Mexico City where the climate is mild, few homes have air conditioners or heaters.
We also toured the murals of Mexico City and other museums, all to prepare for our workshop time in Oaxaca where there was also incredible street art.
Inspiration could be found everywhere, the colors, the freedom of expression, all part of everyday life in Mexico.
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