Tips For Utilizing and Decorating a Bookshelf

Whether you have a built-in bookshelf or you just have a large freestanding bookshelf, it can be difficult to decide on how you want to utilize the space. Most people like to use bookshelves as not only storage for their books, but also an area in the room that radiates style and personality.

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Here are a few different ideas on how you can utilize and decorate a bookshelf in your home.

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Decorate the Bookshelf with Books

It may be common sense to use place books on your bookshelf but this doesn't mean you randomly place your library up on the shelves. In fact, you may not even use the bookshelf for most of your books. A great way to decorate a bookshelf is with interesting and antique books that give the space personality. These can be old books you find at a flea market or used book store or they can be modern day coffee books or art books. What kind of book you use all depends on what style you are going for.

Another factor to consider is where you place the books. Unless you want the whole bookshelf to just be books, pick certain areas of the shelf to display and arrange the interesting books. You can use stylish bookends to hold the books in place. You can even get creative and arrange some books horizontally and others vertically. Or you can arrange books by color or size. Create an atmosphere!

Decorate the Bookshelf with Picture Frames

The picture frames that you place on the bookshelf can have actual photographs in them or works of art - it all depends on the style you are going with. Some people may put photos of their family up on the shelves, while others will be framed paintings and professional photographs. Be sure to use frames that match the style of the room.

Decorate the Bookshelf with Figurines

There are thousands of different ways that you can decorate a bookshelf with figurines. The figurines that you choose for this space should appropriately reflect the style of the room. You can use figurines to hold up books or you can simply place them all alone on a shelf. Look for figurines that appear to go together but are not exactly the same. "Figurines" is a really general term, and can mean anything from a statue to a craft piece to little knickknacks.

Decorate the Bookshelf with Plants and Flowers

A vase filled with flowers or a small house plant can look great when placed on a bookshelf. This can be a way that you can add some different colors to the area as well as lighten up the space. If you are using real flowers and plants, just be sure that you are taking care of them properly and not ruining anything else on the shelves with leaking water or forgotten leaves.

Decorate the Bookshelf by Adjusting the Shelves

When you adjust the heights of the bookshelves you can create a unique space that is personally yours. On one are of the shelf, you may have a space that is large to accommodate bigger books or a plant. On another spot on the bookshelf, you may have a small space in between shelves for smaller books or for small figurines. Adjusting the shelves is one of the best ways to add some real style to the space.

A bookshelf doesn't have to be boring. Instead use your creativity and the decor items mentioned to create a unique bookshelf for your home.

Tips For Utilizing and Decorating a Bookshelf

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Special Price!!! Unique 72" High LEANING LADDER STYLE MAGAZINE / BOOK SHELF on Black Finish

Nov 07, 2011 21:28:52

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Unique 72" High LEANING LADDER STYLE MAGAZINE / BOOK SHELF on Black Finish Feature

• Some assembly may be required. Please see product details.

Unique 72" High LEANING LADDER STYLE MAGAZINE / BOOK SHELF on Black Finish Overview

Contemporary Black Finish 5-Tier Ladder Book Shelf

• Dimension: 25"L 17"W 72"H
• Finish: Black
• Material: Wood
• Contemporary Black Finish 5-Tier Ladder Book Shelf
• Item features a new leaning design that is an elegant addition to any room or decor.
• The bookshelf can be used for placement of books, DVDs, tapes, a stereo system, or decorations.
• The bookshelf features durable quality wood construction.
• Simple Assembly Required.

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Five Tier Ladder Shelf

-999

Special Price!!! -999

Nov 07, 2011 00:39:06

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-999 Feature

• Five tier shelf design, Also available in ladder shelf entertainment center set
• Beadboard style shelves
• Solid wood in black finish
• Measures 72 inches high x 25 inches wide x 17 inches deep
• Ladder shelf bookcase, Assembly Required.

-999 Overview

You can organize and display in style with the inventive design of this Five Tier Antique Black Ladder Shelf. Five tier shelf design Beadboard style shelves. Solid wood in black finish Measures 72 inches high x 25 inches wide x 17 inches deep. Ladder shelf bookcase. Assembly Required. Also available in ladder shelf entertainment center set, product ASIN# B000LTIVSI

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Do it Yourself - Build a Garage

Many homes are constructed with a lot of yard space and a car porch but do not always have a car garage. If you recognize the need for a garage, whether it is to safeguard vehicles, store a second fridge or to have an extra storage and work area, a garage is a wonderful add-on to any home. Stay with this guide to get step by step, the directions you will need to make a garage.

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Required tools/ materials
Building material (cement, shovels)
Lumber/Plywood (2 x 4 is the most common choice)
Carpentry tools (drill with numerous attachments, nails, screws, screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips) hammer, saw, wood glue, level, sander/sandpaper)
Windows and doors
Shelves, cabinets, racks, etc.
Electrical wiring, lights, etc.
Plumbing equipment, if needed
Safety equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.)
Painting tools (brushes, rollers,)

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Instructions
Step one: Check local construction laws and design the garage by answering the these questions:

1) How big do you want the garage to be? One car, two cars or more if space permits etc.
2) How many doors and windows and what types of each will you want?
3) What type of roofing interests you?
4) What parts of the construction will you be subcontracting?

Step two:
1) File for and get the required permits.
2) Invite quotes from subcontractors and suppliers.
3) Place orders for materials and begin building.

How to construct the garage:

Step one:
Measure your lot and make up site plans. Be sure that you don t plan construction past the limits of your land.

Step two:
If your garage will be connected to your home, and depending on the state you reside in, a significant amount of digging will be necessary to pour the foundation for the garage. Subcontract out this task by getting quotes from various parties and selecting the one that best fits your needs and budget and enter into a contract agreement with with the company.

Step three: Bill of goods (Tools and materials)

Get a bill of the materials (BOM). This is essentially the purchase order of all the materials and other items that will be necessary to make the garage. The amount of materials and the cost will grow depending on how many extra features your garage will call for. For example, heating, central air, insulation will all increase the scope of you bill of materials.

Some hardware shops will have help centers that can approximate all the items and tools you will require for any specific make. Just take the measurements into the store and you will be able to leave with an estimate or order the items and have them delivered to your building site.

Try to get your goods delivered after your foundation has been poured and set.

Step three: Construct the frame
Framing will be based on the plans you made earlier and will involve the layout of the windows and doors that you chose. The frame will be made from sturdy 2x4 lumber that is cut and hammered into place and will sustain the walls and roof.

Step four: Add the walls and Windows
Once your frame is constructed, start on the walls and windows. Begin with the wall that has the most openings and leave the garage door for last.
The wall materials (both inside and outside) will be assembled on the floor and then raised and nailed into place.

The roof and doors:
Pre- build roofing materials make working on the roof of your garage easy. Just put together the parts as directed to the roofing part of your frame using a ladder, nails and a hammer.
Put In the door (electric or sliding doors are best) and your garage will be ready to use.

Tips and warnings:

1) Be sure you talk to you neighbors before doing construction especially it will bother them. Tree cutting, dust, noise etc. over the weeks of the build may cause them to try to get your work halted via the home owners associations or even reporting you for false violations.

2) When in doubt: call and inspector
Inspection of work has to be done fairly frequently on a construction site. The most important ones are after excavation, when the foundation is poured and once the frame is raised. It is easier to check often with an inspector than be told to destroy a finished garage later on.

Do it Yourself - Build a Garage

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3 Unique Ladder Shelves to Add a Creative Touch to Your Home

If you have just moved into a new house or apartment, then you're probably spending a lot of your free time thinking up creative ways to decorate your interior and make it our own. There are so many different ways to do this, you can make it look cozy, modern, sleek and elegant, the list is endless. Though besides making it look good you'll also need to consider how you are going to store and display your belongings. If you are like me you may have cupboards filled with ornaments, potted plants, books, CDs, records, etc; what are you going to do with all of these things? One way to deal with the clutter is to use cupboards to hide all of your unneeded belongings away, though a better option is to use shelves to present some of your more ornate items in a neat ordered way. The great thing about shelves is there are so many different shapes, sizes, styles and colors to fit your décor, currently the most popular type are the ladder shelves.

Wood Ladder Shelf

Ladder shelves are a hot item at the moment, it seems like every home has one or two somewhere. So why have they become so popular? Well, besides the reasonable price tag, ladder shelves have a very unique design to them. If you've never seen one before imagine a step ladder with shelves in place of the steps. These days this product comes in several new designs, some are free standing, some need to be bolted to a wall; they are also made from a variety of different materials each with its own original texture. To give you a better idea of what to expect when shopping for ladder shelves, here are 3 very unique designs to get your creative juices flowing:

Wood Ladder Shelf

1. Opus Oak Ladder Shelves - This particular ladder shelf has a slightly different look to the standard shelf, it is similar to an 'S' turned on its side. It has a trendy modern appeal for younger people, but is a little on the expensive side costing over 0 each. The opus shelf has 7 shelves and a height/width of 59" x 20", this retro looking robust oak shelf would make a good addition to any sleek interior.

2. Teak bathroom ladder shelves - This is quite a unique rustic design that fits a bathroom space; it has a movable shelf that can be put on any rung of the ladder. The down side to this product is its limited storage space, though it is more of an ornamental piece of furniture to be used to keep toiletries or potted plants. As this item is made from teak wood and has been hand crafted it will set you back about 0, though you may be able to find a cheaper price online.

3. Double Leaning Wall Shelf - This set of ladder shelves comes in a twin design for people that need to store more belongings, but like the look of the ladder shelf. It has a total of 12 display shelves and each of them can withstand up to 65lbs, so it is very durable; this set is not a freestanding unit, it has to be bolted to the wall. It has been constructed from oak veneer with a sleek coffee colored finish, which would look great in any living room or bedroom. Because of its size, this particular piece of furniture will cost about 0 each, which is actually not too bad considering its size.

3 Unique Ladder Shelves to Add a Creative Touch to Your Home

Wood Ladder Shelf

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Troubleshooting Solar Panels - How to Locate and Get Your Solar Electrical System Back in Operation

There are few things more annoying than when you get up in the morning, but your solar panel monitor shows low power even though the sun is shining. Even worse, your batteries are low. What's going on and how do you locate the problem? This is especially important if you are out in your mountain shack or on the farm and the extra power from your solar system is really needed.

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Normally solar cells and arrays are extremely reliable and stand up to weather extremes and even hail if properly constructed. Fortunately, solar panel systems suffer from few problems, but faults can happen, so you need to be able to locate the possible failure. With some faults, they need to be corrected quickly as they can damage other parts of your system by placing them under undue power loads.

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We will assume that your arrays have been operating properly for some time. Also, this power drop has gotten worse quite suddenly or is unexpected. Similarly, there has been no run of cloudy days, and nobody has been secretly hogging the power. Unfortunately, we don't have the space in this article to cover troubleshooting the Controller or Inverter problems.

If your solar array is a commercial "off the shelf" system, it may be best to pull out the manual and read up on their diagnostic section. Otherwise, pick up the phone, they should have all the answers to your questions. However, if your array is a DIY Solar Panel project then lets make start. Let us assume that you have checked the obvious, like someone hasn't snagged and pulled one of the panel output leads out with a ladder, there are no bullet holes through your array and no pile of leaves on the solar panel face, especially in autumn. While the autumn is beautiful it can be a hassle making sure that the panels remain free of those pretty leaves, especially if you are out in the woods.

Before you you go poking around your system, remember that your array produces electricity so take proper care of your safety. If you're not confident, get a professional to assist. Please take care, throw the power isolation switch, and even better, remove the battery terminals. Remember, your batteries can pack quite a punch, and shorting your battery terminals is extremely dangerous.

So, here is a simple checklist for your solar panels:

Check the panel is free from leaves and dust Check there is no new appliance that draws more power than expected Check any machine has not faulted and so is draining power by not operating properly Check there is no physical damage to the solar panel surface or their structure Check the battery terminals are free from corrosion Ensure your controller and inverter are working properly and connections are good Walk back along the power leads and check that an animal has not chewed the cabling Check that all your cables are all intact, no breaks, no worn insulation, or tree branches wearing the cables. Have a quick look in the ceiling and check there are no electrocuted animals that have chewed your in-house wiring, shorting something out. The panel output leads are connected and free from corrosion Lastly, disconnect the panel and check that in full sun they are producing close to full power

Once we have checked the basic system, we need to go through the panels performance. Disconnect the array and simply check that at the output lead, current is flowing. If it's operating properly and power is good, go back and check your controller, inverter system, house wiring and appliances.

Over-Heating Problems If you are in a hot location, you may simply be experiencing overheating of the panels. In very hot locations and during the hottest part of the day, the voltage coming out of the system can drop due to the cells operating outside their optimum temperature range. This is normal and they recover once cooled. A typical 18V PV cell is designed to work at about 17 - 18V at 25C. So, you should still get about 12V even when their efficiency falls at higher temperatures. If your "drop off" is worse, then its very likely there is a weak PV cell or faulty electrical connections somewhere in the array. Corrosion and heat expansion of connections can increase resistance causing output drops. Try cooling the array, either shade it for a while or pour water over the array(with the cover on). Once cool, your voltage should return to normal, but if not, look for a faulty cell using a shading test.

Checking the Array with a Selective Shading Test Before you start pulling a panel apart, we can locate a faulty cell or wiring section by simply shading parts of the panel in turn. By shading about 3 or 4 cells at a time, you should drop an arrays output to less than half. With the panel disconnected, monitor the output with a multimeter or test load such as a small fan. If when you shade an area of the panel, power does not drop, then the cells in that area of the panel is not working properly. Have a close look at the tabs and wiring junctions of all the nearby series of cells. Any sign of corrosion may be the source of your power problem. This needs to be quickly corrected before you damage a cell from overheating. The extra resistance of faulty solder increases the load and resistance at that point, overheating the cell until it fails.

Problem Soldering or Faulty Connections Apart from a visual check of all connections, you can use the shading test to locate the affected cells that may have a problem with their soldering. If moisture gets into your panel, you have a real problem. Moisture will start corrosion, affecting all your electrical connections. If you happen to live near the sea, salty moist air can soon corrode electrical connections, and aluminum frames. Moisture can also cause wood to warp, and the twisting of a wooden panel container can break tab connections or even crack a cell. Where possible, go the extra expense and use an aluminum or perspex sealed panel. You will need to replace all corroded or oxidized metal parts and connections you find.

Damaged Blocking Diode While not common, a blocking diode can start to fail. Most PV arrays use a blocking diode to prevent your array from discharging your batteries at night. In this case,you may find simply no power output at the leads. Once you have checked all other possibilities, do a Diode Test. If the diode is faulty, replace the diode, or if in a remote location, remove the diode from the circuit until you can get a replacement. BUT, remember to disconnect the panels at night until you can get a replacement or you will drain your batteries.

On another note, I have come across people cutting costs by "ganging" several smaller diodes to match the "blocking amperage". This is a problem waiting to happen and you should not do this. A single properly rated diode must be used. Otherwise, current will flow through the point of lowest resistance, i.e. the smallest diode until it overheats and fails, current then flows to the next diode until it fails and so on. Eventually the whole thing shorts and blows with a serious risk to your system, and is a fire hazard. If you need a diagnostic on how to test blocking diodes, feel free to visit our website for instructions.

As we mentioned, solar panels are typically very reliable, even in cloudy or snowy conditions, if they are properly cared for and kept clean. Moisture is your greatest threat, so keep them sealed. Good luck, and may your panels keep powering you.

Troubleshooting Solar Panels - How to Locate and Get Your Solar Electrical System Back in Operation

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How To Make A Shed - Some Basic Tips You Should Know Before Building A Shed From Scratch

Hi, Christopher here.

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If you have plenty of time to do something that will enhance your free time and nourish your creativity, you probably want to build your own garden storage shed. And let me enlighten you about the key steps to consider or learn while building the storage shed.

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When it comes to discuss on how to make a shed on your own, many people and experts will tell you to think about the designs and plans first. But I beg to differ here. The VERY first thing you have to think about is PERMIT.

Yes, you CANNOT make a shed without permission of the local authority if it requires according the place where you reside.

Suppose, you have planned for a giant shed and already bought kits or paid advance to a carpenter for it, but after a while you came to know that you would get a permit for a relatively smaller shed! It sucks, right?

Do not worry; getting permit is not that hard. And remember, the permitted size of the shed will depend on the size of your back yard.

OK. You have heard from the authority. You got the permission OR you don't need any. Now comes the plans or designs part.

There are thousands of garden shed designs out there. The first thing you have to decide about the garden shed design is what will you use it for. You can use it to store your gardening tools, or it can be a place to hang out with some friends with some cans of beer.

According to your usage, you can make various kind of shed - bike shed, agricultural shed, boat shed, storage shed, garden shed or even a shed workshop - whatever you like.

When you decide, you choose the appropriate plans to work with. It is of course valid if you decide to make the shed from scratch. Otherwise, you just buy a used shed or order storage shed kits from a shop. The last option can cost you more.

Then, you would give a thought about the material. You can build a shed using the following materials - wood, metal, vinyl, plastic etc. Every material has individual advantages and disadvantages about looks, strength, cost and durability.

OK. The planning part is done. Now you are building your own garden shed.

You will go for building a shed base first. This is the most important part of building shed foundation. Get a plan you like and stick to it. Do not vary much from the plan because it can ruin the foundation if you have a primitive level of skills.

After building a solid base, go for side walls, doors and windows and finally the roofing. Do the work with perfect measurement. Ensure your safety while nailing the wood pieces using a ladder.

After doing all things, add some shelves and hooks to increase the storage capacity of the shed. Finish the work by painting and adding electrical equipments. It will be better if you hire an electrician for this purpose.

Now, your shed is ready. If anybody asks you about how to build a shed, you now know.

How To Make A Shed - Some Basic Tips You Should Know Before Building A Shed From Scratch

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Manuel Reyes - Sculptor, Painter and Renaissance Man From the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca

Artist Manuel Reyes aspires to exhibit his work in art galleries in Oaxaca and Mexico City. Give him that exposure over the next couple of years, and there's little doubt his genius will be known in New York, Chicago, and further abroad. American, Canadian and European art collectors are already tapping their Mexican networks to figure out how to make their way to his modest home and workshop in the village of Yanhuitlan, an hour and a half outside of the city of Oaxaca, to marvel at his artistry ... and buy it up.

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Reyes was born in Mexico City (d.o.b. 20/12/72) to Oaxacan parents. He balks at any suggestion that he is not pure Oaxacan: "My parents are from the Mixteca Alta, right in this region of the state, and I've always considered myself a Oaxacan. That's my heritage, my birthright. I just happen to have been born out of state. While I've had training from some of the grand masters of Mexican art, I've developed a large part of my artistic style from watching and speaking to local artists right here in the Mixteca."

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Reyes began studying art in 1990. He attended the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas in Xochimilco, Mexico City. He moved to Cuernavaca in 1995, where he was mentored by the likes of Roger Von Gunten, Joy Laville, Francisco Lastra and Juan Soriano. He studied predominantly seriography, sculpture and painting. In 2003 Reyes returned to the Mixteca, and has since then re-established his roots. "The lessons I learned through my formal training have been invaluable, but I gain inspiration and have adopted techniques not solely from my maestros, to whom I owe a great deal, but also from the artists and craftspeople of the Oaxacan district of Nochixtlán."

Reyes works together with his wife Maricela, a gifted artist in her own right. In fact their six-year-old daughter Natalia does ceramics with her mother, and painting with Manuel. "Some of our pieces are not only inspired by Natalia, but she actually participates in their creation. Look at this oil mixed with sand on canvas, with its fanciful and childlike figures. Natalia actually began the piece, and I just brought to fruition what was in her mind and she had already begun to put to paper."

"My main influences are Rufino Tamayo for my painting, and Maribel Portela for my sculpture," he continues. "But what I've learned from the people of my culture has been invaluable to my work ... the use of a wood-burning kiln made of mud and brick, about the different kinds of clays for sculpting --- many of which are available in Oaxaca --- and how to mix different kinds of soils to create a broad range of paint colors and tones, and textures. In the end my pieces are products of my local environment, or at times made from materials I've sourced from other parts of the country."

While Reyes obtains his clays from many different areas, most are from four main locales: a riverbed about a kilometer from his home, upstate at Huajuapan de León, the town of Santa María Cuquila, and from Zacatecas, northwest of the nation's capital. Each compound has different qualities. His Zacatecan clay is strong and has a sandy texture, making it suitable for sculpting his large, almost life-size human figures; more utilitarian pieces such as plates and cups are made with earth from Cuquila; pieces which he intends to burnish are sculpted from clay from Huajuapan de León; and he mixes local soil with the Zacatecan earth to yield a more malleable and easily workable clay.

For colors, Reyes often looks to other parts of the nation so as to enable him to obtain the variety he needs. "That painting hanging in our kitchen provides a good example of the range of colors I derive from combining different earths. Many of my paints come from the environment. I brought a kilo of clay from Chihuahua and used it to make paint for that male figure looking skyward. That white is an oxide." Indeed the breadth of colors he is able to create for use on both his sculptures and his paintings is remarkable.

Manuel's canvases are generally "mixed technique" as he refers to them, a combination of oil, acrylic and natural earth. Depending on the inspiration for a particular work, and the imagery he seeks to convey, the order and manner of application and the texture and origin of the soil applied, will vary.

Reyes goes on to explain the sexual imagery captured in many pieces from his current crop of sculptures: "I've been doing a fair number with nude males since 2005, not initially by specific design, but rather because that's what is often depicted in pre-Hispanic art and representations of day-to-day activities, and that's the kind of work that I've enjoyed doing over the past three years. When you look at the earliest Zapotec clay figures, and in fact those dating to Olmec and earlier times, that's what my ancestors were creating. A number of sculptures portray hope and prayer as well, so much a part of ancient times, with head looking upward to the heavens and hands raised." When questioned about the over-representation in his figures of males with dangling phalluses, Reyes points to a couple of female pieces: "Look at that female warrior over there. But notice the belt I made for her, with penises hanging from it, her trophies."

Reyes readily acknowledges that this is still a business, his livelihood, and when gay male collectors began taking an interest in this phase of his artistic development, it motivated him to continue with it and further experiment with the theme of male sexuality as depicted in the codices and sculptures of earlier civilizations.

But Manuel's work also reflects his personal interests and passions, his reverence for Oaxaca's present day rich cultural traditions, and his eclecticism whereby he's prepared to push the outer boundary of what's traditionally considered art, at times combining aestheticism with pure functionality: "I know a really good carpenter here in Yanhuitlan, and thought of combining our two trades, sort of as a fun project. I asked him to make me a cabinet with shelves and doors. I painted it and then put six mask tiles, each with a fair bit of relief, on the door panels. It came out really funky and a collector bought it within a couple of weeks of when I'd finished it.

Reyes has begun experimenting with masks as an art form. Their use at fiestas and for parades is common practice in Oaxaca, the tradition dating back perhaps 3,000 years, when permanent settlements were first established in the region. He pays tribute to the ritualistic use of masks with one of his sculptures, a marcher holding a mask in front of his face, still a common sight at Oaxacan celebrations today.

On a recent visit to Reyes' home, the music of Lou Reed was playing. Rock, blues and other genres of the 60's and 70's are included in this extraordinary man's list of delights. And of course, they are reflected in his work. He's created clay painted figures of John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, simply as a way of paying homage to some of his rock idols. Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven was the inspiration for one of his more "traditional" sculptures, with four men each climbing up a rung of a ladder made of reinforced steel covered with twine, each step framed by horn-shaped clouds.

More recently Reyes has become interested in depicting vestiges of the material culture of his indigenous forebears, combining his gift as a skilled artist with the work of an applied archaeologist. For example he recently found a potsherd with a painted design, and through extrapolation has created an entire, accurately crafted three-footed vessel.

Through his art, Manuel Reyes is continually looking for new modes of self-expression, while at the same time reflecting on diverse cultures, both present-day and of the near and distant past. He's a true renaissance man whose golden touch will undoubtedly, over time, become appreciated by an increased following. The exhibitions of his work in Huajuapan de León and at the Museo del Arte Popular in San Bartolo Coyotepec where one piece remains on permanent display, pale compared to what's in store for Manuel ... and art aficionados around the globe.

Alvin Starkman, M.A. LL.B.

Manuel Reyes - Sculptor, Painter and Renaissance Man From the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca

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