Photorealism in watercolor demonstrations
By Cati Demme June 13, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Art Thursdays
Kelley Vandiver
Thurs, June 19, 9–11am
Generator Gallery
Fábrica la Aurora
75 pesos

Kelley Vandiver of “Sacred Bird” fame did not originally start out in the art field. Vandiver attended the University of Washington where he majored in English and his senior advisor pointed out that he wasn’t a writer.

He next majored in art at Oklahoma State University where he had work on exhibit. He talks about the experiences at Oklahoma State with great fondness until he gets to the part where his cousin, Ciaran, held onto a small bank fee (about US$3) for months until eventually a warrant was issued for his arrest. Finally, Vandiver ended up at the University of Tulsa, where he pursued a degree in art education.

As luck would have it, around that time he met a famous artist who offered to critique his work and who eventually got him into his first gallery. Life hasn’t been the same since.

People often ask Vandiver about his bird paintings which can all be traced back to a pet he had in Tulsa. Her name was Miranda, and he raised her from a small, bald chick. Unfortunately, when she matured, she turned violent and screamed from dawn to dusk.

Vandiver said that his only means of dealing with the screaming (short of murder) was to paint her…crucified. Obviously that was his Catholic upbringing as well as his fascination with Renaissance art history. “Miranda Crucified” went on display and got a lot of attention, not all of it good. Vandiver did receive a commission for 14 more paintings of birds dressed up as saints.

When asked about the future, Vandiver says that he is working on writing and illustrating a book in which birds and dogs play a large part. While he is hesitant to give away too much of the book, he said to me that the main character who is to be the new savior of mankind is a Jack Russell terrier named Corazon.

Vandiver will demonstrate the technique of Photorealism in Watercolor in the Art Thursdays series. Besides Vandiver's skill, talent and humor, those attending will be treated to a continental breakfast. Reservations are suggested. For more information call the Generator Gallery at 154-9588 or write: generatorgallery@hotmail.com.

Cati Demme is an artist and the owner and director of the Generator Gallery at Fábrica la Aurora. Demonstrations by exhibiting artists go on every Thursday for the month of June.

Opposites attract

Art Opening
Collective in Black and White
Sat, June 14, 7pm
Mero Arte Contemporáneo
Zacateros 24

It is well known that in the medium of photography, the color white represents the presence of all colors while black represents the absence of all colors. In painting it is easy to perceive the psychological associations inherent in the elegance and simplicity of black and white.

In Western culture white represents that which is good, positive, beneficent, while black represents the dark side, evil, negativity. 

This exhibition presents a collection of works by contemporary plastic artists where these two colors, or one of these two colors, are used as the principal color and not only as background elements such as highlights and shadows.

The goal of this exhibition is to show the public paintings, drawings and prints that demonstrate an excellence of quality and imagination where the unifying element is the simplicity, elegance and psychic influence of black and white. Participating artists include Fabrizio Vanden Broeck, Jordi Boldo, Esmeralda Torres, Marisa Boullosa, Oscar Martínez Heredia and Eschwan Winding.

Situations common to us all
By Guillermina Fonseca

Art Opening
Everything
Misael Barajas
Friday, June 13, 7pm
Bellas Artes
Hernández Macías 75

Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez El Nigromante (Bellas Artes), opens an exhibit of the work of young artist Misael Barajas, presenting an urban style project, which criticizes and analyzes situations that are common for many people. The exhibition will be open for the entire month of June.

We are all human beings with a large diversity of characteristics. Some of them identify us, others note great differences, but it is the influence phenomenon, which effects each one of us unconditionally, which keeps us subjected. Atmosphere, co-habitation, traditions, and particularly the facts which occur during our life, achieve in making us forever dependent on external forces.

But how could we criticize this phenomenon, if with just touching the subject, produces relative opinions and contempt?

Let's take a pause at this point and try to understand. There is no correct answer; there would be a great variety. The influence is elegant and imposing.

We show a series where the variety imposes. Urban exhibition of existence. Are we really prepared for being individuals? Maybe we would continue being a part of the process in which we become just numbers and products, infinitively subjected and inevitably dependent.

Everything builds us, everything consumes us.

Twelve artists shine at Instituto Allende
By Lou Christine

Twelve dynamic and versatile artists are showing their stuff inside the James Pinto Gallery of the Instituto Allende. The diverse group, spearheaded by painter, Juan Perales Perez, an acrylic artist who has organized this talented group. The twelve are all painters. Their work is mostly acrylic and oil on canvas yet some plastic representations will be displayed. Ten of the twelve are Mexican nationals, who stem from Guanajuato, Michoacán, The State of Mexico and Mexico City, all classically trained. Including Perales they are: Maria Alicia Alonso Campos, Francisco Lemus, Augustin Jaramillo, Sabin Patlan Sierra, Leonardo Maldibado, Maria Gricelda Araceli Duenas Urbano, Adrian Sergio Ortiz Pasten and Maria Valle. Spaniard, David Romero and Columbian Andres Molado Oleus round out the dozen.

All possess skills show casing works that are colorful and thought provoking. Their styles are as wide apart as are their ages, ranging from 32 to 76 years of age. The exhibit will be a chance to see a group of national artists showing as a unit.