Mexcavations
Merry Calderoni: Artist of Mexico’s past
By John Barham
Art show
Works by Merry Calderoni
July 27–Sept 16
Museo de Bellas Artes
Hernandez Macias 75
A native Texan and educated at the University of Texas in Austin, Merry Calderoni came quite early to Mexico to study art in San Miguel de Allende. Although her life took her to Venezuela for a number of years, she remained enchanted by all things Mexican. And, eventually was drawn once again to Mexico to find her niche in the world of art.
I visited Merry’s studio in the Fábrica de la Aurora in San Miguel recently and found her working on canvases inspired by pre-Columbian frescoes which assimilate earthenware and suggest the pottery shards found at Mexico’s many archaeological sites. The vibrant colors seem to blend seamlessly and each stroke brings forth the deep feelings that the artist harbors for Mexico in general and Mesoamerica in particular.
Calderoni’s art is unique and distinctly personal. Each piece is radiant and replete with the artist’s depiction of the feelings and sentiments in Mexico’s ancient past that still resonate with the people of the 21st century. The idiom employed by the artist summons the viewer to enter into a world of beauty that defies the prosaic and challenges us to acknowledge the synchronization of diverse worlds. This work reaches through space and time, overcoming the obstructions of traditions, customs and nationality.
In her art, Calderoni has revealed herself as a woman of great power, possessing the serenity and self-assurance that only a lifetime of cherishing the treasures of Mexico’s past and relating her sense of history can bring about. Her work will be appreciated by all those who value the past and who seek to understand it through the images of an insightful artist.
Conspicuously novel and completely devoid of artificiality, each Calderoni work arouses the desire for further visual and intellectual stimulation. Such talent is hard to define, but, in an age of the ersatz, easily recognizable.
A Calderoni exhibition is not to be missed.
Norma Suárez at the Generator
By Margaret Failoni
Once invented, photography was immediately recognized as an art medium, and in the hands of artists, quickly showed its artistic possibilities. As an art form there are two major factors to consider; the nature of the recording process and the nature of the images the artist wants to record. Only human sensitivity and artistic output can verify photography as a work of art.
Photography has evolved dramatically since its beginnings in the early 1800s with the technology becoming ever more sophisticated. It is therefore such a great pleasure to see the sensitive, non-gimmicky works of Norma Suárez presently on view at the Generator Gallery. Under the title “Five Points of View”, Suárez exhibits five groups, each of different subjects.
“Diversisex”–by far the most interesting of the group, consists of five large C-prints on metallic photo paper. Each print shows a young, bare-breasted couple, joyfully jumping or running through a long tunnel-like hallway, from the dark into the light. The subjects are youngish, hip-looking, very attractive and obviously, openly having fun. Furthermore, the photos, beautiful in themselves, are beautifully hung like scrolls wrapped around chrome bars.
“Irak”–not quite as appealing but beautifully printed, includes seven large black and white images. The photo technique to print is Piezography which translates to carbon-based inks injected onto natural cotton paper. Why Irak? The artist has photographed small animal life, insects, etc., which control or attack and devour their prey.
“Metamorphosis”– contains six black and white images, totally surreal a lá Man Ray with strange little objects juxtaposed with a hand or a woman’s breast, framed within the frame. Also executed with the Piezography technique, they are very different and very collectable with collage-type imagery.
“Raices”– (roots) consists of eight less-than-exciting C-print images of tree bark and roots, used as a metaphor for the different roots from which Mexican culture derives. Suárez’s beautifully written explanation sheet on the work is far more interesting than the work itself.
“Zapatistas”–consists of 10 digital black and white prints, beautifully capturing the Zapatista indigenous population of Chiapas. It is a well conceived, excellent documentation of present-day Mexican reality. Plus, each photograph is aesthetically quite beautiful.
From elegant humor to social commentary and heart-wrenching reality, this artist’s excellent eye never falters or wavers. Suárez accompanies the exhibition with five written pages, one for each series, to describe the work and the agenda behind the work. The quality of artistic creativity and the process to express it is, in most cases, excellent.
Born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Norma Suárez is a self-taught artist. Since 1998 she has been producing her own personal art as well as commercial work. She has lived and worked in San Miguel de Allende since 1995.
Bernard and Valle featured at Nirvana Gallery
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Art opening Works by Gabriella Bernard and Maria Valle Tues, July 31, 4–9pm Nirvana Gallery Recreo 35 |
Nirvana Gallery presents “Ethic, Feline and Fantasy” an exciting new art exhibit that showcases the works of artists Gabriella Bernard and Maria Valle.
Bernard’s paintings depict many worlds—Mexican revolutionaries, a tortured Moroccan Jew, Africans and a collection of images of Einstein at different stages of his life. In addition to her paintings, she will show sculptures, jewelry and cards.
| Bernard’s paintings reflect an intense interest in the human condition in the style of primitive expressionism. She has exhibited in England, Italy, the US and Mexico and many of her works are in private collections. |
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Maria Valle, born in San Miguel, has been painting for many years. Her style is naïve and magical, showing us her world of fantasy. Many of her charming paintings depict her love of cats. This show will be her debut. In the words of artist Gary Slipper , “her paintings take us back to her impressionable world of childhood. They must be seen!”
There will be cocktails from 4–9pm at the opening on Tuesday, July 31. The show will remain open until the end of August, 11am–1pm. For a private viewing, call 152-5790 or 152-4582 and leave a message.
EC Bell Exhibition celebrates the female nude
By L’Afrika Moye
Art exhibit
Works by EC Bell
Fri & Sat, Aug 3 & 4, 5:30–8:30pm
Galería Aspen
74 Mesones
152-4441
Like many of us, painter EC Bell arrived in San Miguel with the intent of returning home only to find that San Miguel had become his home. After only two months in the city, the artist and successful gallery owner form Charleston, South Carolina has completed a provocative body of work that ranges from abstract to representational and celebrates every facet of the female body. Galería Aspen is holding a reception to introduce Sand Miguel to this accomplished arteist.
Though the female nude is a classic subject, much of EC Bell’s struggle as an artist has been combating narrow-minded attitudes towards erotic art. Bell’s delicate approach to the female nude as well as his mastery of form has changed many minds.
In 50 years, Bell has produced almost 10,000 paintings. In Charleston, Bell is a sought after portrait painter whose work can be found in courthouses, churches and in the mansions of Rainbow Row. EC Bell is also an accomplished sculptor whose works are in private collections on three continents. Despite international group shows and two one-man museum exhibitions in the US, Bell is thrilled about his first show in Mexico. Bell says of his new found home: “I came to San Miguel with a suitcase and a handful of paint brushes. Two months later…a new body of work, a new exhibition, in a new country. Remarkable. I am interested in seeing how the change from South Carolina to Mexico affects my work. A shift is bound to happen.”
Although EC Bell’s work is regularly shown at the Galería Aspen, the exhibition between 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 on held August 3 and 4.