A Monday art walk… to the pulpería

I wrote on Thursday about the beauty and, during the past few months, the renewed utility and importance of Costa Rica’s pulperías. While writing that post, I came across this lovely connection of paintings of “corner stores” past and present, and wanted to share some more of them with you. I found them on the TicoClub website, which indicates they were part of a 2009 exhibit at the National Museum called “Homage to the Costa Rican Pulpería” by students of the Home Art School of Professor Ricardo Jiménez Salazár.

It was dedicated to “the pulperos, who forged a tradition that allows us to buy our bread, share our affection and strengthen our identity.” Amen. For more on new ways to buy from Costa Rican pulperías, here’s Thursday’s post. Now, here’s a taste of what the students created, complete with classic signage, countertops, pulperos and, in a couple cases, horses. (The featured image above is by Hugo Jiménez, depicting Comisariato el Porvenir, San Miguel de Sarapiquí.)

I’ll be up late tonight to prepare tomorrow’s Boost, because the first same-sex marriage in Costa Rica following the legalization of marriage equality here will take place at 12:01 am tomorrow morning! Want to join me in watching it? You can tune in here.

I’m a writer in San José, Costa Rica, on a year-long quest to share daily posts on inspiring people, places and ideas from my adopted home as a kind of tonic during a rough time in the world. Sign up (top right of this page) to receive a little dose of inspiration every weekday in your mailbox; tell a friend; check out past posts; and please connect with me on Instagram or Facebook! If you want to learn more about how to support Costa Rica during the crisis, visit my COVID-19 section, updated regularly – or for ways to enjoy Costa Rica from afar, visit Virtual Costa Rica.