Oaxaca, Mexico: An Expatriate Life
From the Field:
The Work of Michele Gibbs and George Colman
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George Colman and Michele Gibbs began working together in Detroit, Michigan in 1971 as social activists, writers, and teachers. That relationship grew into a lifelong partnership which took them to Grenada, West Indies during the years of the Peoples' Revolutionary Govt., to Lesbos, Greece, to Jamaica and, for the past 14 years, Oaxaca, Mexico. Never tourists, they have always worked where they live, finding ways to contribute in diverse cultural situations.
In Oaxaca, George's background in oral history was put to use most recently interviewing local people and resulted in Senderos Oaxaqeños, a bi-lingual collection of twelve lifestories. Similarly, Michele's visual art and poetry, which center on the human condition in daily life have received enthusiastic receptions whenever they are presented.
From The Field is both the title and focus of their ongoing and always-developing collaboration as mates, artistic peers, and political visionaries. If you would like to read about them personally, press here
- Occasional Paper No. 1: George Colman comments on the likely effect of unofficial president of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador .
- Occasional Paper #2: Rebecca Clemente on the roots of anti-indigenous prejudice.
- Occasional paper #3: "Today", Michele Gibbs' poem in commemoration of the first anniversary of the police attack on the annual teachers' protest.
- Occasional paper #4: George Colman tells about the ordeal of investigative reporter Lydia Cacho; and puts her experience within a historical and political context.
- Spring, 2002: "we" and "saber", poems by Michele Gibbs; Signs and Sightings by George Colman: "Uncle Sam and El Chingon".
- Summer, 2002: Signs and Sightings by George Colman: "Babies, Politicians, and Professorial Rot"; "20th Century, Ltd.", "O BITTER BE WARY", "I would like to be wrong, but...", poems by Michele Gibbs.
- Fall, 2002: Signs and Sightings by George Colman: "Crisis & Creation in Oaxaca"; "Southern Exposure": poetry by Michele Gibbs; "Hasta Cuando?": poetry by EZLN subcomandante Marcos.
- Winter, 2002: "Daily Bread" by George Colman. In Other Words (compiled by Michele Gibbs): "A Native Person Looks Up From The Plate", by Alice Walker; "The Healing Power of Being Here", by Ann Filemyr Megisikwe; "Todos Estamos Preparando", by Miriam Teresa Villamediano, "Vivimos en Esperanza", an artwork by Michele Gibbs.
- Spring, 2003: "A Sign and Shield" by George Colman; A Shining Space: the poetry and art of Sadnar Connell; "Jab Jab" and "Weather Report": Poetry by Michele Gibbs; "Otra Vez": artwork by Michele Gibbs.
- Summer, 2003: "Boundary Riders" by George Colman; "Graciana", poetry by Michele Gibbs; "Remembering Juneteenth" by Dionne Brand; Poets Notice: Ted Joans, Def Jam Poetry.
- Fall, 2003: "Women's Voices From the Borderlands", a review by George Colman; "ThisYear in the North", a poem by Michele Gibbs.
- Winter, 20003: "Alba's Story", by George Colman; "Passing It On" by Beatriz Morales Crozier with introduction by Michele Gibbs.
- Spring, 2004: "El Salvador: A Divided Nation" by George Colman; "Grenada" by Michele Gibbs; Roadmarch 2000" by Michele Gibbs.
- Summer, 2004: "Dr. Francisco Hernandez and the Mexican Health System Crisis" by George Colman; "Just Ahead of the Curve" by Michele Gibbs; Gallery: Juneteenth
- Fall, 2004: "The Singer", a story by Arthur Dembling; "Oba's Story":
Rastafari, Purification and Power" by George Colman; "Line of Sight",
prose poetry and drawings by Michele Gibbs.
- Winter, 2004: "A Shifting Center", a story by George Colman; "Portrait of a Terrorist", a poem by Michele Gibbs; Gallery: "Winter in America".
- Spring, 2005: "Bus Station", prose by George Colman; "Las Mujeres de Mi Pueblo", poetry by Michele Gibbs.
- Summer, 2005:: "A Tanzanian Summer", prose, poetry, photography and drawings by Michele Gibbs; Pete Noll leaves Oaxaca, homage by George Colman.
- Fall, 2005: Chalmers Johnson on "The Sorrows of Empire"; "An Open Letter re: New Orleans" by Jane Poindexter; "An Arab Tale for Today"; "Oba's Story" has been published; two Poems for "Los Muertos"; Gallery: Unnatural Disasters.
- Winter, 2005: "Development Struggles in Oaxaca" by George Colman; "The Quotable Rebel", a review by Michele Gibbs.
- Spring, 2006: "Oaxacan Women against Violence" by George Colman; "Exodus" by Morris Msavia; "Dying to Leave" by Michele Gibbs.
- Summer, 2006:"Smell the Coffee": the Global Economy goes Local"; "The Other Campaignin Education"; "Quinto Sol" poetry by Michele Otero.
- Fall / Winter 2006"Teachers and APPO in Oaxaca and Mexico" by George Colman; "Druthers", poetry by Michele Gibbs; "Earthseed Parable of the Talents" by Octavia Butler
- Gallery: Spring Collection in recognition of Black and Womens' History Months.
- Gallery: Summer Collection in commemoration of Juneteenth
- Gallery: Autumn Collection: "Mexico Profundo"
- Gallery: A tribute to the living legacy of Carl Owens.
- Gallery: La Vida Cotidiana (Daily Life): a Summer collection.
- Gallery: On The Block.
- Gallery: 2003 in 12 Part Harmony.
- Gallery: Revolutionary Free Grenada.
- Fall Gallery, 2004: Line of Sight.
- Spring Gallery, 2005: Hoy Como Ayer.
- Summer Gallery, 2005: Pages from a sketch book: Tanzania / Zanzibar 2005.
- Fall Gallery, 2005: "Unnatural Disasters", works by Michele Gibbs and Mildred Howard
- Winter Gallery, 2005 Graphics for "The Quotable Rebel"
- Spring Gallery, 2006 Photos: "The Walls of Oaxaca".
- Fall / Winter Gallery, 2006 Drawings:: 3 For 2007
- Books: Prose and poetry
- Audio and Visual: CD, and Video Cassettes