Today I'll tell you the symbol of the State of Mexico made of glass, the famous Cosmovitral a magnificent work of art composed of glass wall and the result of the dreams of mexiquense artist Leopoldo Flores.
Located in the capital of Mexico State, Toluca, the Cosmovitral is housed in the old building of the Plaza Art Nouveau Garibay. This wonderful work of art is made of stained glass, a technique that flourished in Medieval Europe. When you are in front of this huge, colorful mural of glass, immediately perceive the struggle of opposites, that is, the day and night life and death, creation and destruction, and other antagonisms.
As background, the place I can tell you that in 1909 began construction of a building made of iron and stone that resembled a railway station, but actually the project was to build a market would be opened in 1910 to celebrate the centenary of the independence of Mexico. The market, therefore, had the name of "September 16." For many years the market work for the community of Toluca and eventually established a flea market around the structure by more than 40 years, generating waste and pests not allowed to appreciate the beauty of the building, then the state government of Mexico decided to turn it into a cultural center and closed it and renovated it, actually happened in 1975. Later
Leopoldo Flores, an expert in the art of stained glass, presented the draft renovate the property, an idea that took a year to land and begin construction work and Cosmovitral. So the workers and artisans and Lerma Metepec villages were invited to participate in the work. Herreros, leaded glass cutters, gardeners and general assistants participated and contributed their knowledge and experience. To
making this work of art is used 75 tons of metal, 45 tons of blown glass, 35 tons of lead canes and 500 thousand pieces of glass in 28 different colors. Imagine! 3000 meters of thin glasses were brought from Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Japan, USA, Canada and Mexico of course. Murano art glass, the region of Veneto, Italy, and French blue glass and gray glass of Germany are the finest features of this beautiful work that was completed and was inaugurated on July 5, 1980 with the name " The Cosmovitral - Botanical Garden, well, large windows became in paintings of the most spectacular and beautiful in the world. 
Visiting a cultural and natural wonders The Cosmovitral is divided in 71 modules with sections 30 000 500 000 leaded and stained glass. The modules are supported by steel structures, which hold the lead frames that rest on the thousands of colorful crystals.
This work in stained glass is one of the largest in the world (3 in 1200 square meters) and in accordance with his explanations not only about the subject of antagonism, but also the relationship of the man with the Universe . The succession of colors and subjects not beginning or end. You'll understand when you start contemplating or in any part, everything has a sequence and relationship as all great mural or work of great dimensions and in one piece. Imagine all the colors of this wonder! 
Another interesting aspect of this large work is that each end of the building are two impressive murals; The first is the figure of Man Sun represented by a circle of fire and holds today as Toluca symbol. The second is Andromeda constellation that shown in the form of an ellipse. Both wall of 64 square meters, are connected by an enormous stained glass ceiling is the Milky Way. 
But besides being a mural of multicolored glass, the Cosmovitral is home to more than 400 plant species, ie it is a garden with an excellent temperature and luminosity that is home to species from Mexico, Central and South America and as Asia and Africa. 
With a total of 3 000 500 square meters this garden displays a wide variety of orchids, roses, lilies, cypress, ferns, birds of paradise and a myriad of beautiful flowers and plants that live in different sources; this is the product and design of an expert in botanical garden, the Japanese engineer Nobuyaki Atzuma Matsuo. On the other hand fellow botanist conducted EIZIE Matuda classification included herbal where species discovered by himself, earning him to be recognized with a bronze bust placed between these peaceful gardens. 
stained glass as art is amazing as a craft as the stained glass to be placed in a vacuum, it changes the perspective and enhances the space with color and light effects on the glass. technique in glass art began with the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Syria in the ninth century BC and later spread on land Egyptians and Romans. In Europe the glass
decorated all kinds of buildings like cathedrals, museums and private residences. Although there was a decadent period, returned to the stained glass boom in the late nineteenth century as part of the artistic Art Nouveau.
In Mexico there are several examples of stained glass, is found in buildings and hotels in the historical center, an example is the incredible backdrop of stained glass that is part of the stage of the Palace of Fine Arts, which shows a mural of the Mexican volcanoes and which was created by Luis Tiffani and brought to our country by the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. 
Furthermore decoration store Claudio Paladini was intermediary for the purchase and import of windows like those existing in the living ambassadors of the National Palace and the Castle of Chapultepec. 
I invite you to appreciate art in Mexico Stained Glass in public places, churches and cathedrals, just to appreciate the work that the artisans have left as a testimony of art and imagination. 
Fun fact Mexico has one of the most important contributions within the global stained glass is the art bubble butt where two blocks of glass and are processed with chemicals to achieve a boil that ends in a beautiful piece bubbled glass. 
Finally remember that the stained glass you will not only serve to give birth to a space, it is also a craft exemplifies a picture on the wall, a mirror, a valance or window. 
now know that each glass however small it may be part of an artistic creation and the art of stained glass shows a job which has devoted some time to get praises final result. not forget to go to Toluca and Cosmovitral visit to meet with the excellent combination of vegetation, stained glass and music.
Until next post! 
For example, the Amazonian Indians decorated their clothing with feathers for rituals and dances, the Apaches of America and the Ravens known as American Indians used the feathers of eagles and other birds to make their headdresses and earrings, and that that ethnic groups of the Hawaiian Islands, where the robes are made with feathers of birds typical of the islands to represent dignity, spirituality and power of those who behaved. 
feathers in Mexico have also been very important in the various cultures that developed in Mesoamerica since the emergence of cultures as the Toltec. The feathers were a symbol of power and beauty. 
For the pre-Hispanic as the quetzal birds were sacred because they had the ability to fly and were associated with gods such as Quetzalcoatl, god of wind (whose name means feathered serpent), Huitzilopochtli, associated with the sun ( referred to the hummingbird of the south) and the Coatlicue or mother earth, that was impregnated with a feather and cotton ball that fell from the sky. 
plumes also served as an offering to the gods, were part of the tax and trade in the areas of Michoacan, Estado de Mexico and Tlatelolco, the latter being the place where I just wore the famous tianguiztli ( the precursor of the flea market or markets on wheels) whose business activities were developed with the slave trade, food, animals and other products that compete with luxury goods as were the precious stones and feathers. 
Within the realm of the Aztecs, the height or splendor of feather mosaic dates to the reign of Mexican tlatoani Ahuitzotl who ruled from 1486 to 1502, at the time were used garments of this technique allowed to distinguish between social classes, religious and power. Copillis were used for dances or plumes, each feather is earned with the struggles faced by soldiers or captains in order to carry them as a symbol of respect, wisdom and dignity. 
An important part in Aztec society were artisans known as amantecas feather mosaic, from Amatlan neighborhood of Tenochtitlan, where these artists focused independent and respected by society. These craftsmen used different varieties of birds and feathers hummingbirds, parrots, quetzal, thrushes, parrots, herons, ducks, eagles, zacuas, cuckoos and other birds from all parts of Mesoamerica. The amantecas transformed the clothing of warriors and noble people who liked to decorate their outfits with natural feathers of different colors like blue, green, white and yellow. 
prehispanic pieces were prepared on the basis of plant fiber (maguey leaves), drew the design on a sheet and then covered them with feathers sticking them with a resin called "Tzahuitli" that was obtained from some wild orchid. 
Art Colony By the sixteenth century the English were amazed to see the various art objects worked feather blankets, blouses, clothes, bracelets, coats, hats, fans, girdles (belts for the waist), badges for chest and ceremonial robes. The maids caused a huge surprise to see the conquerors dressed in feathers, and what about the men "eagle" raptor dresses! 
According to chronicles of Fray Bernardino de Sahagun, the prehispanic had two feather art techniques: the Mosaic glued and bonded labor. 
These mosaics, objects and clothing with religious themes made by anonymous hands, were sent to Europe and are currently in galleries, museums or private collections. 
Besides the quetzal and the turkey and other birds used to highlight the colors were the peacock and the hummingbird, in order to highlight the bright, iridescent colors, the herons for pink and white, parrots and macaws to the greens, the zacuan (coastal bird) and the toucan for yellow, the bird cowboy coffee and black ayacuan was obtained. 
Another new material that served as support rather than the leaves of the maguey was the copper foil, which was accompanied by "avatars", a European paper painted meat served to make the finish of the hands, feet and characters faces. 
roots in pre-Hispanic Mexico feather art has representatives in Tlalpujahua, Michoacan and Mexico City. It would be exaggerating if we ensure that more than 50 people currently engaged in feather art. 
amantecas Some representatives are: Master Gabriel Olay Olay, Olay their son Luis Guillermo Ramirez and Eliseo Guzman all sponsors and teachers who have made an art boom that has led to national and international recognition. 
So if you liked this topic, be encouraged to go to Tlalpujahua in Michoacan and acquires a work of this style, you can also learn the technique. Now if you just want to appreciate the different works of mosaic stuck, you can go to our country's museums as the Museum of Art, The Soumaya, the Franz Mayer Museum Guadalupe, in Zacatecas and the National Museum of Viceroyalty in Tepotzotlan, State of Mexico, which has 4 interesting feather art works: the Virgin of Health, the mantle of Zinacantepec, San Juan Bautista and the Pantocrator, Colonial greatest work of art depicting Christ the Saviour of the world. 
Now if you want to see pre-Columbian technique of feather art bound, approach the National Museum of Anthropology and you can see the majestic plume of Montezuma, replica of the original is in the Museum of Ethnology in Vienna, Austria. 
soon! 