CASIMIRA

CASIMIRA
HERstory through ART
With words and images, I am telling my story.

Through art, I am remembering HERstory...

I've been blogging daily since 2007.

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Updated Daily: January 2007 - February 2020

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Wednesday, September 30

begin today

2006 Untitled mixed media
where do I begin?

just begin, she answered

begin today

Tuesday, September 29

our eternal souls

2007 mixed media
When you look in the mirror who do you see?

When you find a new little wrinkle what do you blame?

A gray hair? Is it really time to despair?

An extra pound or two? Is that important to you?

Our bodies are not eternal, our souls are.

Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi...

originally published in 2007

Monday, September 28

manifest

2007 mixed media
...this book is about you and me...

We travel in the light, hand in hand, giggling all the way!

Let's create together...let us be guided by the Masters and manifest our Divine Destinies...NOW is the time!

excerpt from a book I gave and dedicated to him in July 2004

Sunday, September 27

every single day

2007 mixed media detail
what do you do every single day?
breathe
laugh
pray
write
dream

Saturday, September 26

daisies to diamonds

2005 Untitled hand-dyed silk detail








ribbons in her hair
a flower tucked behind an ear
rubber bands as bracelets
mother’s pearls - what pleasure
a crown of paper and a feather
oh nymph - oh fairy princess !


Always adoring adornments, from daisies to diamonds, if I thought it magical I was wearing it. Grand Mother initiated me by personally piercing my ears with gold when I was but two weeks old. Since then, adornments developed into a form of silent, almost sacred communication. Every piece I conceive carries a bit of my soul, paying respectful homage to my Muse, Mother Nature. A decade ago, after creating the first wearable sculpture I wrote, “…like the human soul, no two are alike…” It is still true today.

originally published in January 2007

Friday, September 25

playing

inherited antique bronze venus


As a girl, she showed me to play with clay. As a woman, he taught me to command and form the clay. In telling me HIStory he posed a simple yet profound question: DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ? I do have something to say. I am telling my story. I am remembering HERstory.

originally published in January 2007

I have so much to say...so much to remember....and I am playing every step of the way, through every dream...

Thursday, September 24

eagle goddess memories

study for sculpture

One of my earliest memories is that of sitting on the majestic throne-like lap of beloved Grand Mother and kissing the Pre-Colombian eagle goddess pendant suspended from a long gold chain reaching her solar plexus. The shiny hammered talisman glowed in the sunlight, becoming warm in my hand, silently transferring ancestral wisdom.

originally published in January 2007

Wednesday, September 23

Consuelo Velázquez: BESO

2008 mixed media
Bésame, bésame mucho,
Como si fuera esta noche
La última vez.

Bésame, bésame mucho,
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después.

Quiero tenerte muy cerca,
Mirarme en tus ojos,
Y estar junto a tí.

Piensa que tal vez mañana,
Estaré muy lejos,
Muy lejos de aquí.

Bésame, bésame mucho,
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después.

- Consuelo Velázquez (1917- 2005)

Tuesday, September 22

Juana de Ibarbourou: ALMA

2008 mixed media
Te doy mi alma desnuda,
como estatua a la cual ningún cendal escuda.

Desnuda con el puro impudor
de un fruto, de una estrella o una flor;
de todas esas cosas que tienen la infinita
serenidad de Eva antes de ser maldita.

De todas esas cosas,
frutos, astros y rosas,
que no sienten vergüenza del sexo sin celajes
y a quienes nadie osara fabricarles ropajes.

Sin velos, como el cuerpo de una diosa serena
¡que tuviera una intensa blancura de azucena!

Desnuda, y toda abierta de par en par
¡por el ansia del amar!

- Juana de Ibarbourou (1892(5) – 1979)

Monday, September 21

Floricelda Rivas Aráuz: MOVIMIENTO

2008 mixed media
Hay que vivir como en todo, actualizado. Vivir leyendo, dando vueltas junto con el mundo, no estar viendo que el mundo da vueltas, sino meterse en ese movimiento, si no te quedás, como el que quedó esperando un bus en la parada y lo vio partir. Si uno sigue así, se hace viejo, yo, en ese sentido, sí me siento jovencita.

- Floricelda Rivas Aráuz (1947-2007)

Sunday, September 20

Sor María Romero: AIRE

2008 mixed media
La oración es para el alma lo que el aire para los pulmones.

Prayer is to the soul what air is to the lungs.

- Sor María Romero Meneses (1902 – 1977)


a prayer can be a single breath

inhale light, inhale God,
exhale love, exhale forgiveness

Saturday, September 19

Casimira: MUJER

2008 mixed media of my Great-Great-Grand-Mother
Casimira Sacasa Sacasa de Debayle
mujer de mujeres

Daughter of a President.

Sister of a President.

Wife of a Genius.

Mother of a Muse.

Mother-in-Law of a President.

Grand-Mother of Presidents.

Grand-Mother of Muses.

Grand-Mother of Poets.

Grand Matriarch of Multitudes.

Great-Great-Grand-Mother of Mine...

mujer de mujeres es un orgullo llevar su nombre

Friday, September 18

María Félix: CORAZON

2008 mixed media
Sólo he sido una mujer con corazón de hombre.

- María Félix (1914 – 2002)

Thursday, September 17

Hope: ARTE

2008 mixed media
Hope Portocarrero Debayle de Somoza
esperanza, luz, amada Tia Mia

...un templo del arte...

- Hope Portocarrero Debayle de Somoza (1929 –1991)
temple of art

temple of culture

temple of expression

temple of light

temple of music

temple of dance

temple of history

temple of HERstory

temple of HOPE

thank you
for being a visionary
for birthing Nicaragua’s majestic theatre,
Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío

Wednesday, September 16

Yoyita: GUERRERA REAL

2008 mixed media of my beloved Great Grand Mother

Salvadora Debayle Sacasa de Somoza
mi bisabuela, mi guerrera real, mi YOYITA

she visits my dreams with messages, symbols and strength

Tuesday, September 15

Mi Mimi: REINA

2008 mixed media of my beloved Grand Mother
Lillian Somoza Debayle de Sevilla-Sacasa
mi abuela materna, mi reina, mi MIMI

Monday, September 14

Nicaragua: VIENTRE

2003 Untitled mixed media on canvas



Con lagrimas te sueño

Con lagrimas te extraño

Con lagrimas te baño

Bautizada amada NICARAGUA


Con lagrimas te siento nacer de mi vientre

Con sangre y orgullo

Con grito de guerra y fuego del mar

NICARAGUA...Con dolor hoy te pinto


for my noble Father and his Motherland
Julia Casimira Sacasa de Checa

originally published in 2004

Sunday, September 13

Mi Uca: ESTRELLA

2007 "MARUCA" my beautiful Grand Mother, mixed media
Maria Lidia Tercero Teran de Sacasa
mi abuela paterna, mi estrella del mar, mi Uca


...Hoy sentí el sol mas fuerte que nunca y la luna brilla con luz especial...las olas del mar bailan de alegría y mis lágrimas me las seca con su manto nuestra Madre María...Estrella Maruca regreso a su hogar, al cielo...ya no hay porque llorar...

excerpt from "Estrella Maruca" written in 2005

Saturday, September 12

Sacasa-Sarria: CIELOS AZULES

2007 mixed media of my beloved Grand Father
entre cielos azules
y mares morados

los pájaros cantaban
las mariposas bailaban

amado abuelo

con luna llena
y sol fuerte
hoy te pinto de celeste

originally published in 2007

Friday, September 11

Sevilla-Sacasa: PLANETA

2007 mixed media of my beloved Grand-Father
nació un 11 de septiembre
del vientre de venus
con alas de mariposas
y plumas de pavo-real

el sol
la luna
las estrellas
te celebran
hoy y siempre

amado abuelo
embajador del planeta
en mis sueños nos vemos

remembering my Popo on his birthday

originally published in 2007

Thursday, September 10

Júlia Lopes Almeida: LUZ

2008 mixed media
Perfumada laranjeira,
Linda assim dessa maneira,
Sorrindo à luz do arrebol,
Toda em flores, branca toda
- Parece a noiva do Sol
Preparada para a boda.

E esposa do Sol, que a adora,
Com que cuidados divinos
Curva ela os ramos, agora!
E entre as folhas abrigados,
Seus filhos, frutos dourados,
Parecem sois pequeninos.

- Júlia Lopes Almeida (1862-1934)

Wednesday, September 9

Remedios Varo: LOCURA

2008 mixed media
On second thought, I think I am crazier than my goat.

- Remedios Varo (1908-1963)

There is a Spanish saying, which I grew up with:

mas loca que una cabra OR

crazier than a goat

In Granada, Nicaragua I have recently heard:

mas loca que una cabra en bicicleta

crazier than a goat on a bicycle

At times, aren't we all crazier than goats on bicycles...?

...trying to pedal our way through life

striving for balance and stability while moving along...

originally published in 2008

Tuesday, September 8

Carmen Miranda: CUERPO

2008 mixed media
Look at me and tell me if I don't have Brazil in every curve of my body.

- Carmen Miranda (1909 – 1955)


our bodies tell a story
where we have been, where we are headed
every curve is a blessing...our bodies are our temples

Monday, September 7

Marina Nuñez del Prado: MILAGRO

2008 mixed media
Mi vida es mi obra:
Siento la inmensa dicha de haber nacido bajo la tutela de los Andes que son la expresión de la fuerza y el milagro cósmico así mi obra expresa el espiritu de mi tierra Andina y el espiritu de mi gente aymara.

- Marina Nuñez del Prado (approximately 1910 -1995)


...el espiritu de mi gente...

Sunday, September 6

Evita Peron: PUEBLO

2008 mixed media
Yo, en cambio, nací en el pueblo y sufrí en el pueblo. Tengo carne y alma y sangre del pueblo. No podía hacer otra cosa que entregarme a mi pueblo.

- Eva "Evita" Duarte de Peron (1919-1952)

Saturday, September 5

Margarita: MUSA

2007 "Tia Margarita" mixed media
Margarita Debayle Sacasa de Pallais
mi musa de sueños y fantasias, mi Margarita


eran las 3 de la mañana

de repente despertó

una nube la encontró

entre luna y estrellas

con Ruben y Margarita

la historia quería ser escrita

2004 excerpt from an ongoing series of writings inspired by Margarita...his Grand Mother who also visits my dreams from years and years ago

Friday, September 4

Melba: DIOSA

2007 "ISIS" mixed media collage study for sculpture
Melba Tercero Debayle
mi ada madrina, diosa de luz


I am Isis, mistress of the whole land...I am she who separated the heaven from the earth. I have instructed mankind in the mysteries...I have ordered the course of the sun and the moon. I am queen of the rivers and winds and sea...I have made justice more powerful than silver and gold. I have caused truth to be considered beautiful. I am she who is called the Goddess of women...

- excerpt from the Inscription on The Temple of Isis at Sais

the goddess called me
it was a full moon yesterday

Thursday, September 3

Frida Kahlo: ALAS

mixed media from a series
Pies para qué los quiero si tengo alas para volar...

Feet why do I need them if I have wings to fly?

- Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)

Do you have wings to fly?
I do...I have enormous wings which rescue me and dare me to continue soaring into my wildest dreams. The more I use my wings, the stronger they become and the further I am able to fly.

originally published last year

Wednesday, September 2

Gabriela Mistral: MADRE

2008 mixed media
Madre, madre, tú me besas,
pero yo te beso más,
y el enjambre de mis besos
no te deja ni mirar...

Si la abeja se entra al lirio,
no se siente su aletear.
Cuando escondes a tu hijito
ni se le oye respirar...

Yo te miro, yo te miro
sin cansarme de mirar,
y qué lindo niño veo
a tus ojos asomar...

El estanque copia todo
lo que tú mirando estás;
pero tú en las niñas tienes
a tu hijo y nada más.

Los ojitos que me diste
me los tengo de gastar
en seguirte por los valles,
por el cielo y por el mar...

- Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)

Have you ever written a poem - or a note of love - to your Mother?

The bond between Mother and Child is sacred...

originally published in 2008

Tuesday, September 1

Celia Cruz: VIDA

2008 mixed media
¡ Azúcar !

- Celia Cruz (1925 – 2003)







Todo aquel que piense que la vida es desigual,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que la vida es una hermosura, hay que vivirla.
Todo aquel que piense que esta solo y que esta mal,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que en la vida no hay nadie solo, siempre hay alguien.

Ay, no ha que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval,
es mas bello vivir cantando.
Oh, oh, oh, Ay, no hay que llorar,
que la vida es un carnaval
y las penas se van cantando.

Todo aquel que piense que la vida siempre es cruel,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que tan solo hay momentos malos, y todo pasa.
Todo aquel que piense que esto nunca va a cambiar,
tiene que saber que no es asi,
que al mal tiempo buena cara, y todo pasa.

Ay, no ha que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval,
es mas bello vivir cantando.
Oh, oh, oh, Ay, no hay que llorar,
que la vida es un carnaval
y las penas se van cantando.
Para aquellos que se quejan tanto.
Para aquellos que solo critican.
Para aquellos que usan las armas.
Para aquellos que nos contaminan.
Para aquellos que hacen la guerra.
Para aquellos que viven pecando.
Para aquellos nos maltratan.
Para aquellos que nos contagian.

[lyrics from Celia Cruz’s “La Vida es un Carnaval”]