Text and images from Jessica Waters Gordon
Jessica Waters Gordon is an australian artist who spent some years in Guatemala and explored the magic of its colors, waving and more. Get to know her more throught her own words!
I grew up on a very large and dry farm, 5 hours drive from Sydney, Australia, 30kms from a town called Gunnedah. We had cows, sheep and crops. I loved the farm life with horses and dogs and cats, but as I grew older I couldn't wait to explore the cities and then travel abroad. I studied a bachelor of visual arts at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia and then I studied an Advanced Diploma in fashion design and textiles in Sydney. I always drew as a child and still do. My mother is an art teacher and encouraged me to be an artist. I mostly work with acrylics and also make drawings with coloured pencils now as well. I used to use a simple blue pen to draw with on paper for a few years also. I have exhibited in Sydney 4 times and in Guatemala 3 times and once in a travelling exhibition against Monsanto, in Mexico. I have also made several murals in hostels in Barcelona, Seville, Spain, in cafes, bars and restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala, and outside at The Wizard festival in Monterrico, and Caoba farms, as well as in an office in Sydney recently, and a music school. I also teach kids african drumming classes once a week with djembe drums in a primary school in Sydney now.
In 2012 I backpacked throughout Central America and briefly saw Guatemala, Tikal and Flores, and I thought; I have to return to this amazing country.
I saw photos of the incredible textiles of Guatemala and as I have always loved colour and studied art, fashion design and texiles, and I really wanted to see these amazing fabrics. I also wanted to live in a country long term, to understand the culture and learn the Spanish. So I came to Xela in July 2015, to apply as a volunteer at Trama Textiles, but there was already enough volunteers and I couldn't speak very good Spanish anyway. So, I rented an art studio and I studied spanish by myself as well as studied the fabrics, and created many drawings with markers; abstracts. I made friends with other artists and we exhibited in a group show in Xela, with Vessica Gallery and the Festival de arte emergente.
I love the colours of the houses in Xela, and I actually love how the paint chips back or falls off the walls and you can see the layers of paint underneath. Its like abstract art! I love strange things like that i suppose; things that you aren't supposed to like.
There are colours everywhere in Guatemala. I go crazy for (i love) the coloured woodshavings between the cracks of the cobblestones after a procession like Semana Santa. I took many photos of cobblestones.
I love how there's many people around the city, the incredible variety of foods in the markets, the beautiful people. I love the energy of people, protesting for their rights, the nature around the city etc. I will definitely come back to Xela.
I love animals, so it was nice to see dogs around and to feed them and pat them. And I helped out a few weekends, caring for dogs and cats after surgery with an NGO in Antigua to help neuter the stray dogs and find them homes which was great.
I also really wanted to volunteer and teach art and also dance, so after 3 months in Xela, enjoying the hot steam rooms in the mountains, the art community, the textiles and the hot corn on the cob, I moved to Antigua, and I gave art classes at Steps of Hope, in Santa Maria, and art classes and latin/african dance classes in Casa Alianza in Guate and art classes in Casa Panibal women's refuge in Antigua.
Actually, two friends and I started Casa Panibal in San Pedro de las Huertas, in late 2015 for women and their children, and has now grown bigger and and is doing really well, supporting women to improve their lives, to study and to eventually find a safe place to live .
I lived in Antigua for 4 years, and I gave art classes in Cafe Union on Thursday nights, and some private art lessons. I also had an art exhibition in Cafe Union and Meson Panza Verde Hotel twice.
Guatemala is so different from Australia. There's always something special going on in Guatemala; processions, school band practice, fireworks, market days etc.
It's a very busy, crowded and festive culture compared to mine, which is very exciting. It can be hard to sleep at times with the church fireworks, but its definitely not a boring country. I really like how you can always find someone selling food closeby, especially the mangos, the Tostadas with cabbage, carrots, cheese, egg, or simply with avocado and beans, the chicken Pepian, the Tamales and the strong coffee! But the markets with all the tropical fruits are so colourful and beautiful and delicious. In Australia theres's no market like it. Pacas are a favourite as well, I love finding some clothing gems, really good pieces to wear, and jackets for the unexpected cold nights.
Dancing is a huge passion of mine, all/ any styles, and Guatemalans love to dance and are really really good dancers. I actually saw salsa for the first time in Argentina in 2005 and thought, I have to learn this, so I went back to Sydney and took classes and also learn't Bachata, but in clubs. Now, in Sydney, I dance in clubs full of latinos from different countries, but I miss my Guatemalan friends who really are incredible dancers and I can't wait to return. I improved my salsa/bachata skills in Guatemala a lot and would love to be able to teach lead salsa one day.
In 2020 just before the covid outbreak I had finished a month living and creating paintings at an artist residency just out of Barcelona, Spain, in the vineyard area. I met many international artists and we were going to have an exhibition in Barcelona, but we had to isolate. So I would like to return to Spain soon, to live for a while and to have an exhibition. I would like to have an art exhibition with my two artist friends from Xela, Juan Esteban Caledron and Lui Gui, whom we have exhibited together in Xela, and Id love to see our art in Valencia, Spain. There's so many art galleries there and in Spain in general, and such a big art community. Right now, I am designing some 'useable art'. Art that's functional; lamps, chairs, tables etc, with my style aesthetic of course. And I'm organising an exhibition in Sydney for that.
And my heart is in Central America and especially in Guatemala. I will return and continue teaching art/crafts/dance/yoga/and english, by the end of this year. I want to see more of the country. I saw Tikal, and Montericco but I would love to explore the Rio Dulce as well as Huehuetenango, Nebaj and Coban area. I am in awe of the textiles from all the regions especially from the Atitlan Lake and Nebaj. I want to visit more places and see their art. Because it is art. The depth of history and knowledge of colours and their combinations is astounding.
I would say to the people of Guatemala, thank you for your beautiful hospitality. Guatemala is a country rich in tradition, culture and natural wonder. I hope that this continues and grows. The nature of Guatemala is truly unique; the forests, the lakes, the volcanoes, the beaches, plants and animals, and I hope that they are loved and cared for, for generations to come.
Thank you
Jessica Waters Gordon
instagram: jessicawatersgordon
website: www.jessicawatersgordon.com
