Ernesto Olmos and his magical "flute of fire"

I was fortunate enough several months ago to shoot some footage of muralist-musician-ceramicist-dancer Ernesto Olmos.  Ernesto is from Mexico but has lived in Oakland for many years.

He is steeped in the culture of his ancestors, which is Olmec, Toltec and Mistec.  These are indigenous ethnicities which produced some of the greatest civilizations of Mexico's past.  The Olmec (1200-400 BC) is known as the earliest American civilization.  The Toltec came much later (800-1000 AD), and I regret to say I know nothing about the Mistec.  There are fabulous ruins of the Olmec and Toltec in central southern Mexico.

Ernesto Olmos in his studio.

I went to interview and film Ernesto because of his murals, which depict images from his heritage.  I stayed to learn of his current paintings, his music and his dance.

And I was privileged to  hear him play his magical "flute of fire," a double-barreled ceramic flute that he made himself.

Yes, I DOES actually have fire. There is a kind of basin at the far end of the flute where he puts coals that he then lights.  At the upper end, there is a kind of cup which makes wind sounds when he blows into it.  And he uses the two barrels to produce music.

Ernesto Olmos in front of his home, with his magical "flute of fire."

The result is beautiful.  The barrels produce a beautiful music, which he elaborates with the wind sounds and you have the additional imagery of the fire burning at the far end.  A wonderful experience to hear and see.

OUR NEXT BLOG will be about working in Spain--a different concept of TIME.