Piñatas Screensaver information and download

Piñatas Screensaver
Version 1.0, (build 1037) for Microsoft Windows95/98 or Windows NT
Copyright © 1989-2007 Maria Elena. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE

Selected artwork from this website is available as a screensaver for Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP. This is a complimentary, promotional software. Subject to terms of License Agreement included with the software.

Download the screensaver software

Images included in this screensaver:

CELEBRATING MEXICO'S COLORFUL TRADITIONS!

• System Requirements
• Installing the software
• Uninstalling the software
• Contact information
• Description
• FAQ
• Credits
• Awards

Awards

System Requirements

Piñatas screensaver doesn't demand much from your system. In fact, if you can run any other typical screensaver on your system, you should have no problems with this one.

This software should run fine on any 32-bit version of Microsoft Windows (Windows95/98/NT). It was tested on Windows95B, Windows98 (with and without SP1) and WindowsNT4 (with SP4).

It was designed for an 800x600 display resolution with 24-bit color, but other resolutions should work fine too.

Installing the software

Installation of this software is really quite straightforward. Simply execute the installation file and respond to the prompts. In most cases, accepting the displayed default response is the adequate choice. If you have a custom Windows installation or configuration, you may need to adjust accordingly. Consult your Microsoft Windows documentation, if necessary.

Towards the end of the installation process, the Display Properties dialog box appears with the Screensaver tab selected. Piñatas is listed as your current/default screensaver and you have an opportunity to adjust screensaver options such as password protection, the wait period of inactivity before the screensaver is activated, etc. Make any adjustments you like and click on the Ok button to finish. You then have a choice to reboot Windows now or later. It is recommended that you do it then, rather than later.

That's it! Enjoy your new Piñatas Screensaver.

Uninstalling the software

To remove all the files comprising the Piñatas Screensaver package, follow Microsoft Windows' standard procedure for removing software packages. Here is one way of doing it:

1. Double-click on the My Computer icon on your Windows Desktop.
2. Double-click on the Control Panel icon.
3. Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon
4. On the Install/Uninstall tab, scroll down the list of currently installed programs until you find the Maria Elena's Piñatas Screensaver entry in the list.
5. Click on that entry, to select it.
6. Click on the Add/Remove button.
7. Follow the remaining dialog box prompts, as necessary.

Contact Information (not for software support)

Maria Elena
1955 West Harrison Ave.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424-1971

e-mail: maria.elena@juno.com
Studio Phone (information and orders): (541) 942-0371
Fax: (541) 942-0371 , wait for after beep

Website: http://www.MariaElenasMexico.com

Description

THE PIñATAS ARTWORK.

One of Maria Elena's favorite painting subjects is piñata scenes. This screensaver displays fifteen of Maria Elena's Piñata artworks. Most of them are acrylic or oil paintings on canvas. This screensaver celebrates one of Mexico's most enduring and cherished traditions: The Piñata.

THE PIñATAS SCREENSAVER

The screensaver displays images on the screen, one at a time, in the same order, until the screensaver is interrupted by a mouse movement or click, or a keyboard keystroke. Art images are displayed on screen for a duration of 20 seconds each, including the "transition" effect. This version of the screensaver has no configurable options. If you have the screensaver password option enabled, it will work with this screensaver. For the latest information and updates about this software, visit the artist's Web site on the Internet, or contact the artist directly. You should always check any software you intend to install on your computer with a current version of a malicious-code detector ( virus-scanner-checker) before you use any new software, including this software.

PIñATAS

Piñatas are typically used in Mexico during the Christmas season. They are a magical Christmas tradition for children of all ages. Every evening, in the two weeks before Christmas Day, neighbors and friends take turns hosting a "Posada" in their home. A Posada is a re-enactment, through song, of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging just prior to Jesus' birth.

After the Posada, children gather around a swinging piñata that is typically filled with roasted peanuts (in the shell), sugar cane, oranges and candy. The children take turns at trying to break the piñata's clay pot with a broom stick, while wearing a blindfold. On a lucky stroke, the piñata pot will break open, releasing it's delectable contents to children lunging towards the ground, frantically trying to collect the largest loot.

Traditional piñatas are made from a large clay pot. Modern piñatas replace the clay pot with paper-mache, for safety reasons. The pot is heavily ornamented using paper-mache, "china" paper and cardboard. They are made to resemble various animals and objects, the most popular being stars, farm animals, fruits and children's books characters. Piñatas are a wonderful expression of the incredible artistic talents of Mexican artisans.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

-- How can I purchase artworks from the artist Maria Elena?

Contact Maria Elena directly at:

Maria Elena
1955 West Harrison Ave.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424-1971

Studio phone number: (541) 942-0371

e-mail: maria.elena@juno.com

You can also visit her websites and choose from the large selection of art items displayed online.

-- Who is Maria Elena?

Maria Elena is very well known in Mexico, and to a lesser degree, in the United States. In 1985, the Mexican Government declared her an official Mexican "National Treasure". Her works hang in prominent private and public collections and museums world-wide. An extensive list of museums and collectors is available from the artist, upon request.

-- How do I get technical support for this software?

There is no technical support, or any other kind of support available for this freeware software. However, we are interested in any comments or bug reports sent to us via email to: maria.elena@juno.com.

-- How do I find out more about this software?

For further information about this software, and to obtain the latest updates, visit the artists' web site at http://mariaelena-art.hypermart.net. Or, contact the artist directly. Visit any of the artist's websites listed above.

-- Do I have to pay money for this software?

No. This is a freeware version. You are free to use it for PERSONAL AND NON-PROFIT use only. For complete details, see the End-User License Agreement section elsewhere in this document. However, it would be nice if you sent Maria Elena your comments on a postcard from your particular part of the world.

--What's the difference between Maria Elena's Mexican Art Screensaver (version 1.0.0) and this (Piñatas) one?

1. The images in this (Piñatas) screensaver are of a much higher (scanned) quality than those found in Maria Elena's Mexican Art screen saver. They are crisper, sharper, larger, and of a higher resolution.

2. There is a nice transition effect between displayed images.

-- Are there plans to create more software titles that incorporate Maria Elena's art?

Yes. We are planning various "themes" screensavers similar to this one. Also, we are exploring things like Mexican e-cards and other ways of promoting Mexican culture. Stay tuned.

Credits

- Programmer: Robert D. Feldman.

- This software was written with Borland's Delphi RAD development tool. "Powered by Delphi"

- Portions Copyright by Borland Corp.

- The excellent Delphi freeware component responsible for the image transition effects came from:

TPicShow v2.0 by Kambiz R. Khojasteh



email: khojasteh@www.dci.co.ir



web: http://www.geocities.com/k_khojasteh/

Windows 95/98/NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.