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Why Gangs Formed in San Miguel

WHY GANGS HAPPENED

In his book Art and San Miguel Gang Psychology, Donald Watson says

“When women first pick up a paint brush, or silver wire or glass cutters, or a pen to write in San Miguel, an inner voice that has been stilled for so many years starts to speak. It tells them they are CREATIVE. They rush home and begin to see their home in a different way. They see it as a source for CREATIVITY and a source to help them EXPRESS themselves. So the rugs, drapes, table coverings, bedspreads, curtains, towels, dishrags, table runners around the house soon disappear from the house and appeared as CREATIVE clothing.”

When Donald looked around San Miguel he found that the Instituto Allende, the Bellas Artes and the Biblioteca were the three most important places for awakening that CREATIVE inner voice.

The first household item wearers in San Miguel were brave pioneers who suffered mightly from snickers in the Jardin. But as their numbers grew and the gangs formed the snickers turned to whispers. Now women can walk freely and proudly in the Jardin wearing whatever they found that morning on the floor or on the wall or in linen closet. They welcome your stares and pictures because they believe you are honoring their CREATIVITY.

But not all gangs sprang from unleashing the CREATIVE inner voice. The Classic Gang sprang from their husband, ex-husband or late husband's open wallet. ART to this group was not something you did but something your bought. They came to San Miguel to buy. They started with FABULOUS houses. Then one day in 1994 Missy Craigthorne noticed that some of the shabbily dressed people in San Miguel were carrying canvasses. She followed them to the Instituto Allende and had her mystical moment. They were ARTISTS. Out came her husband's wallet and she bought her first piece of ART. Word spread throughout town that the shabby people had nice stuff to sell. Within a week there was no art left in town.

But the Gamay family recognized an open wallet when they saw one and in 2001 opened

FABRICA AURORA

Finally women of substance had a place to go and spend their days and their money.

NOT GANGS

As you start to look for the Gangs of San Miguel your eye will go towards groups who are dressed alike. But be careful not all those who dress alike are in a gang. Here are two examples of people who dress a like but are not in gangs.



This is also not a gang

Love Slaves

LOVE SLAVES

Gangs are not just about ART but also about LOVE. Women come to San Miguel to find LOVE. But there aren't enough men to go around to provide the LOVE. So some women fall in love with San Miguel

I just LOVE it here in San Miguel.
San Miguel is so special to me.
There is such magic here.

San Miguel becomes their LOVER and their Muse.

Here is a book with that title.

But gangs have given women a new purpose in San Miguel. They become Gang Mamas and capture love slaves. Love Slaves have so many purposes - asset holders, bridge partners, beasts of burden, bill payers, place holders, wallets, fetchers, drivers and so many more. Men who used to be someone in the U.S. are reduced to mere Love Slaves in San Miguel. They walk with their heads down following the MRS and waiting for instructions.

CAPTURING A LOVE SLAVE

Capturing love slaves is a major gang activity in San Miguel. Gang members work in pairs. Gangs are always on the look out for unattached males. Here two gang members search the Jardin for a love slave.

Once they spot an unsuspecting male they begin to follow him.

Soon one gang member moves ahead of the Potential Love Slave and the other walks behind him. Notice how members from two different gangs work together to share a Love Slave. Men are scarce so sharing is the only option.


Using their womanly ways they entice him to be their Love Slave with promises of cooking and clean underwear. For a minute the Love Slave may try to escape.




But the lure of cooked meals and clean underwear is too much and he falls into step behind his Gang Mamas.


As soon as they are captured they are put to working by the gangs. This man has been indentured as a bag boy.



This man simply holds a burro and a horse waiting for his Gang Mama to come back




That is why gay men are so popular in San Miguel. They can still think and talk for themselves.

Read about a Love Slave Rebellion

Read how one woman found a business opportunity to capture love slaves

Read how the Shaman Gang uses power animals to capture love slaves

Shaman Gang

Shaman Gang

Some gangs have taken their colors and identity from the indigenous people of Mexico. The Shaman Gang uses power animals (dogs)to capture Love Slaves. Sparky is leading his Shaman to a potential Love Slave.


The Shaman uses her power animal (a dog) to hypnotize a single man into being her love slave

Mexican Reaction To Gangs

GRINGO FREE ZONES

San Miguel has been changed over the years by the invasion of American Gangs. They have bought up almost all the houses in Centro and all the land with a view. This has pushed Mexicans further and further away from Centro and the Hills. Tourist know nothing of this and the creation by Mexicans of Gringo Free Zones. Signs warn you about Gringo Free Zones. If you are a tourist and see this sign on the outskirts, do not enter a Gringo Free Zone. Gringo Free Zones have are no lattes, no art, no wines, no maids, no dried flowers, no pretty painted houses, no one who speaks English and no cable TV. It is a scary part of Mexico and not like the United States at all. It is almost like a foreign country - so unSan Miguel. You will get no service there. So watch for the signs and KNOW.

MEXICANS FIND WAYS TO USE GRINGAS

Little is written or said about what Mexicans think of Gangs and Gringras. The closest analogy is the spread of milfoil or zebra mussels in North America. Once introduced they are difficult to eliminate. But the Tuesday Market has found a use for Gringas. They are a bit tough and utterly tasteless but with some salsa rojo o verde they aren't bad.

FROM ATENCION

Field of dreams: Soccer matches organized to deter gangs
By Jesús Ibarra

Gangs based in some neighborhoods within the city threaten public security and pose a challenge for local law enforcement.

Vandalism, street fights, throwing rocks at police cars, defacing property and consuming alcohol and drugs in the street are among the gang-related activities the local government hopes to curtail.

Colors Gang

Every member of his Gang chooses they own color. They dress from head to toe in that colour.

No-one is Alone in San Miguel

No one wants to be alone in San Miguel.



Several sociological studies of expats and gangs in San Miguel have shown that being alone can be dangerous. Groups provide constant chatter to drown out individual thoughts. San Miguel organizes groups to do all sort of things - Photography tours, walking tours, art classes, language classes, excursions into people's homes, help the poor tours, help the poor tours even if they don't want it tours, butterfly tours, movies etc. etc. It is endless.

Lone Ranger Gang Part of the Comics Gang

There is something about cowgirls and San Miguel.





This gang takes it inspiration from Comic Book Characters.

This man is part of the Back Lot Gang.

Love Slave Rebellion

Clean underwear and cooked meals often don't compensate for having to listen to endless chatter. This man is begging a group of older Mexican women to look after him. If they take him it will be a win win for him. Clean underwear, cooked meals and not able to understand a word they say. The problem - they haven't a clue what he is saying.

Found in Parque Juarez

New Strategy

Never let it be said that the Gangs of San Miguel are without ingenuity. Sandra Grove, while building her home on Recreo, stumbled upon an opportunity. Too many Love Slaves had slipped through her hands and when the contractor was installing palm trees in her yard she had her Eureka moment. Scoop up the Love Slave, hence the Sandra Grove Manlift business.

Grove Manlift
152 8992
Open 24 hours
Let us Scoop You a Man

Photography Gang

This gang is all about the picture no matter how intrusive and invasive the taking of it is. These photographers are posed in front of the San Juan de Dios procession on March 9 oblivious to feelings of the people attending the event. This a picture Marjorie of Des Moines took.


They proceeded to photograph as the procession moved towards them, only moving at the last moment.


They then moved to the Jardin to further intrude into people's lives.



Finally they left the Jardin to find more "local" pictures to take.



Photographers lurk everywhere looking for that "Special Photo".





Diane Arbus.. despair.



These photographers seem unable to understand how the taking of their "interesting" little pictures shows a complete disregard for the feelings and integrity of the photographed.

Claus Gang

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus winter in San Miguel.

Mrs. Claus pictured here likes to eat and take art classes.


Mr. Claus (Santa to the children, Gary to his friends) just likes to be in the Jardin and talk.



This gang is unlike other gangs because of all the good works they do. Santa is involved in almost all the charities in San Miguel and Mrs. Claus (Tiny to her friends) loves to paintings and give them to anyone who will take them. Here is her last and hopefully last painting.

Gang Dogs

GANG DOGS

Dogs are power animals in San Miguel. They provide wisdom and power. The Shaman gang uses power animals to capture Love Slaves.

Others use dogs as jewelry and/or purses. These dogs are often called "My Best Friend" and may even be dressed like the owner. This is also known as a Canape Dog.


There appears to be an direct relationship between wisdom and the size of the dog.

Below is a chart showing some variations in the size of dogs.



Appetizer dogs are often eaten by larger dogs.

Canadian Gangs

Canadian gangs don't like to be confused with Americans but they are ever so subtle. Can you spot what makes this man part of a Canadian Gang?

Gang Shopping

Gangs tread a careful path between good works and bad works. Some gangs are philanthropic. Some are downright mean. It is often hard to tell the difference between shoplifting and shopping.

Joan Black Memorial Seat

Contest of the Week - Where Would You Wear This

Gangs of San Miguel de Allende are CREATIVE as they have taken art courses at Bellas Artes and the Instituto. Today's contest is called "Where would you wear this".

Sharon is holding something discovered in the Butterfly Sanctuary god knows where. No butterflies where killed in its production nor were they disturbed. So put on your beret and start to think where you would wear it. Is it a hat? Is it a necklace? Is it a belt buckle? Could it be a pair of shoes? The winner of this contests gets to have dinner with two live men. So put your comments below and your email address.

This contest is not open to tourists.

The Parasol Gang

She is not alone in the Jardin. For months she was the only Parasol on the block but the Gang is growing. At least three other women have picked up the Parasol, blocked the sun and are hoping for rain. They will taunt by yelling "No UV for me" and have been known to use the parasol as a weapon.

A fifth member has appeared. This gang is growing far faster than people imagine. There was even a paper parasol in the Jardin last week.


This gang can only be identified from the Parasol. Remove the Parasol and confusion reigns. This woman has a Classic Gang hat but a Rug Gang covering.

ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY

The discovery of this parasol by a contributor has the Jardin in a buzz.



Gangs are competitive in San Miguel. Members of the Rug Gang are always trying to outcarpet each other. The various Hat Gangs are always swamming the hat vendors in the Jardin for something "new". Imagine the excitement of the Parasol Gang with this new Parasol. One member has even coined a new slogan "Here Comes the Shade". So be prepared to lose the sun.

Pseudo Female Gangs

Things they are a changing in San Miguel.

I know in the US that the Lions have their Lionettes and the Kinsmen the Kinettes and the Rotarians the Rotary Anns but I never expected Gangs in San Miguel to create MMG's (mini gangs for males). Finally sensitive males in San Miguel can support their women in their careers as Gang members. Here we have a male who is in the MGM for the Classic Gang and a MGM for the Rug Gang. Today there are snickers in the Jardin but tomorrow there will be whispers.

Can You Fit Through Here?

Every sidewalk in San Miguel has these "Eye of the Needle" initiation poles. Perhaps you have walked through one or looked at one and decided it might be too narrow so you stepped around it. But you were being watched and your decision recorded.



The Classic Gang will let no one join if they did not walk through the Eye of the Needle. Anyone who sidesteps the Eye of the Needle has made that split second decision that they are TOO BIG to pass through. No further discussion is needed about TOO BIG. You are relegated to the lower level rung rug and tablecloth gangs where you will be able to find something to fit.

Warren Hardy Gang

This gang is identified by the yellow bag they carry announcing they are part of the Warren Hardy Gang. Warren is one of the few men to develop a large well organized Gang in San Miguel. He and his partner Tuli have been here since 1990 recruiting members. They have four levels of membership. Level 1's can be seen struggling with their power verbs in the Jardin. They are constantly telling Mexicans what they want, need, like, can, have to and where they are going. Sometimes it is a question and sometimes it is a statement. Level's 2's live in the past and tell Mexicans what they paid, saw, ate, cooked and where they went. Few Mexicans understand them but they smile nicely and say something they will never understand. Level 3's and 4's are all very tense and have seven levels of tension. They can be understood by Mexicans and are very dangerous as they can now buy real estate.

Cars and Gangs

"What's with the colored Volkswagens"

Colors and Gangs are like Bread and Butter. CREATIVE women go beyond household items to coordinating their outfits to the car they drive. Here is the Pink Car Gang, the White Car Gang, the Red Car Gang and Mary Kay Car Gang and a member from each gang. The Mary Kay Car is missing a member. Well Mary Kay is missing more than a member.

Day of the Dead Gang (Facelift Gang)

The origin of this Gang's colors and theme came from a misunderstanding. Helen Patterson came to San Miguel in late October 1992 for a facelist or "mascaracuero" which means mask to hide an old lady in spanish

November 2 was the first day she felt well enough to venture forth from the Spa after her surgery. As she walked the streets she began to cry when she saw all the Day of the Dead pictures, carvings and objet d'arte. Self centered, speaking not a word of Spanish and knowing nothing about Mexican customs she thought that the town had put on this festival to cheer her up and to celebrate her new look. Immediately she bought a house in Centro and remodelled it with some of the proceeds of her divorce. As more and more facelifts were done in San Miguel Helen, still speaking no Spanish nor knowing anything about where she lived, recruited fellow macaracueras into her Gang. Each November 2 they parade in the streets of San Miguel showing all women they can look like the Day of the Dead if they want.

This is a picture Helen has had commissioned of herself for her house.