Between Worlds
I remember the young teenager as she was on the day I captured her photograph. Later when I began this drawing I I studied her face. She was between two worlds back then; coming of age in a poor but relatively stable country. I also began to notice other things that I had only glanced at before.
Lace Curtains
For example, I was aware of the traditional lace curtains but when I studied the photograph, I noticed how they had been knotted to let in the fresh air through the decorative iron “rejas”. They also let the aroma of her grandma’s homemade tortillas and beans spill out into the street.
Almost everyone had wrought iron inserts (las rejas) in their windows. I had thought that they were purely for looks but when I lived in México I discovered that they had several purposes. Not only were they attractive but they permitted fresh air to enter the home and provided a safety barrier. Lizards however entered at will!
An Old Shotgun
I also noticed the old shotgun hanging on a strap on the other side of “las rejas”. It was the kind of strap that the Indian women wove on looms for their beautiful hand stitched bags. Everyone in the family had their own bag. School children used them instead of backpacks. Men used them instead of wallets.
Later I took a longer look at the shotgun and back at the curtains. Not only were they in the background of the photograph, but they were also the backdrop for this young teenager’s world. Sadly, the time wasn’t far off when “las rejas” wouldn’t be able to keep out the increasing violence.
Changing Times
She’s a young woman now, living in a culture very different from the one we knew when I took her picture. There’s an early curfew now. People no longer stroll through the streets and stop to chat with their neighbors. They also don’t risk expressing themselves outside of their homes.
I wonder if she remembers her childhood and those more peaceful times. I hope that the future will bring peace back to her community again.
