For painter Alan Tarbell, there is an apparent connection between every thing and being that intrinsically ties us all to our surroundings, and this observation is the inspiration for his latest body of work, "Resonance."

Alan further explains, "If we move, then we make waves, which resonate out from our actions. These actions help influence our surroundings, which directly affect our well-being. What we give to our environment, our environment gives back to us, and what we take, conversely, is taken from us. There is a reverberating cycle that we must become aware of and sensitive to in order to entrain ourselves in its natural rhythm. Otherwise, we oscillate out of balance, unaware of the consumption of our surroundings until there is no more nourishment."

Each of his new paintings reflects a certain environmental resonance that Alan himself has felt in his travels and personal experiences. It is an attempt to show a sequence that projects this concept collectively as well as individually. It is also an expression of a raw, elemental aspect of life, related to the geologic layers of time. Figurative aspects play into the seams of the layers to form a concept, a union, which the viewer experiences as a sense of coherency between what is seemingly separate.

It is safe to say that one instantly feels the resonance from each of Alan's paintings. It is a studied ploy of wavy, free strokes, warm colors, character interaction and carefully chosen metaphors. The works are both poetic and straightforward. There is a sense of a call to action, whether to pick up an instrument to join in or whether to pick up a pen and petition to save our oceans. The message is clear: we are all in this together, so let us work to make things better.

For more information, contact the gallery at info@galeriaatelier.com 

Art Opening
"Resonance"
Paintings by Alan Tarbell
Friday, April 14, 6-8pm
galería/atelier, Fábrica La Aurora

Work by young artists from Ajijic featured

An upcoming exhibition, which continues through June 3, features paintings done by Ajijic, Jalisco, children over the past 50 years in an art program started in 1956 by American writer/philanthropist Neill James.

(Her book about her travels in Mexico, Dust on My Heart, was published in 1946 and was the last book in her "petticoat vagabond" series.)

In 1956, James started an art program for local children. She hired an art teacher and youngsters were invited to learn to paint every day for free. The program produced many fine artists, including Antonio López Vega, who teaches at Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, and the current mayor of Ajijic, Ricardo González.

Today, the art program continues through the work of Canadian, Mexican and American volunteers. Every Saturday, 50 to 100 children come to the former Neill James property (now the home of the Lake Chapala Society) to paint.

Former program participants (including Antonio López Vega, who teaches at the Instituto Allende, and his brother, artist Jesús López Vega) and volunteers of today's program (including program director Mildred Boyd, Judy Boyd, Allen Turner and Lizz and Clark Drummond) will be on hand for the opening reception. Greeting cards made from the historic paintings in the exhibit will be on sale at the reception. Proceeds from card sales go to frame, protect and exhibit this unique collection.

This exhibit is sponsored by the Municipal de Chapala and the Children's Art Program, which is a continuation of the program started by Neill James in 1956. Today's program is made possible through the work of dedicated volunteers and with the financial support of the community, the Ajijic Society for the Arts, and the Lake Chapala Society.

Art Exhibit
Work by children from Ajijic, Jalisco
Friday, April 21, 7-9pm
Museo Histórico Casa Allende
Cuna de Allende 1

A moment of movement

The exhibit of Paula Balderas's work includes 12 large drawings in the form of diptychs and triptychs.

Executed with rapid, almost desperate strokes they capture moments that let us see the artist's secrets and thoughts.

The images reflect upon moments in life that we return to over and over, and as such form part of the past and the present, captured on canvas.

Moment, movement
Paintings by Paula Balderas
Continues through May 28
Sala Principal
Bellas Artes
Hernández Macías 75