The Creative Journey continues at the Santa Ana
By Agnes Olive February 22, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Art Presentation
Ana Thiel
Tue, Feb 26, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Agnes Olive’s “The Creative Journey” is a series of presentations that invite local artist to share their work and answer the question “What inspires us to create”? A discussion between the artist and audience follows the visual presentation. The guest artist for this 12th presentation is internationally acclaimed glass artist Ana Thiel.

She will share with the audience a film that addresses her personal philosophy and what inspires her and how that translates into her work.

Thiel, in the words of art critic Monica Mayer, is an artist who has the ability to scratch one’s spirit and wring one’s heart. As a child Thiel always loved to work with her hands and was encouraged by her mother to think and act creatively. Her love affair with glass began with the simple glass marble, that when held up to her eye changed patterns as light shimmered through. She also enjoyed drawing and painting as a teenager, but soon realized she was a three-dimensional artist. 

She wanted to sculpt but not in the formal sense of stone carving or bronze Instead she desired to marry craft and design and the University of Iberoamericana in Mexico City answered her needs. In 1981 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design. While still a student, a guest lecturer presented slides of work being done at his hand-blown glass factory in Mexico City. The seed was planted—she would work in glass—and the following summer enrolled at the Pilchuck Glass School. Upon returning to Mexico she gave a lecture on her experience which impressed the owners of a glass factory manufacturing perfume bottles. They invited her to use the glass studio and gave her a monthly stipend and two assistants. She left after five years when she was invited to set up a glass studio at the Metropolitana University in Mexico City. Unfortunately this was during a period of high inflation and the funding ran out. Again the muse waved her magic wand and Thiel was offered a studio in the Panamericcana de Vidrio glass factory with a monthly stipend. This ideal situation lasted for five more years at which time she decided to move to San Miguel de Allende. She twice received a fellowship from the Mexican Council for the Arts for a total of six years which enabled her to build and set up her present studio in a large converted chicken coop. The fellowship is given to artists of high merit who have also significantly contributed to the culture of the country.

Twenty-five years later Ana is an internationally acclaimed artist who gives lectures on art, creativity and sculpture at universities and cultural institutions around the world. Her work is found in many public and private collections including the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. Thiel draws upon patterns in nature to create sculptures by combining hot cast glass with discarded and found objects such as machine parts, old metal and weathered wood. These items combined with the molten glass allow her pieces to both capture history and create new life. She desires that her work convey a message of harmony and strength while exploring the depth of emotions that we enjoy or endure in various stages of our lives. 

Thiel has just completed an international artist-in-residency for two months at the Musée-Atelier du Verre in Sars-Poteries in northern France. Only two artists are invited each year and she was awarded with a fully equipped studio all to herself and a volunteer assistant. She was inspired to make imprints of natural and human-made sites which were transformed into glass and in some cases returned to their original site. The work will be exhibited in France in April 2008.

Thiel loves how her work takes her to different places which gives her the opportunity to get a deeper feel for the local culture, the customs and more importantly the people. At present she intends to work more with nature—her current project combines glass with boulders which will be installed in a forest in Holland in 2008.

The 50-peso admission goes entirely to the library scholarship fund and the girl’s orphanage on calle Sollano.

Thank You Art/Muchas gracias de mucha gente
By Akiko Yasuda

Last year on Thanksgiving Day I spent a good time with my friends. We had dinner and we said “thank you” to each other. That time was very comfortable for me and I realized that if I can more easily say “thank you” to everyone, maybe we can all feel good. Similar to this idea is the special day of March 9. In Japan one artist has started the “Day of Thank You Art.”

Why March 9? In Japanese “3” is “san” and “9” is “kyu.” That sounds like “thank you” in English. That artist has made a relationship between “thank you” and March 9 (third month, ninth day), and he wants to spread art and the appreciation of art to everyone in the world. Last year there were more than 150 special art activities around the world, but none in Mexico. That is what I would like to change for this March 9.

For me art is not only painting, making sculptures, dancing, singing and playing instruments. I think that more parts of natural life like putting on clothes, cooking, eating food, writing letters, talking with friends, normal communication and enjoying life are also expressions of art. So, if everyone who likes this idea can express “thank you art,” I would like to see what we can all make together. I want to suggest for that day an interactive art project with you in San Miguel.

The activity’s name is “Muchas gracias de mucha gente” and everyone can participate in making the collage. Each person will pick a piece of colored Chinese paper that I will have available for free and they can create whatever form they wish. They can write anything, cut, create a shape, and through that example, they will be expressing thank you. Of course, it is not important whether any writing is in Spanish, English, Japanese or any other language. Everybody will make a small form and then they will put it on my board. Naturally somebody will put their creation on top of another person’s creation. I don’t know how many people will participate, but everyone who does will be an artist. We will know we are finished when the last person adds their creation to the project.

This is my big plan, but I am still thinking about how exactly we should initiate it, and after that, where we will put the piece on exhibit. Maybe we can even sell that work to raise money for another even bigger art project. If anyone wants to join me in planning this activity, please send me a message. Maybe someone will say “you can use my gallery” or “I can take photos to document the project” or “I can help to move things” or “I have some materials to share.”

If you go to the website, you will see that every gallery and artist and each individual can join 39Art with their own activity or idea. From San Miguel we can say something interesting to the rest of the world. With your ideas and feedback, I hope to announce in the March 7 Atención exactly what has been decided based on your input, what locations the event will have and the exact schedule. Please contact me at MartesArtes@gmail.com  with your comments and ideas.

See www.39art.com  for more information about the worldwide activities of 39 Art/Thank You Art. Last year there were 157 projects and events around the world, but this year will be the first held in Mexico.

Akiko Yasuda is an artist and teacher in San Miguel.

Unique venue for local artists
By Terence O’ Connor

Art Exhibition
Casa Mision
Thu & Fri, Feb 28 & 29, 5–7pm
3a.Cerrada de Pila Seca 17

Galeria Casa Mision will host two cocktail receptions featuring works by Jeff Coffin and Elsa Spaulding. A lifelong artist from New York, Coffin will present his drawings and oil paintings, both traditional and contemporary. He has shown in Europe and the US, and has been working in San Miguel for 12 years. His style is both figurative and abstract, and resonates with references to Fauvism and German Expressionism.

Spaulding, a native of Greece, began her career as a photographer in San Francisco and has works in that city’s Museum of Modern Art as well as many private and corporate collections such as Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren and the Bank of America. Upon moving to San Miguel 10 years ago, she was captivated by the light and beauty of the colors in town and the countryside, which influenced her to study oil and watercolor.

Casa Mision, a B&B minutes from the Jardín, provides a unique venue for the exhibition.

Terence O’ Connor is a local entrepreneur and full-time resident of San Miguel.

Equus Caballus: Patricia Hurlbert
By Janice Zimolzak

Art Opening
Equus Caballus
Patricia Hurlbert
Sun, Feb 24, noon–3pm
Atenea Gallery
Jesus 2

For sculptress Patricia (Patti) Hurlbert, there is only one subject: horses. Apart from a few personal pieces, she has been creating bronze horse sculptures for 12 years, never tiring of her theme.

Her likenesses evince intimate corporeal knowledge and understanding of spirit that can only be developed through a lengthy and consistent relationship. This is instantly conveyed to the viewer, along with her deep affection for her subject. Equine love did indeed begin at an early age for Hurlbert and remains a part of her life. It is the obvious choice of subject for her art. She also paints landscapes, but only if there is a horse in them.

Hurlbert took her one and only painting class at the age of 80, and tackled painting and then sculpting with the same zest and excellence that she has done in everything in her very full life. When she bred English cocker spaniels, she was asked to judge the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. When she raced thoroughbred horses, “Summer Squall” took her to the winner’s circle at the Preakness and placed in the Kentucky Derby. As a clothing designer, she created fashions for Mollie Parnis, an esteemed member of the first generation of American designers. As a women’s fashion retailer, she developed the Pappagallo chain of boutiques, while introducing two innovative concepts that continue today—combining the classic Shetland sweater with fashion colors and creating the first catalog that photographed the clothing on live models. So it is no surprise to us that after only two years of sculpting, Elizabeth II of England commissioned a likeness of Highclere, the Queen’s favorite mare.

Hurlbert has exhibited in England, the US and Mexico. Her works are in the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, England; the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in South Carolina; and numerous private collections. In San Miguel, Atenea Gallery exhibits limited editions of her small-scale and miniature bronze sculptures.

Local artist exhibits latest works

Art Opening 
Colores de San Miguel
Jess Izak Zimmerman
Tue, Feb 26, 6–9pm
LifePath Center
Recreo 80

Jess Izak Zimmerman graduated from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and five years ago decided to share his work in Mexico. His new San Miguel works are vibrant, bright and colorful in his own unique style of oil pastel and watercolor, He has annual shows here and in Isla Mujeres on the Yucatán.

Paris on the plaza

Art Opening
Des nuits et des nuits 
Solange Galazzo
Fri, Feb 22, 7–9pm
Ana Julia Aguado Gallery
Plaza Principal 18, 2nd floor

Solange Galazzo explores the mystery of the metropolis at night, the uncertain atmosphere broken by points of light from city windows. Her object-paintings integrate found objects such as tiny organic traces from sea shores to enhance the intensity of her painting.

Galazzo lives and works in Paris, France, and graduated from the Ecole Normale Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques. She has exhibited work throughout the world since 1984.

Five sculptors to exhibit at Bellas Artes 

Art Opening
Escultura en Barro, 5
Fri, Feb 22, 4pm
Bellas Artes
Hernández Macías 75

Bellas Artes presents the exhibition “Escultura en Barro, 5” (Sculptures in Clay, 5). This show brings together the new work of five artists who have chosen clay as their medium and presents five distinctive approaches to working with clay. Angelina Perez Ibargüen makes figures and scenes that are suspended in space. Ellen Johnson works in clay, paint and mixed media with the symbolic meaning of the vessel form. Edna Dickinson’s double-walled clay sculptures are organic shapes with textured glazes reminiscent of fruits. Lizzie Castillon’s elaborate abstract constructions suggest timeless shelters for the soul. Sharon Milligan is showing high-fired ceramic fish with painted surfaces.

What the five have in common is a strong interest in creating three-dimensional objects in clay. All agree that it is the clay that tells them what to do.

These sculptures were made for the space in which they will be shown, the arches of the portal surrounding the interior courtyard and garden of Bellas Artes. The challenge for each was to create a body of work to exhibit under Bellas Artes’ large stone arches. The sculptures bring together the outdoor and indoor environments.

Generator Gallery hosts Sunday talks

Lectures
Sundays, 11am–noon
Mar 2–Wabi Sabi Collective
Mar 16–Terry Ann Tomlinson, Rose Mary Swann
Apr 6–Jennie Hawkins, Ed Slusky, Cati Demme
Generator Gallery
Fábrica la Aurora
Free

Generator Gallery presents a series of Sunday talks by artists, sponsored by Las Mañanitas and Cocina D’ Álicia, who will provide refreshments. All talks are free and open to the public.

Sunday, March 2

The Wabi Sabi Collective, comprised of artists Shirli Marcantel and Greg Ellis, along with sculptor Laura Begoña, will be interviewed by the director of the gallery. (Questions from the audience are encouraged.) The term “Wabi Sabi” refers to the Japanese tenet that “nothing lasts, nothing is finished, nothing is perfect.” The collection by Laura Begoña, “Partes Usadas” contains constructions of elegant forms using discarded agricultural implements found locally.

Sunday, March 16

“Handmade Paper: Messages” and “Nature and Spirit” are the themes presented by artists Terry Ann Tomlinson and Rose Mary Swann. Tomlinson specializes in creating handmade papers and has incorporated written messages throughout her work. Swann investigates the mystical symbolism of animals in her mixed-media pieces incorporating paper, fabric, drawing and printmaking.

Sunday, April 6

A husband-and-wife team of printmakers presents examples of their most recent series of elegant and entertaining printmaking. Jennie Hawkins and Ed Slusky will discuss their series, “Guanajuato Monotypes” and “Newsworthy.” Cati Demme will discuss her series “Pop Rococco,” influenced by “outsider art” and children’s art. She incorporates and transforms pedestrian materials and pop imagery into contemporary icons.

Ideas abstracted onto canvas
By Henry Vermillion

Art Opening
David Mikesell
Sat, Feb 23, 6–8pm
Galeria Izamal
Mesones 80

Kandinsky called it “Concrete Art.” Mondrian called it “Plastic Art.” Other artists have called it Suprematism, Futurism, Synchronism and other “isms.” Today, we usually call it abstract art.

David Mikesell presents a show of his abstract art, but “abstract” need not exclude hints and suggestions of the real world of objects. (When all references to objects are deliberately excluded, it’s usually called “nonobjective.”) Mikesell sometimes paints objective “realistic” pictures, but he has more and more, as in the current show, been exercising his gift for abstracting the essence of his subjects. 

Instead of painting figures or horses, he extracts images from his subconscious which suggest people, horses, actions and events. This is not an ability given to every artist; many are slaves to nature.

In short, his imagination is fired by what he sees and reads. Images and ideas pass through his subconscious and emerge, abstracted, onto the canvas. “I now have the true joy of making art (after my family) the center of my life,” David says. “I wake up every morning and sometimes in the wee hours, anxious to get to work at it.”

David often quotes another David—the sculptor David Smith. “Art is made of dreams and visions and things unknown…it comes from the inside of who you are when you face yourself.”

Work by other Izamal artists also will be displayed. The artist members are jeweler Maria Bracho and painters Steven Cary, Juan Ezcurdia, Javier Garcia, Marion Perlet, Henry Vermillion and Britt Zaist. The gallery is next door to Teatro Ángela Peralta and is open every day from 11am–3pm and 4–8pm.