The Road To Matehuala -- EL CAMINO A MATEHUALA
Oil paintings by Sam Botkin, depicting scenes along the highways leading to Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Series begun in 2014. CUBANOS...AQUI!! Debajo!! (enviame un email, Cubanos!)
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#3 Rest Yuridia

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #3, RESTAURAT. YURIDIA, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in. NFS
Nueve Cubanos En Mexico

El Camino A Matehuala, #27, NUEVE CUBANOS EN MEXICO, oil on canvas, 28 x 48 in.
#17 Café Abierto

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #17, CAFÉ ABIERTO, oil on canvas, 18 x 36 in.
My critique of this TRTM series
This series of paintings represents much that I enjoy about Mexico. There is nature, in the mountains, the vegetation, the sky. There within nature are the structures, so much like nature, but so very human. The concrete walls, often incomplete, exemplify the struggle for survival in this undeveloped land, but each structure has a painted wall, showing bright colors--some with a professional touch though many with primitive hand-painted signs, words misspelled, lettering uneven--displaying hope where there often may be little. Each of these paintings includes a human figure. Just one. It's a lonely place out there. Each of these cafés or restaurants or truck stops exists juxtaposed alongside a modern highway, the road to Matehuala. (Only a few of the paintings actually show the road. The contrast can be stunning.) The sky in each painting signifies the greater cosmos, the infinite universe that holds the secrets that allow such an incongruous world to exist.
Political signs
And then of course there are the painted political signs that show up in a few of the scenes. Those really add to the mystery of it all!
The Road To Matehuala #26, Fiesta Familiar

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #26, FIESTA FAMILIAR, oil on canvas, 28 x 60 in. NFS
#9 Ramos

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #9, RAMOS, CAFE El COMPA, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in.
#10 Café Lucy II

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #10, CAFÉ LUCY II, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in.
#11 Café $$$

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #11, CAFÉ $$$, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in. NFS
#15 Abarrotes Gil

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #15, ABARROTES GIL, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in.
#16 Cafe La Flaca

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #16, CAFE LA FLACA, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in.
#20 Restaurant Sagitario

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #20, RESTAURANT SAGITARIO, oil on canvas, 18 x 27 in.
#18 Rest Ericka 18x36

THE ROAD TO MATEHUALA, #18, RESTAURANT ERIKA, oil on canvas, 18 x 36 in.