Playing musical chairs at Fábrica la Aurora
By Edward Swift February 8, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Fourth Anniversary Celebration
Fábrica la Aurora
Sat, Feb 9, 6–9pm
Champagne, chocolate & more

Interior designers say if you move a table, you also have to move a chair or open a window or close a door or add a rug or adjust a curtain. That certainly seems to describe our year of newcomers and space swapping at Aurora.

It started when Finca Home moved to the front entrance and Barro Gallery decided to move to a larger new space at the end of the principal corridor. Some of us who had been eyeing different spaces jumped at the chance to increase our own space and move forward; change was afoot.

The waiting list was dynamic. Aurora welcomed Jaime Goded, the versatile and talented artist and designer, into the Finca vacancy. Barro’s former space in Section C was divided to make two galleries: Mariló Carral Espacio, which explodes with color and Galería Edward Swift, where I exhibit myself (in more ways than one) as well the work of Rae Miller, Kelley Vandiver, Hope Swann and the New York City subway artist Sonny Rae.

When Arturo Mead and Julie Dougherty decided to move to Oaxaca, their space in Section B was taken over by our man of all seasons, Peter Leventhal, who vacated his space in Section C, thus making room for Galería Factoría, which shows to great advantage the contemporary art of Magdiel Pérez and his group of artists: Mai Onno, Beryl Silverthorne, Murray Friedman and Cyr Casas.

Then William Martin, the contemporary old master, left his gallery in the Centro to join the Aurora family, opening a gallery and workspace next to the new office and exhibition area of COFOCE, which is only a few steps from Emily Severinsen’s studio and the Zoho Gallery, both of which stayed put throughout this game of musical chairs or, in this case, musical spaces.

At the entrance to Section C, Tom Horn converted a former storage space into an attractive showcase for his custom-designed leather handbags and accessories.

Going back to Section A, you will find Ar & Ar, the gallery of architect and artist Rolando Garcia, located directly across the hall from Barro. And at the end of the hall is the spacious BU Style gallery of contemporary art and design which also serves as a jewelry workshop for Pepe Cerroblanco.

In the main corridor of Section A, Leticia and Carlos Noyola, whose antique shop La Buhardilla is familiar to many, decided to create a second space devoted to twentieth-century modern Mexican artists. This space also includes a private research center for modern Mexican artists including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, appropriately named La Jaula Azul. The gallery is under the direction of Diego Noyola Fernandez.

The inside of La Jaula Azul, home to a private research center dedicated to twentieth-century Mexican artists.

But that’s not all: one more change was in the works. When the architect Anja Fauske got a call that a space in Section A might be available, she knew that was where she would relocate her office and open Architectural Solutions. And that’s where you will find her today.

Can anyone keep up with this? I certainly can’t! I am not even sure that I’ve managed to list all the changes and swappings, but thanks to Rosemarie Garay, new wall maps and directories are in place so you shouldn’t have trouble finding us. We’re thriving in our new spaces and delighted to welcome you to our fourth anniversary celebration.

Edward Swift is a writer and visual artist. He lives in San Miguel.

Mi Alacena: Al Derecho y al Revés
By Marian Ruiz

Art Opening
Marcela Lobo
Sat, Feb 9, 6pm
Atrium Gallery
Fábrica la Aurora

“The purpose of Mi Alacena: Al Derecho y al Revés (My Cupboard: Straight and Backward) is to develop a conversation piece.

Its origin is the search for a personal plastic language and the creation of new symbols; it contains the old and new proposals that live in my canvases,” said Marcela Lobo about her new show opening during Fábrica la Aurora’s fourth anniversary extravaganza.

“My painting is what I have, what I am, what I give this world for all that this world has given me. I paint what interests me, what I see. A painting is everything that surrounds me. Color is something wonderful, a gift with which I was born and which makes me live a fuller life; it forces me to put my effort into capturing it to create a better piece every day.” 

Lobo was born in Mexico, DF in 1959. She studied interior design, etching, silkscreen, figure drawing, photography and painting in schools in Mexico City and Cancún. She also studied talavera painting in Puebla. 

Marcela has had exhibitions since 1991 and is considered the “painter who has taken Mexico’s color to the world.” This well-deserved title is reflected by her international exhibitions such as Le coleur de Mexique (The Color of Mexico) in 1998 in the Cultural Center of Mexico’s Embassy in Paris; A côr do México in 1999 in the Palacio da Independencia in Lisbon, Portugal; and Misterios de la Vida Diaria (Daily Life Mysteries) in Mexico’s General Consulate in Chicago and Atlanta in 2006.

Terra Mizwa sculpture at Fábrica la Aurora
By Peter Leventhal

Art Opening
Terra Mizwa
Sat, Feb 9, 6pm
Comedor de la Aurora
Fábrica la Aurora

In her inaugural Fábrica exhibition, Terra Mizwa has produced an exciting collection of sculptural images. Some are witty observations of people, some are sensual and beguiling, and some are potent evocations of magical ethnic images. The first and paramount consideration of Mizwa’s pieces comes from her anatomical knowledge.

There is no trace of labored or academic precision, which kills the art of so much otherwise accomplished work. Here, in the pieces on display, Mizwa handles the description of form and the articulation of the sculptural dynamic with fresh and unlabored skill. 

The sense one has, observing these sculptures, is that everything is direct and modest, which makes the form that much more potent and sets it in its space without effort. Her touch, manifested in the handling of the clay and wax, comes directly from her heart and is a testament of the breadth of feeling and thought that went into the material.

There is much to admire in these works. Moreover, they show an unusual range of approaches and concepts. No matter how anecdotal the pieces get, the primary significance comes from working the sculptural form in a sculptural space. This space, which all important sculpture creates and which is the enveloping mystery of good sculpture, comes from an intuitive understanding of anatomy and form and their relationship. It is the gift of the real sculptor, without contrivance and artifice. We see it in these inaugural pieces of an artist to watch.

Mizwa’s exhibit opens on the evening of Fábrica la Aurora’s fourth anniversary fiesta.

Peter Leventhal is a painter and long-time resident of San Miguel.

Collective spiritual journeys
By Efrain Prieto

Art Opening
“From the Heart”
Christina Sol
Fri, Feb 15, 7–9pm
Exclusive San Miguel
Zacateros 9
154-6332

“My paintings speak to the heart,” reveals Christina Sol. “They remind us to feel joy, to smile, to laugh and to awaken.” Her upcoming show is aptly titled “From the Heart.” Sol’s symbolic and spiritual paintings are dynamic, joyful and powerful.

Few artists are as courageous and creative with color as Sol and her works are a pure reflection of the vibrancy and magic with which this artist views her world.

The symbolic imagery Christina uses speaks to the growing world spirituality. Eagles, which carry many symbolic meanings, appear throughout her work. The eagle is a symbol for the soul, the spirit and the warmth of life. The eagle teaches us to seek out the true emotional aspects of ourselves and to rediscover the lost child, to awaken a higher sense of purity, passion, creativity, healing and spirituality within ourselves.

Much of the symbolism represented in Sol’s paintings is universal. “People just seem to resonate with her art whether they have a clear understanding of the significance of the symbols she uses or not,” said one collector of her pieces. “It‘s as though the underlying messages of hope and heart and the celebration of our individual and collective spiritual journeys are energetically translated and felt by the person viewing her works.”

The opening/artist’s reception is being held at Exclusive San Miguel, a real estate brokerage. Co-owner Efrain Prieto moved to San Miguel from Santa Fe, New Mexico and he and business partner Wespy have recently opened a San Miguel brokerage.

“From the Heart” will run February 15–March 2. Christina Sol has lived in Mexico for 35 years, calling San Miguel home for the last nine. She is a self-taught artist, colorist and interior designer, and has exhibited in Cuernavaca, Mexico City, Chapala, Puerta Vallarta and San Miguel.

Local muralist unveils new works

David Leonardo, author of four well-known public murals, is exhibiting his current works on canvas at the Generator Gallery.

The exhibit runs February 16 to February 28, the opening is Saturday, February 16, 5–8pm. The following day, Sunday, February 17, the artist will give a “Gallery Talk” at the Generator at 11am, which is sponsored by Las Mañanitas Coffee of San Miguel.

A philosophical self-reevaluation through art

Art Opening
Breaking the Barrier of the Self
Roland Salazar Rose
Fri, Feb 15, 5pm
Estudio Salazar
Montitlán 6

The “Breaking the Barrier of the Self” exhibition by Roland Salazar Rose opens Friday at his studio gallery in Los Balcones. “I goofed!” remarks Salazar, “when I thought I had completed the series. In 2007, I re-examined the entire series. The title piece was as it should be, but others needed work!”

For dialogue with his audience, Salazar will exhibit the series February 15–March 16. Gallery hours are Tuesday & Thursday, 11am–2pm and Sunday 2–5pm. Every Sunday is open house and discussion with the artist. Other days and times are by appointment: 152-0995 or cell 113-1268. Estudio Salazar is a walk (taxi if you like) up the hill from the public market.

Bali: A trip in words and pictures

Art Opening
Lynn Padwe
Fri, Feb 15, 6–9pm
Dee Roper’s Gallery
Fábrica la Aurora

Last summer six photographers and Lynn Padwe journeyed to Bali, which is just one of 17,000 archipelago islands making up Indonesia.

Lynn Padwe, who lives part-time in San Miguel, is a photojournalist. The opening of her exhibit, Bali: A Photo Story, is on February 15 from 6–9pm at Fábrica la Aurora in Dee Ropers’ Gallery. The exhibit will be there through February 21.

This is her second photo exhibit in San Miguel. Last year she showed pictures of Rajasthan, India.

Rainbow of Art Gallery opens
By Jan Searle

Art Opening
Rainbow of Art Gallery
Thurs, Feb 14, 6–9pm
Ancha de San Antonio 3
(415) 110-3200

Award-winning sculptor and artist Jan Searle announces the grand opening of her new Rainbow of Art Gallery in San Miguel, bringing together an innovative group of distinguished artists whose works are known and collected internationally. Six artists will be featured initially at the Rainbow.

Robert Brickhouse’s work is featured in the March 2008 issue of Artist magazine. Robert worked for many years as an illustrator. Robert’s website is www.rkbrickhouse.com.

Jorge de la Fuente’s paintings have been widely exhibited and collected in Mexico, Spain and New York.

Julian Fedorak is a longtime San Miguel favorite who has been collected from Canada to New York to Europe.

Eunice Hundley, a portraitist, is well-known for her portraits of famous people, including Pope John Paul, Ross Perot, William Sessions and Red McCombs. Eunice is also a muralist, a figurative, landscape, and wildlife painter. She is also represented by galleries in San Antonio and Santa Fe.

Bill Lieberman’s photography provides a unique interpretation of Mexican life. His work is an exhibit not to be missed.

Jan Searle, an internationally renowned sculptor and artist, will be showing her latest body of work featuring the people and the dancers of Mexico and Central America. A complete list of accomplishments can be found at www.jansearle.com.

Rainbow of Art Gallery is across the street and a few doors north of Instituto Allende.

Architecture of the human body

Art Opening
Harry Van Dine
Sun, Feb 10, 3–6pm
Galería de Arte
Reloj 46

When Yale architect Harry Van Dine retired in 1997, he turned to painting, developing his unique style treating the architecture of the human body. Harry’s fascination with hands was born during vacation. He felt like sketching but had no subject matter, looked around and decided to sketch his hands. In doing so his fascination started to lead him, and he discovered the many expressions of the human hand. Soon after that, he had his first “Foot Exhibition.” The human body began to speak more and more to him, so the master-architect started to mold and move these human forms on the canvas.

The subjects grew in size, in feelings and in beauty, which is evident in this exhibition. The dancing fingers of the pianist, the guitarist plinking the sparkling tones out of his strings and the concentration of the violinist on what he hears himself play, makes one almost hear the music. The casteneta, held by an incredibly painted woman’s hand, and the painting of the conductor-in-control—all these symbols of life and living have been created by Harry’s hands and mind.