Carlos Fentanes
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Form Follows Function
Conversations with Virgin Mary I returned home from Milwaukee. I had time to visit the House and Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago, and Taliesin, his cottage in Wisconsin where he lived for 50 years. It was an interesting visit, almost like archaeology—uncovering the past, even if it is a relatively recent past. I…
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It’s not you, it’s me
The quantum observer as the definition of art When I was younger, in high school, I started to realize what was the art world, I made my first Art essay, mostly copied from other authors. And for the first time I wondered what was art. As a young student with no life experience I, intuitively,…
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NowHere
The author reflects on personal struggles while in Milwaukee testing a new cashbox for buses. Despite facing multiple rejections in their artistic endeavors, they express resilience in continuing to experiment. The narrative intertwines themes of family challenges, particularly concerning the author’s mother with Parkinson’s, and philosophical musings on waiting and existence at a bus stop,…
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The Bulb in the Fridge
Conversations with Virgin Mary I took my car to the body shop to repair the antenna and the hole in the roof. I don’t need a radio in my car. I can live without it, but the hole in the roof is keeping me awake at night. There are features you take for granted until…
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Here Comes the Rain Again
The narrative revolves around the protagonist’s struggles with various personal challenges, including a damaged car, a sick mother, and a complicated family dynamic. He seeks wisdom from a friend, Jorge, who channels messages from the Virgin Mary, emphasizing life’s cyclical nature. The story highlights themes of care, communication, and the interconnectedness of struggles.
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The Grass is Greener on the Other Side
Conversations with Virgin Mary My boss sent me a couple of pictures through WhatsApp. They were taken from his window: a group of blue jays gathered around a feeder. In the next image, a woodpecker appeared. The last one was a video. The same birds Jorge had pointed out to me before my trip, when…
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Clean Up Your Windows
Conversations with Virgin Mary I saw a chicken trying to cross the road, just like in the videogame. There were no cars, only mine, slowing down. I think it was a chicken, the window was so dirty from the melted snow on the roads. What was a chicken doing there? I live on the rural…
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Do I look like chopped liver?
The narrator shares an afternoon with Jorge, discussing personal growth and the importance of sharing one’s creative work, particularly with family. They reflect on the narrator’s mother’s resilience amid illness. Jorge urges the narrator to send meaningful letters and serve as a reminder of the value found in overlooked, humble experiences.
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A Massage For Your Scalp
Conversations with Virgin Mary Everything I plan refuses to end as planned. I have been sending applications to every open call where I believe my work belongs, and the results have been the same: rejection. I have grown so accustomed to rejection letters that they no longer surprise me. I don’t ask why anymore. I…
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This is not a drill
Conversations with Virgin Mary “You should wait until I arrive. This task is hard for one person,” I tell Jorge as I watch him halfway up a ladder, a drill in his right hand, balancing. “I waited for you,” he says without turning. “You said five. It’s almost six-thirty.” “I sent you a message. Didn’t…
Carlos Fentanes 