Arequipa, Peru
May 30 - June 28 [2023]
Arequipa represents the most memorable visit of my 2021 exploration and home to the eroded wall paint that unleashed my creative juices resulting in the body of work on display within the gallery above. Arequipa’s ideal weather, unique Andien Baroque architecture and volcanic landscapes are a seductive blend of aesthetic and comfort that is impossible to ignore. In fact, I have suggested to many that if placed within the United States and upgraded to first world infrastructure standards, Arequipa would list within the top five of most expensive cities to live. Yes, it is that attractive.
One interesting but slightly frustrating discovery of this visit was the missing paint formations that captured my attention in 2021. Apparently, many of the building owners decided to renovate post covid and in the process, masked all of the beauty I had photographed two years prior. Arequipa was built with a local volcanic white stone known as Silar that has difficulty accepting the components of paint. This results in continual flaking and peeling requiring new applications, many times with different colors. The net affect is a fascinating composition of color, shape and form that mimics the abstract expressionist paintings of the mid 20th century.
Arequipa is surrounded by unique geological formations including Colca Canyon, Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve and Ruta de Silar. The city resides two hours from the Pacific and a ten hour drive to the historically significant Lake Titicaca along the Bolivian border. La Paz, Bolivia’s capital was slated as my next stop along this journey south to Santiago, Chile but requirements for entry included an expensive visa, multiple documents including financial records and a Covid test. All of this, of course, the result a 2019 coup fomented by the United States in response to Bolivia's nationalization of their valuable natural resource, Lithium. You may recall Elon Musk's infamous tweet, ”We will coup whoever we choose, deal with it.” Thanks a lot Elon!
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So, I decided to reroute via bus through Chile, then northern Argentina and ultimately, Mendoza. The total distance of this leg is roughly 2200 miles so I will break it down into segments of travel staying in a multiple towns along the route for a day or two of exploration. In addition, I will be joined by my part time travel partner of the previous year, Aurelie Menniger. Aurelie is from Strasbourg in the Alsace region of northern France, a talented and published poet, professional tango dancer and a creative spirit that keeps me focused. She is also fluent in Spanish which will become increasingly valuable the further rural we travel. More on her and this exciting leg of my adventure when I post the Mendoza page next month.
