The day before a New York judge sentenced Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán to life behind bars, a range of clothing and accessories taking advantage of the drug kingpin’s fame was being launched in Guadalajara.

On July 15, the Trump administration revoked asylum protections for migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Applicants must now apply for refugee status in Mexico as a de-facto “safe third country.”

An uninspiring building at the corner of Avenida Chapultepec and Montenegro has been completely transformed following an intervention by a well-known international, urban artist who has made a name for himself by creating large distinctive murals of women, often dressed in elegant clothes, and wearing masks and pristine make up.  

As U.S. congress members such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounce alleged concentration camp conditions for detained migrants in the United States, it is understandable why many people expected to hear solutions during last week’s televised debates featuring Democratic Party candidates for the U.S. presidency. 

It is a cool, sunny afternoon and José Isidoro Ramos is juggling his observation of Jalisco Philharmonic (OFJ) musicians practicing for an upcoming concert at Guadalajara’s Teatro Degollado, a tête-à-tête with new OFJ Patronato President Rodrigo Ibarra at a cafe outside the theater, and an interview with this newspaper.

In these parts Huichol artistry is frequently on display is street stalls and on the sidewalk, but it is a glaring omission in prestigious museums. Perhaps the old adage that artists are rarely appreciated on their home turf is in operation here.