Two worlds collide
Art opening


Introspección de lo Trivial and Apariciones en el Tiempo de Ensueño

Works by Tomás Bürkey and Manuel Lozano Sat, Aug 4, 6–(N)9pm Galeria/Atelier Fábrica La Aurora

Contorted bodies harmoniously and tumultuously move across the canvas in the paintings of Tomás Bürkey while the wide-eyed ceramic and bronze sculptures of Manuel Lozano stare on in awe and dismay. It is a complementary clash of worlds and esthetic vision and rhetoric that people are coming to expect from the shows at Galeria/Atelier. The current show titled by Lozano, Introspección de lo Trivial (Introspection of the Trivial) and by Bürkey, Apariciones en el Tiempo de Ensueño (Apparitions in the Time of Dreams) is perhaps the epitome of artist pairings seen at the gallery.

Tomás Bürkey is a Chilean-American artist raised between Cincinnati and Santiago de Chile. The son of a prominent Chilean art dealer/filmmaker/newscaster mother and a US truck/taxi driver father, Tomás’s work tells its own unique story. His art schooling began at the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts, but somewhere along his career path he also studied automotive mechanics and worked at nuclear power plants in both the US and Spain. His work is also heavily influenced by the memories of and influences from both ends of the Americas, where he has researched the ancestral and cultural roots of the continent. The myths and tales of the South Pacific, including that of Lemuria, are constant inspirations for Tomás’ imagination. His powerful lines and defined colors stand out in works of an original format, full of imagery and energy, and could be compared to Chagall. Each painting has a tight color palette which allows the movements and brushstrokes to do all of the talking. Corporal gestures and 
contortions push the limits of the human figure and imagination while echoing the artists’ ever-changing consciousness.

Classically trained sculptor Manuel Lozano comes to Galería/Atelier from León, Guanajuato. From first sight one can tell that Manuel has extraordinary talent, vision and execution. Trained in Italy, Manuel studied at the Florence Academy of Art and, most importantly, in the working studio of Florentine sculptor, Mario Pachioli. Not only did he have the academic training but also the practical training needed to be so successful and proficient at such a young age. In Manuel’s work one can look into the eyes of his sculptures and literally feel the angst of youth and the inability to conform to reality, while other pieces stand stoically and strongly face the world. The ability to proficiently portray these opposing emotions led the young sculptor to win 4th place at the Florence Biannual in 2003 at the age of 24. Today, the sculptures we see from Manuel are moving away from the classical while staying true to his teachings, which make for truly top-notch modern art.

The show provokes the conclusion that these two artists from different parts of the world, with different accents, mediums and life experiences are, in fact, speaking the same universal language of the human experience.

Galeria/Atelier welcomes the public to meet the artists at the cocktail opening on Saturday. For more information or to schedule a private viewing, contact info@galeriaatelier.com. 

The thrill of salvation
By Peter Leventhal

Art opening Interlaced nudity Works by Enrique Guillén Thurs, Aug 9, 7pm Galería Le Noir

When artists speak of subject and content, they mean the subject (still life, portrait, figure and abstract) is the topic, that which is to be discussed, or a theme, as a melody in musical composition. All the rest is content. Content is made up of the manner and procedures of making and this is how the intention and the success of each work is measured. In the case of painting, this is the method of applying the paint, which is called the factura, the manner of the drawing, tight and meticulous, or expansive and generalized and the choices of color and their mixture. In fact, the subject often functions as only a pretext for the assemblage of pictorial event.

Figurative painting, which 20 years ago had been declared a corpse, rose from its coma like a Lazarus. Everyone at some time wants to be an artist and modern culture accommodates all types.

To illustrate, lay a series of bricks across the floor of Bilbao and dozens of articles and books produce unwarranted reputations and praise. So when one sees work in which judgment and a sensitive balance of complexities are manifest, a certain thrill of salvation swells, and when we learn that this talent was born in 1983 and is now 24, we may even have hope. The pictures of Enrique Guillén, infused with a marvellous and energetic mixture of line and form, speak of a resurrection, about which we only have optimism. Laced with the power of their drawing, with the insight of his vision and descriptive sagacity, these works possess a noble character. Because what they truly speak of recognizes the inequity of the vast infinity of the artist’s space, of a person made of eternal silence and our mortality. And so he works in a 
struggle to overcome the smallness of our existence, the struggle with insignificance. 

I would even say that only abstraction and figures have the chance to elevate us to significance; all the rest remain a skip, a hop or frolic. As long as these works possess a gravity and a willingness to completely come to grips with the means of their making, they have the ability to elevate us, to raise us from the dead shell of unlived lives.

And they do. How many fantasies in an infinitesimal space? No matter the subject. They speak a potent truth.

Ceramics exhibition and sale

Open studio
Ceramics and sculpture
Sat–(N)Sun, Aug 4–(N)5, 10am–(N)6pm
San Antonio Abad 36
152-3844
joannies_siesta@yahoo.com

New works by ceramic artists Lino Arteaga and Ana Marie Munoz will be shown this weekend from 10am to 6pm at a studio open house. Joan Elena’s new sculpture gallery also will be open to visitors. The studio is at San Antonio Abad 36, between Umarán and Arboles. “Come see the new works, then stay for the margaritas and good company,” suggests Joan Goldberg. For more information, call her at 152-3844 or email her at joannies_siesta@yahoo.com.

New works by imprisoned artist
By Angelica Foote



Art opening
Blessed in Hell
Works by Donald Johnson
Fri, Aug 3, 7–(N)9pm
YAM Gallery
Instituto Allende
Ancha de San Antonio 20

Although little noticed by the local press, Donald Johnson’s inaugural show at the YAM Gallery in July 2006 made the front page of the New York Times. It and a follow-up front-page piece were the 2nd most emailed articles for weeks. Hundred of people in San Miguel were able to enjoy his remarkable work at first hand. Millions of others saw them on-line in the Times’ slide presentation. The show was a virtual sellout and its revenues helped fund a program for children of incarcerated parents.

Soon after, the Associated Press picked the story up, and its article appeared all over the US. What did this acclaim do for Donny? Very little. The making of art is all that matters to him, giving him respite from the intolerable bleakness of solitary confinement. As before, a percentage of the revenues from this show will go to help the Pelican Bay Prison Project, which Donny founded in association with his friend, Stephen Kurtz. That is the only other pleasure his painting gives him.

Johnson explained, “In this limbo, I battle daily with the dogs of despair and my moods swing from gray to black. Cerberus, the hellhound, is my constant companion.

“Thank God for art and the exposure YAM has allowed me. I am truly blessed in Hell. What color does for my senses is beyond description. I come alive in red and blue; see heaven in yellow and orange; grow roots in the fecundity of green. Black is the exclamation point diving into the depths of the rainbow. With art I have thwarted the effects of sensory deprivation integral to solitary life in a windowless cell. I have found the sacred secret of color.”

The Times’ articles and a more recent one in the German magazine, Der Spiegel, emphasized the circumstances of Donny’s life. Since he is not allowed conventional art supplies, Donny makes his own, using the candy shells of M&M’s for color, along with, coffee, mustard—(M)anything that works—(M)adding egg shells and dust for texture. He applies the color with a brush made from his own hair, attached to a rolled piece of plastic. What matters, though, is less the extraordinary ingenuity of his means than the power and beauty of his painting.

While Donny is self-taught (as was Robert Motherwell. for that matter), he is very aware of contemporary art and art history through magazines, television and newspapers. Yet, though it is not possible to be free of influence, the originality of his work comes from its necessity. Painting is what keeps Donny alive. Of how many artists can that be said? And the viewer senses this over and over. When a painting does not directly express despair, it expresses its antithesis—(M)certainly not hope, but a fullness of experience that denies nothing.

Bell’s women

Art exhibit
Works by EC Bell
Fri–(N)Sat, Aug 3–(N)4, 5:30–(N)8:30pm
Galería Aspen
74 Mesones
152-4441

Although attempting a subject so well-known and so classical, though not quite conservative, EC Bell has managed to create a provocative an interesting collection in which he ranges from abstract to representational, covering every aspect of the female body. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, he has been living in San Miguel for two months. He strives to change the negative attitude toward erotic art and his works certainly help move audiences away from that outlook. His delicate and sensitive paintings celebrate the female nude in a tasteful and beautiful way. Bell said he is interested to see the effect of moving to Mexico on his art and, maybe, with this, his first exhibition in the country, we can already see the Mexican influence.

Although EC Bell’s work is regularly shown at the Galería Aspen, the exhibition July30 and August 5 offers a rare chance to see the prolificacy and versatility of this master painter with over 25 paintings. A cocktail reception will be held August 3 and 4.