Aztlán, Chicano Poet Alurista, con Boina

A seminal poet, theorist, and teacher of Chicano cultural nationalism, Alurista is important for his contribution to the development of an “interlingual” poetry fashioned from a blend of Spanish, English, and pre-Columbian languages, and for his incorporation of pre-Columbian religion and mythology into his poetry. 

He has also played a vital role in introducing Chicano studies into universities in the United States. Over the course of his career he has evolved from a politically militant opponent of Anglo domination of Mexican and Chicano people to a proponent of spiritual transformation of vision and consciousness as essential to effecting social change for all people. 

Throughout his poetry he reiterates that corporate commercial values and practices lie at the root of political, social, and economic exploitation and have imposed denatured lives on people. 

To this alienated condition he opposes the myth of a lost paradise called Aztlán, and of a pre-Columbian golden age, when cosmic forces and daily routines were in tune. Through the force of his poetry, founded on his faith that language creates reality, Alurista attempts to stimulate a return to a spiritual connection he believes people must have with each other and with cosmic processes in order for there to be just and harmonious societies.

Chilean Poet Carlos Trujillo's "Old Man"

In 2003 the Chilean poet Carlos Trujillo began to write poems based on Rogovin's photos. Nada Queda Atrás (Nothing Left Behind) contains forty poems and forty photographs from that collaboration. Published by the Museum of Modern Art Chiloé (2008).

"Old Man" , From the Chile photo series, 1967

OF TIME, EARTH AND DUST

                       (THE OLD MAN)

The years fell upon me like a landslide

If you look carefully

You will see a mishmash of time, earth and dust

Not just skin and bone

I have always carried my years on my back

I was born old

For since my first cry

I have shouldered

The entire history of my ancestors.

Look at me carefully, I ask you

I am the face of the earth

I am the wrinkled face of the planet

In my face run ravines and rivers

Southern winds and rolling stones

Open seas and hills

Look at me carefully, I ask you

Even my poor clothing is the face of the earth

My dusty jacket of other old yesterdays

Inhabits days and nights at the same time

With the brush of an artist

Shadow and light painting mysterious reliefs

Immense lapels that have never seen an iron

One resting against his chest like a book cover

The other peering out of the corner of its eye like a sail

A small beam of sunlight upon the heart

The slightest beam of sunlight

Upon the heart

Is all that life needs to live

Look at my face, I ask you

Look at my lips, thick on a planetary scale

Look at my solid, godly nose of dark stone

Look at my eyes, they have seen it all

And would see it all again

Look at my cheeks, raised like hills

By the pride of my people

Look at my thinned hair and the wrinkles on my forehead

Look at the beret that has lived upon my head

For as long as I can remember

Look at the thick boards of the wall behind me

Look at its years, discover its stories

Look at the tree that branches out happy

To be a southern tree, drinker of a thousand rains and thunders

Look at the white angel wings it has begun to grow.

Look at my face

And you will see the whole world.

Lanz Bulldog

The Lanz Bulldog was a tractor manufactured by Heinrich Lanz AG in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. 

Many berets, a Lanz Bulldog and old Buick; date and place unknown

Production started in 1921 and various versions of the Bulldog were produced up to 1960. John Deere purchased Lanz in 1956 and started using the name "John Deere-Lanz" for the Lanz product line. A few years after the Bulldog was discontinued the Lanz name fell into disuse. The Lanz Bulldog was one of the most popular German tractors, with over 220,000 of them produced in its long production life. The name "Bulldog" is widely used in Germany as a synonym for tractors even today, especially in Bavaria.

The Bulldog was a simple and easily maintained vehicle due primarily to its simple power source: a single cylinder, horizontal, two-stroke, hot bulb engine. Initially the engine was a 6.3 litre, 12 horsepower unit, but as the Bulldog evolved the engine was increased to 10.3 litres and 55 horsepower. While hot bulb engines were crude they were easy to maintain and could burn a wide variety of low grade fuels – even waste oils.

‘Le Percheron’ was a licensed copy of the 25 HP hot-bulb Bulldog built by Société Nationale de Construction Aeronautic du Centre (SNCAC) at Colombe in France from about 1939. It is believed that nearly 3,700 were built before production ceased in 1956.

The pictures of the beautifully restored Lanz Bulldog above are by (remember yesterday's post?) Thierry Dupré, who also does upholstery and leatherwork.

Thierry Dupré

Forest manager Thierry Dupré is a natural with animals. Like his father and grandfather who practised horse-drawn tree hauling, Thierry combines efficiency and respect to nature in his work; no damage, no pollution, no noise!

"Raindeer" too, for a Christmas event

Thierry is a member of a cooperative that provides advice and practical help to clean hard to get to and sensitive forest sites, canals, rivers, etc. 

Thierry works with horses, mules, donkeys and cows. Please explore his web site (in French) with lots of fascinating information and pictures. 

Poet Jack Beeching

Jack Beeching was born in Hastings, Sussex, England, in 1922, and died in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 2001.

Poet Jack Beeching with daughter Tamar

Beeching's poetry is considered moving, original, clear-sighted, compressed, and funny. This was a view expressed by the editor of Qualm in 2003, a high opinion shared by the editors at Penguin circa 1970, and reflected in his obituary in The Independent thirty years later, whose author speaks also of Beeching's 'disciplined metre, subtle half-rhyme and a luxuriant syntax which expressed at times distinctly "difficult" metaphysical concerns'. His writing in old age was perhaps at least as strong and trenchant as that of any of his peers of a similar age.

Although he continued to write until his death, during the second half of his life his work fell into neglect. This neglect was partly attributable to his having to live, because of his damaged lung, abroad in drier climates, including Greece, Turkey, Guatemala, Lucca, Genoa, Menton, and Majorca. It was a life of near-poverty in tiny apartments.

He was published in Penguin Modern Poets No. 16 in 1970, and near the end of his life brought out a collection, Poems 1940-2000 (Art Ojo Nuevo). He was a novelist and writer of historical books, but stated "Poetry is my avocation; the other forms of writing are a means of livelihood".

Jehovah Witnesses with Communist Caps

This photograph shows a group of Jehovah's Witnesses in their camp uniforms after liberation. These men were imprisoned in the Niederhagen bei Wewelsburg concentration camp, Germany, 1945.
Interestingly, they seem to be wearing berets, in the camp jargon these were called 'communist caps', but I haven't found out why (I imagine after Soviet POW's, but the Red Army wasn't really into wearing berets...). 
Some interesting details: the prisoners seem relatively healthy and well fed (immediately after their liberation) and (bottom left) one prisoner has his arm comradely around the shoulder of his guard. 
Again, I can only imagine. Maybe these prisoners received a slightly better treatment than other c.c. prisoners, working on Himmler's pet project, the Wewelsburg Castle. 

Marianne Thieme in Battle Dress with Beret

Marianne Louise Thieme (1972) is a Dutch politician of the Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren). She has been Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives since 23 November 2006 and an MP since 30 November 2006. Thieme is a jurist by education, an animal rights activist, and an author by occupation.

Thieme studied from 1991 at the Sorbonne in Paris and at the Erasmus University. During this time she became a vegetarian. Her interest in animal rights motivated her to start studying law. Thieme graduated in 1997.

From 1998 to 2001 Marianne Thieme worked at research agency B&A Group in The Hague. Between 2001 and 2004 she was policy official at Bont voor Dieren (Fur for Animals, a Dutch anti-fur animal welfare foundation). Until November 2006 she was the general manager of Stichting Wakker Dier (a Dutch animal welfare foundation against industrial agriculture).

Marianne Thieme with 19 year old 'Battle Dress' designer Tom Pijnenburg

During the Dutch general election of 2006 the Party for Animals gained 179,988 votes (1.8%), enough for two seats in the Dutch parliament. The party became the world's first party to gain parliamentary seats with an agenda focused primarily on animal rights.

Marianne Thieme always concludes her speeches in Parliament with the phrase "Voorts zijn wij van mening dat er een einde moet komen aan de bio-industrie." ("Furthermore we are of the opinion that factory farming has to be ended."), referring to Cato the Elder's famous conclusion of his speeches with Carthago delenda est.

"La gran carrera", by Kote Camacho

Kote Camacho (1980) is a graduate in Fine Arts from the University of the Basque Country, Kote Camacho has been a comic scriptwriter and artist for Napartheid. He has lived in Bilbao, Madrid and London. He has been a storyboard artist (Caótica Ana by Julio Medem; 28 Weeks Later by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo), traditional and 3D animator and he has also worked in post production. He currently lives in Oiartzun, where he has created his first short film for the silver screen, La gran carrera.

The year is 1914. The Lasarte racetrack announces a race with a never-before-seen prize for the winning horse. Eight of the best horses and mares in the world have registered. Fans and heavy betters from all continents gather to participate in the great event: the Half Million Grand Prize.

The Tail Dragger, with Txapela at Hondarribia Blues Festival

James Yancy Jones, known as The Tail Dragger, is a long-time disciple of Howlin' Wolf; in fact, the Wolf gave James the moniker "Tail Dragger" emanating from one of the Wolf's now-classic songs. 

The Tail Dragger followed Wolf from club- to-club, watching and getting pointers from the larger-then-life Howlin' Wolf for more than 20 years. The Wolf allowed "The Dragger" to perform his blues while Wolf took a break on weekend shows. Soon "The Dragger" was playing his own numerous club dates on the West and South Sides of Chicago.

Tail Dragger is from Altheimer, Arkansas and during his formative years he saw Sonny Boy Williamson and Boyd Gilmore perform at house parties and country suppers. Dragger soon heard the records of Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters and Elmore James and his musical tastes were set in stone.

Tail Dragger remains intensely loyal to his early influences. The Tail Dragger, by his own admission, sings only lowdown blues. "Lowdown blues is all I like...All I feel...and I sing what I feel," flatly states The Dragger. "Its's like I get into a trance when I sing the blues, I forget about everything else. Nothing else matters," concludes The Tail Dragger.

Foulard Super Exposition

The Foulard Super Exposition is the French equivalent of the boina Super Lujo; a top-of-the-range beret in Laulhère's finest finishing, highest quality merino wool with leather headband in a 10 pouces / 280mm diameter. 

Impermeable, of course, and one of the very best berets available in this diameter. This foulard comes in a black Laulhère gift box.

Only a very small number available, in sizes 57-60.

Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery

Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery, or 'Monty' to friends, has featured numerous times on The Beret Project (here, here and here). It's not my habit to highlight military berets, or their owners, but I guess Monty does deserve his special place here (if only it was because KANGOL actually named their best selling beret after him!). 

Winston Churchill pays a visit to Monty (and dog "Rommel") at his HQ in Chateau Creully, Normandy in August 1944

Recently, 200 black and white photographs were auctioned, amassed by Montgomery’s assistant, Captain Noel Chavasse.

Monty rolls on through the liberated low countries in the cold winter of 1944

Chavasse was at Monty's side as Allies swept towards Germany.

The king is seen with Monty and a friendly fox terrier

Photos give an insight in a short period of the life of the marshal, like during a briefing with generals on stools by a haystack; Monty discussing battle plans with Mountbatten.

Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg surrendering the German forces in Monty's tent on May 4, 1945

The archive includes original surrender documents to signal the end of WWII in Europe.

Monty, British General Sir Miles Dempsey and US general Omar Bradley have a council of war by a haystack in northern France, August 21, 1944

Let's not forget, Monty was a major promoter of beret wearing in his day - in and outside the military!

Monty stops to chat with troops. Steven Bosley, of Bosleys auctioneers of Marlow, said This is a very important archive - one you could argue that should be in the Imperial War Museum!

Claudio Parentela

Italian artist Claudio Parentela (1962) still lives and works in his home town Catanzaro (Calabria).

An enormously productive illustrator, painter, photographer, mail artist, free-lance journalist and cartoonist, well known in the international underground scene. 

Works of Claudio Parentela can be found in e-zines, art magazines, web sites and private collections around the world. Specifically for The Beret Project, Claudio created the works pictured here.

Please explore his web site (and take your time) here: http://www.claudioparentela.net/

Thank you so much, Claudio

Beret!

Beret! is the notorious group of American's that became so angry, they had no American means of expression and were forced to be reborn by their hate into a world of moustaches, wine, cigarettes, and stripes. The Frenchest thing to come out of America since taste, Beret! is a three-piece with singer Jacques Merde, bassist and singer Albert Fausse-Couche, and drummer Henri En Coule. 

Proclaiming that "only Americans need guitars",

Beret! is simply bass, drums, and a few Frenchmen screaming as loud as they can. Combine that with an angry mob of French hooligans at the show for the sole purpose of being the hardcore-dancing fist to back Beret!'s words of anger, and there you have Beret!

The stripes, the smoke, the anger...va'ten coule.

French Military Berets - now available at South Pacific Berets!

Laulhère is the principal supplier of berets to the French military (and many armies around the world), including the Foreign Legion. 

French military berets are of very small diameter, between 23.5 and 26cm. South Pacific Berets stocks two types of French military berets: the black version which is the standard for most of the army and the green version as used by the Foreign Legion and Marine Infantry Commandos. 

Apart from the colour, both berets are identical; fitted with two air vents, satin lining, real goat leather headband with drawstring and carrying Laulhère's Commando label. 

Activist Peter Tatchell with Beret

Today, one year ago:

Leading gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell was arrested yesterday after he tried to reach the car of Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a visit to Westminster Abbey in London.
Tatchell, dressed in black clothing and a black beret with a red star on it, resisted police and was at one point seen struggling on the ground while officers attempted to arrest him.
The Melbourne-born 60-year-old wanted to protest what he saw as the president’s personal involvement in the bloody repression of Aceh and West Papua and abuse of political prisoners.
Protesters from various human rights groups demonstrated against Mr Yudhoyono, who arrived in the UK on a three-day state visit which included a gala dinner hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Tatchell was later released without charge despite claiming he was also attempting a citizen's arrest of the Indonesian president.
"The president stands accused of crimes against humanity in East Timor and West Papua, involving the deaths of thousands of people," he said.
"I am saddened that some police officers apparently have no respect for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest."

The Brand New Laulhères!

Well overdue, but they’re here – finally! The new stock by French beret manufacturer Laulhère and, if I may say so myself, some very interesting berets among them.

All new are the “Classic Workers Berets”: No-nonsense, classic workers berets in 100% merino wool, lined and carrying the decades old labels Bortia and Chirola, especially reincarnated by Laulhère for South Pacific Berets (and not available anywhere else). Quality berets that should last you years, available in a large variety of colours in a 280mm diameter. Great berets at a small cost of only $ 45.00.

More in the Laulhère Béret Casquette range; true berets in the sense of manufacturing, but with a definite peak. Not quite a beret, not quite a flat cap - it's a Béret Casquette! And now available in Basque Authentique quality in Bordeaux and Grey.

Also completely new in our range is the béret Pedrito (or "Little Peter"), an an old Laulhère label that has seen continuous use over the decades. The Pedrito is a top quality merino beret in marine (navy), 10.5 pouces / 295mm diameter with leather headband, satin lining and luxurious finishing. The card-playing Pedrito comes in a cotton gift-bag, at $ 65.00.

And many existing labels have been re-stocked, so most labels, colours and sizes available again!

Have a look here, on the Laulhère shelves of South Pacific Berets:http://southpacificberets.com/france---bérets-laulhère.php