It’s been more than a year since my last blog post. Like most of you, I have been aghast at the state of the world . Seeing the news about Venezuela, on top of the cold front (ICE) in the Untied States, the war-mongering towards Iran and a silenced genocide in Gaza, I have found these to be, as the Chinese curse says, “interesting times”. On a personal level, the loss of my beloved stepfather, Michael Kuttner, long-time teacher and solidarity activist in public education and progressive politics, has struck very deeply. I honour his love of music and my art with this tribute to a sovereign Venezuela.

In spite of such brutal realities bound up with protecting the dollar as the lingua franca of world domination by the U.S., we are all trying to make sense of times we are living in. Sometimes, music, poetry, and visual art can offer a consolation and a moment to breathe.

May 2026 bring us all another world of possibility, promise, fairness, and love. I share the words and music of Venezuela’s famed Simon Diaz interpreted by award winning Cuban/Mexican musician, Leiden. I have contributed my visual art to put together this video in homage to sovereignty and culture throughout our Americas. I offer my visual commentary on this classic song which has been covered by artists all over Latin America. Here I share the beauty of Mexican-Cuban singer Leiden’s version.

Song of the Full Moon-Simon Diaz

I saw a black heron
Battling a river

This is how it is to be in love 

Your heart and mine
‍
I saw a black heron

Battling a river

This is how it is to be in love

This is how it is to be in love

Your heart and mine
Y
our heart and mine
‍
Moon, moon, full moon, 
Waning
Moon, moon, full moon
Waning
‍
Young man, go to the house

And bring me the rifle, oh 

To kill this hawk

that’s slaughtering my. chickens, oh
‍
The moon is watching me

I don’t knowhow she views me

I have clean clothes

I washed them late yesterday
‍
The moon is watching me

I don’t know how she views me

I have clean clothes

I have clean clothes

I washed them late yesterday

I washed them late yesterday
‍
Moon, moon, full moon
, Waning
Moon, moon, full moon
Waning 


Tonada de Luna Llena-Simon Diaz

Yo vi de una garza mora

Dándole combate a un río

Así es cómo se enamora

Tu corazón con el mío
‍
Yo vi de una garza mora

Dándole combate a un río

Así es cómo se enamora

Así es como se enamora

Tu corazón con el mío

Tu corazón con el mío
‍
Luna, luna, luna llena
 ,Menguante
 Luna, luna, luna llena 
Menguante
‍
Anda muchacho a la casa

Y me traes la carabina, jio

Pa' mata este gavilán

Que no me deja gallina, jio
‍
La luna me está mirando

Yo no sé lo que me ve

Yo tengo la ropa limpia

Ayer, tarde la lave
‍
La luna me está mirando

Yo no sé lo que me ve

Yo tengo la ropa limpia

Yo tengo la ropa limpia

Ayer tarde la lave

Ayer tarde la lave
‍
Luna, luna, luna llena 
Menguante 
Luna, luna, luna llena
 Menguante