Photographs of Irene Diaz at Art Print, 
Dec 15, 2006

Photography exhibit by Irene Diaz  “México en Movimiento” Friday, December 15, 7:30pm Art Print Express, San Francisco 11

Mexican photographer Irene Diaz grew up in Zacatecas and the United States, and she now lives and works in San Miguel de Allende. For three years she has been traveling throughout Mexico, working on a series of photographs characterized by a technique of moving the camera during shooting. This process creates a blur of colorful abstract illusions. The results reflect the feelings of her subjects and, at times, the disturbing reality of the image. Beautiful and surreal, the pictures contain a hint of imagery that can be sensed but not seen. 

For Diaz, the series was inspired by the spirit of the Mexican people, who on a daily basis live life to the fullest. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to PEASMA San Miguel's Environmental Educational Program

Mexican and expat artists open home

Open house/studio & art exhibit Friday–Sunday, December 15–17, 10am–6pm San Antonio Abad 36

Once a year, Mexican artist Lino Arteaga and expat artist Joan Elena Goldberg invite the public into their home to tour their ceramics studio, see their new artwork, sip some hot rum punch and have a chance to buy their creations at 50 percent off gallery prices.

Arteaga, a San Miguel native, has created a lively collection of whimsical handmade trays and bowls that have found their way into many kitchens here and in the United States. The pieces are functional and safe for food, and his color palette and playful design style are Mexicano puro in their sensibility and humor. 

In addition, Arteaga displays a large body of his original paintings, drawings and ceramic sculpture, the culmination of several years of work.

Goldberg has shown her ceramic sculpture in various galleries in San Miguel over the last six years and for more than 20 years in the US. For this open house she has created a small gallery in the living room of her home. Drawing imagery for her artwork from the physical world, particularly natural forms found in abundance in San Miguel’s countryside, she imbues her sculpture with quiet, seductive color and unusual textures. One can hardly recognize clay as her medium of choice.

Goldberg also makes functional ceramic work on her potter’s wheel and will have a small collection of new cups and bowls on sale. Each piece of dishware is handmade and has its own distinct personality.

La Tienda gifts keep giving back

New store hours, La Tienda Monday – Friday:10am–2pm and 3–6pm Saturdays: 10am–2pm Sundays: 9:30–11:30am

If you have a Christmas shopping list, consider buying at least one item from La Tienda, the recently reopened shop in the Biblioteca Pública. The proceeds from sales support the library’s educational and cultural programs and activities for the San Miguel community. 

La Tienda features lots of new and interesting gift ideas, including handmade Christmas gifts from local artists and artisans, a variety of books written by San Miguel residents, music CDs of San Miguel musicians, and select jewelry, artwork, posters and cards with a local flair.

Intricate simplicity: New jewelry designs by Diana Maycotte
By Melanie Harris

Art Opening, Jewelry by Diana Maycotte & students of Escuelita Maycotte Friday, December 15, 5–8pm Galería/atelier, Fábrica la Aurora, Calzada de la Aurora

An anticipated show of new jewelry designs by Diana Maycotte, one of San Miguel’s favorite jewelers, is about to be unveiled. Maycotte has been the best-kept secret in San Miguel’s jewelry-design community for many years—most of her designs that have been fabricated here were exported to the United States for over 25 years for sale at Saks Fifth Avenue and other exclusive boutique stores across the nation. Maycotte has closed her US sales ties and refocused her talents on a new style of jewelry making that no longer is dictated by what her store wants, but what she truly wants to create.

“I would like to think that my work has become more sculptural,” she says. “I would like to think that some of my recent pieces look like pieces of art. For me it has been my way of communication for many years. I like being able to make something that is ultimately worn by the person who purchases it. I like the special connectedness that jewelry offers in this sense.”

In the last two years, Diana has started showing her pieces at art shows both in San Miguel and Mexico City to very welcoming audiences. Admittedly, she will tell you that she left the US retail world because prices for handmade jewelry were marked up so much that the jewelry lost its competitive edge over that made in China. Her audience was no longer the one she hoped would buy and wear her jewelry. Here in San Miguel, people have respect for handmade jewelry and well-thought-out designs, and they are appreciative of the wholesale price she can offer. 

It’s all part of Diana’s organic philosophy: be inspired, design, create and sell locally. It’s even organic to the point that the organic world is what inspires her work. Living on a ranch surrounded by nature and watching things grow and change with the seasons are Diana’s main influences and motivation. “My life is full of textures, smells and sounds, and I want those features to show up in my work. 

My favorite recent piece is a necklace and bracelet that have interlocking parts that fit together like DNA or amoebas or bacteria. Recently, I am also more interested in the functionality and engineering of how things work or come together in a piece of jewelry. At the same time, I want to give each piece a sense of grace and a classic feel so that they transcend time, so the buyer can enjoy the piece for many years to come.”

“At this stage in my work, I am also drawn toward taking a simple shape, say a square, and pushing it to say ‘square’ in a more complex way. How does one make a square fit around a circle (or the oval) of the wrist? Now, that demands a complex answer to actually make it work in real life. Another good example is my ‘Building Blocks’ necklace, which illustrates the paradox of rectangle building blocks gently embracing one’s neck in an aesthetically pleasing way. This is what my current body of work is about.”

During the art opening on December 15, jewelry from the students of Escuelita Maycotte will also be for sale. Escuelita Maycotte is a not-for-profit supplemental education program started by Diane and her family for the underprivileged children in her rural community.

Maycotte can also be contacted for a private showing at dianemaycotte@gmail.com 

Ceramics by seven

Art Opening, Ceramics and painting

Saturday, December 16, 6–8pm, Pila Seca 3

An 18th-century residence provides the backdrop for the work of seven ceramic artists, among them featured artist Edna Dickinson, who shows a new collection of large raku and porcelain wall hangings. Joining Edna are artists Frances McConkey, Sharon Milligan, Ellen Johnson, Annemarie Slipper, Marjorie Heady and Joanne Jenkins. Victor Heady exhibits his paintings in his adjoining gallery located at Pila Seca 3.

Edna Dickinson’s new wall hangings are multiples of circular forms that create a powerful presence. Groupings of cool silvers, greys and gold tones of raku and liquid pools of glaze on porcelain reflect her interest in surface. The depth and luminosity of color are achieved through layering of slips and glazes.

Frances McConkey began her ceramics career by teaching junior-high students ceramics at the Americana School in Pachuca, Hidalgo. She uses each thrown or hand-built ware primarily as a surface on which to paint or carve images influenced by the culture and environment in which she has been living, both here in Mexico and in the Hawaiian Islands, where she was smitten by Asian art.

Sharon Milligan is a sculptor who works in clay and bronze. She has lived and worked in San Miguel for over 20 years. She also teaches beginning sculpture workshops in clay. Examples of her work can be seen at the Pila Seca Gallery, Galería San Miguel, Atenea, Puesta del Sol, Casa Schuck and in Parque Juárez.

Ellen Schechner Johnson has ceramic studios in New Mexico and San Miguel. Her vessels and wall pieces are about layering—combining clay, glazes, paint and paper. Her process is one of marking, collaging, covering over and scratching through. Ellen’s interest in Italian frescos is reflected in the warm surfaces of her work.

Annemarie Slipper has worked as a ceramic artist in San Miguel for the past 20 years. A few years ago, she moved on to casting her work in bronze, working on flat pieces of tin and trying always to push the limit of possibilities. Her object is to have fun and see what happens.

Marjorie Heady’s brightly glazed ceramic masks and classic bowls are her trademark. Her highly original and unusual works fuse the contrasting glaze techniques of porcelain and raku.

Joanne Jenkins, formerly of Carmel, California, has been sculpting in clay for 30 years. She has always found that her joy is in making clay figures take on personalities based on facial or bodily expression. In recent years, the figures have become elongated, elegantly gowned women, or sometimes ethereal angels feathered or sprouting wings and adorned by locally made tinwork. The spiritual aspect of her work is intriguing.

Victor Heady’s oil paintings offer exacting attention to detail. Multiple layers of varnish add a brilliant, jewel-like quality to the scenes of San Miguel in his paintings.

The magic art of gift-giving
By Rebecca Peterson

Art “GiftWalk”

Sunday, December 17, 2–5pm, Umarán and Zacateros galleries



What gifts are you giving this year? If you are looking for something magical, or looking for something to do with your Sunday afternoon, then come and enjoy the afternoon sun in a “GiftWalk” centered on the corner of calles Umarán and Zacateros. This lively upper Zacateros corridor will offer special holiday gift-buying opportunities, with wine, hot drinks, Christmas cookies and other treats to sustain your stroll. Why not give a gift of art or other handmade items unique to San Miguel this holiday?

The Magi, or three wise men, were the original gift-givers of our modern Christmas ritual. In ancient Persia, they were magicians and soothsayers, credited with profound and extraordinary spiritual knowledge. As in the O’Henry story “The Gift of the Magi,” the gift-giver divines just what the recipient would love the most. Not such a great sacrifice is needed, however. All these gifts are affordable luxuries. 

You could begin your search at Magenta, an art cooperative at Umarán 32.

The co-op shows unique handmade dolls dressed and jeweled in the collaged clothing (in miniature) of Bonnie Griffith, as well as Victoria Pierce’s small, richly textured found object “squares.” Rosa Torres’s colorful ceramic mugs, teapots and platters are perfect for a hot winter drink or for serving holiday foods. Rebecca Peterson shows a special series of “Portable Worlds” (Mundos Portatiles): Altoid boxes embellished with angels, goddesses and shiny objects. Look for new work by Theresa Sergneri’s extraordinary Skeleton Woman figures all dressed up for the holidays. Or pick up a fine print by Ernesto Folch, a piece of hand-painted glass by Barbara Roberts or a disco record bag by Mercedes Hart’s DeLaMeche designs.

Just across the street at Umarán 23 is Ave Maria Gallery, run by local designer Giovanna Canela. Opened in July 2006, this studio-gallery features her exclusive designs and unique pieces of furniture, nichos, crosses, candles, jewelry and more. Check out the huge heart sculpture at the entrance, and her modern take on the Corazon Sagrada (Sacred Heart) incorporated into sculpted furniture, Mexican Lotería (bingo) design pillows and other folk-art images made contemporary. Ave Maria is also a studio-gallery where artist Walter Wenzel offers painting classes upstairs for all ages and levels of experience. Wenzel has participated in various shows at both a national and international level. His work incorporates religious imagery and still-life done in beautiful detail.

Around the corner is Talisman Esther at Zacateros 2-B. This “Santa’s Inner Secret” Boutique has received special elvish deliveries just in time for Christmas. Esther is well-known in San Miguel for her quality offerings, and her new locale is glowing with new merchandise: silks, velvets, sweaters and irresistible accessories from many exotic locales. Consider one-of-a-kind jewelry made by a local designer: three strands of grey pearls interspersed with teardrop-shaped red coral, suspending a dramatic oval of coral in an antique-style silver setting. 

Continuing down to Zacateros 19 you will soon find Goldie’s Designs and Concierge. The magic art of gift–giving 

You will discover elegant and unique clothing, jewelry and accessories designed by owner Diane Goldie. Among other warm items you will find dupioni silk and velvet for the holidays, pashima wool and silk shawls from India, suede skirts, and pants and jackets of Italian leather but made in Mexico. 

Sharing the spacious historic locale at Zacateros 19 will be Peter Grau Gallery of San Diego, California, opening its doors for the first time during this Sunday event.

Come welcome them to the neighborhood and view the magnificent collection of Spanish and Italian art and antiquities of the 17th century and from the Mexican colonial period. 

Anchoring the other end of the giftwalk is the gallery Mero Arte Contemporáneo, at Zacateros 24.

The objective of Mero Arte is to promote the work of artists with a unique personal vision, firm in the belief that originality and beauty are the most important elements of creative expression. Michelle Wey’s fine jewelry is contemporary, with design elements based on nature and her interest in Eastern philosophy. The look is clean and elegant and often combines silver and gold with sapphires or semiprecious stones such as amethysts or locally quarried opals. She will make custom designs, including wedding bands. Luis Granda, well-known throughout Latin America, creates abstractly figurative etchings richly saturated in color. His one-of-a-kind jewelry designs are based on his etchings and are often inlaid with sapphires and grounded in Latin American symbology. Mero Arte also carries the work of Jordi Boldo and the exquisite encaustic paintings of Eschwan Winding, among others. 

The shortest day approaches. We humans mark these solar events with gatherings and parties, observance and ritual. We give gifts and light candles during these days—Hanukkah, the posadas of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and solstice rituals celebrated throughout the world. Give a gift of something special to mark your own celebration.

Art show and sale at Casa las Ranas

Art show & sale Patrice Wynne & Anado McLauchlin Sunday, December 17, 10am–5pm Casa las Ranas

Just in the nick (saint, of course) of time to wrap up the gift-giving season comes “Art and Whimsy,” a one-day joint show and sale put on by Patrice Wynne of San Miguel Designs and Anado McLauchlin of outsider/insider (take your pick) art fame. Best of all, the event takes place in the Cieneguita countryside, at Casa las Ranas, the renowned artistic installation also known as Anado’s home.

In addition to seeing all the jewelry and art pieces and clothing and house embellishments that Anado and Patrice have to offer, visitors will also have access to the stunning views and amazing sights of Casa las Ranas, with its incredible tile work, turrets, interiors filled with art of every description, even burros and bedspring fences festooned with wine bottles.

Anado’s playful, inspired, unique necklaces are well known around town and beyond, as is his artwork, ranging from mirror frames of every size to shrines to painted doors and unique assemblages for wall, table, desk, shelf or ceiling. Larger pieces, not for sale, are examples of what you can commission. Anado’s most recent Mexican show was held earlier this year at the City Museum in Querétaro—an installation called “The Chapel of Jimmy Ray,” an original and whimsical collection of assemblages, wall pieces, paintings and art pieces as only Anado can do them. The inventiveness never stops.

Patrice will have stocks of her famous and colorful Day of the Dead aprons and shirts as well as kimonos, smocks, curtains and handbags in lively, original prints of every (Mexican) description, inspired not only by Dia de los Muertos, but particularly by Frida Kahlo and her art, and the sublime Lady of Guadalupe in traditional as well as contemporary designs. Patrice’s Guadalupe shower curtains can become chaise longue covers, wall hangings or tablecloths. The San Miguel Design collection has been featured in shops from New York to Berkeley and in museums as part of Mexicana exhibitions. All of Patrice’s goods have bilingual hangtags and are made by local seamstresses who are paid a fair wage for their work.

So make it a day’s excursion to have your gift-giving dreams fulfilled and your gift-getting appetites whetted, not to mention your chance to see one of the most exciting houses in San Miguel and its environs. Casa las Ranas is just 10 or 15 minutes from Centro, on a good road. Call 155-8044 for directions. Or just tell anyone in town you’re looking for the Santa Clauses and you’ll have no trouble finding them.