Ah! A Last Supper!
By Henry Vermillion
February 20, 2009 San Miguel de Allende

Art Opening
Lunch: New Work
Henry Vermillion
Sat, Feb 21, 5–8pm
Galería Izamal
Mesones 80

Galería Izamal presents a show entitled “Lunch: New Work” in conjunction with the Mesones Art Walk. The gallery is next door to Teatro Ángela Peralta on lower Mesones. A majority of the new pictures in this show deal with a group of men—in one case, a woman is included—seated around a long table, lunch or dinner utensils before them. For the first drawing of the series, I had in mind a diner with various types of the usual diner suspects.

When my wife saw it, she said, “Ah! A Last Supper!” I hadn’t consciously intended that, but the subconscious works in mysterious ways. Maybe she was right. Two more versions followed, one worked out in oil, one in line with wash.

What relevance does this theme have today? I can’t really say, but it did resonate with me: Faith, doubt, betrayal—the usual group dynamics. I’ve done a series of paintings on the story of the Prodigal Son; no doubt it’s my Southern Sunday School upbringing.

I’ve also included four illustrations in this show, large format drawings and paintings done for an evening of theater last fall. They are character portraits of playwrights: the late Harold Pinter, Sam Sheppard, Charles Bukowski (whose work has been adapted for film and theater) and the marvelous characters Archie and Mehitabel, invented by the

underrated American writer Don Marquis. A reading from Archie and Mehitabel is planned during the evening. A bar scene and other recent work also will be included.

Work also will be on display by Galería Izamal artists Maria Bracho, Christian Calvillo, Steven Cary, David Nobbe, Juan Ezcurdia, Marion Perlet, Gerardo Ruiz and Britt Zaist.

Treasures found on Mesones
By Henry Vermillion

Mesones Art Walk
Sat, Feb 21, 5–8pm
Calle Mesones

The third almost-annual Mesones Art Walk features open house at eight art galleries, jewelers and other exclusive locations on or near the last block of Mesones, which ends at calle Hernández Macías. Each participating location will offer refreshments—wine, punch or soft drinks and botanas. In addition, after the 8pm closing of Art Walk, several area restaurants will offer Art Walk specials on drinks and food items.

Guitarist/singer Arturo Pareja provides music at the various venues during the event. Balloons outside the galleries/shops will guide visitors to participating locations.

Galería Izamal at Mesones 80, features my new work titled “Lunch: New Work,” as well as work by other gallery members. Established in 1992, the gallery showcases the work of seven San Miguel painters and two jewelers.

Galería Cofradia Tostado, recently established on two floors at Mesones 76, offers fine contemporary Mexican painting and classic Mexican antique carvings, as well as fine paintings by past Mexican masters.

Quinta Irma, also recently established, is around the corner at Hernández Macías 54. It showcases the ceramic work and paintings of a talented family whose traditions go back to the early history of the talavera pottery of Dolores Hidalgo.

Joyeria J.P. Wilds, newly established inside Mesones 74, is the most recent location of Pat Wilds, an established, well-known jeweler in San Miguel who has many loyal fans.

Joyeria Sua, the second block up on Mesones, is a tiny space containing fine jewelry, small sculptural pieces and other quality one-of-a-kind work.

Garrison & Garrison Bookstore, the source of books of every sort, is located on Hernández Macías inside Hotel Sautto, one of the city’s historic mesones (inns).

Reloj 46 (at that address) is a fine-arts gallery which has recently featured work by respected and popular women artists.

La Calaca, at Mesones 93, is a small gem, a treasure trove of classic Mexican folklore. Owner Evita Avery is a connoisseur of old chests, dance masks and handmade folk art from all over Mexico.

The evening is designed to offer something to almost everyone and to acquaint both newcomers and old friends with the treasures to be found on lower Mesones.

Streams, light sweep away art series
By Jeffery Barnhart

Art Opening
Swept Away 
Michael Kibble
Sat, Feb 21
Bordello Galería
Organos 19

The painting/photography series “Swept Away” is the second one-man show in San Miguel for emerging artist Michael Kibble.  The inspiration for this series began two years ago at a North Carolina art program of the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.

While the other plein air artists were painting flowers, trees and mountains, a “bored” Kibble took out his camera and headed for the water. Shooting through the rushing mountain streams, he was amazed at the images of flowing color, dancing light and spiraling surface reflections.

Soon after, he chanced on recently flooded, flowering spring meadows. Those photographs inspired the Swept Away series. The paintings focus on the amazing appearance of submerged objects in moving water. Their forms seem attached to the flowing water in a barrage of streaming color that often resembles Jackson Pollock’s action paintings.

In other paintings, the softened ghostly forms, directional blur and elongation, depth effects and dancing spots of surface light make the objects seem fluid, yet dimensional, carried along by the rushing force. In some of the paintings and photographs, objects are recognizable; others are simply abstract color-flow designs.

The unique series demonstrates aspects of pointillism, impressionism, expressionism and abstract expressionism in an exciting “rush.” As one reviews the displayed photographs, it is easy to see how the beauty captivated and inspired the artist.

Art Opening 

Danzantes en el Jardín Images by former Chicago Tribune  photographer James F. Quinn Tue, Feb 24, 2:30–4:30pm Café de la Luz  Calzada de la Luz 42 (Exhibition: Feb 24–Mar 7)

Original art, great prices
By Karl Gerzan

Final Studio Show/Art Auction
Sat, Feb 28, 6–10pm
Karl Gerzan studio 
Mesones 39

After a great three years of having my oil painting studio open to the public, I am closing the doors on Monday, March1. In the final studio show, all my older works will be up for auction, with partial proceeds benefiting The Oz Project, a San Miguel nonprofit organization that gives disadvantaged children and young adults experiences that “ignite the imagination and inspire dreams” (www.theozproject.org/).

The auction starts online (www.karlgerzan.com) on Friday, February 20, and ends with a live auction/exhibition at the studio on the evening of February 28. Bidding instructions are on the website.

Sophisticated whimsy
By Robin Loving Rowland

Studio Sale
Kate Holmes
Thu, Feb 19, 6–8pm 
Artesans’ Market
Andador Lucas Balderas 41

After making a name for herself with sales of original whimsical animal art to Whole Foods, the San Francisco Museum of Asian Art, Coldwater Creek and Trader Joe’s, internationally renowned artist Kate Holmes has decided to donate all future works to favored animal organizations.

To make room for that endeavor, her final 14 pieces of art produced for the public are being offered for sale to benefit Casa Hogar Santa Julia girls’ home and the San Miguel Teen Writers’ Workshop. The sale, for collectors interested in youth and animals, will be during an intimate reception at her studio in the Artesans’ Market between Hidalgo and Relox.

“I grew up in nature, and when I had my first child, all of a sudden the themes of my youth came flooding back through my art,” said Holmes. “Now that he’s growing past youth into adolescence, I’m trying to teach him about giving back. We both love animals, so I’ve arranged to give all of my future originals to several favored animal organizations in the US and Mexico, and to sell only finely produced likenesses of them through various other media.

“Because I want my son and my daughter to understand this process, I’ve selected Casa Hogar Santa Julia and the Teen Writers’ Workshop as the beneficiaries of 20 percent of the proceeds of my final public sale,” she continued. “In addition, we have rescued a dog and two cats in San Miguel. There’s power in purpose.”

Holmes has a degree in fine arts from Brown University and the genes it took to get that degree. Her mother is a painter of places; her daughter, a painter of people. She paints things—whimsical things, mostly colorful, buoyant animal things—things like horses, cows, chickens, burros and hens. Sophisticated whimsy, it’s been called.

Discounted final public sales prices range from US$1,560–$1,990, a 30-percent discount from the usual cost of Holmes’s work. The work will be available for purchase at the show or thereafter at the same location 10am–2pm, weekdays through March 31.

For more information about Casa Hogar Santa Julia, contact Robin Loving Rowland at 152-3709 in San Miguel or (925) 418-8003 in the US, info@santajulia.org, or www.santajulia.org.

For more information about Kate Holmes, contact kate@kateholmes.com, see www.kateholmes.com, or call 044 (415) 113-9854 in San Miguel or (310) 295-2520 in the US.

For more information about the San Miguel Teen Writers’ Workshop, contact Jody Feagan at Judyvile@yahoo.com.

The re-invention of Magenta

Art Opening-Closing Party
Fri, Feb 27, 5–7pm
Magenta Gallery
Mesones 57, Int. B
154-5366

Join Magenta cooperative members for an opening-closing party as the gallery prepares for a new era in its existence. The cooperative’s founding members will be taking time to go back into the cocoon of creative space, to revitalize their art and imagination and to work on new ideas, forms and concepts. Watch for Magenta’s re-emergence this summer in a new locale and configuration. In the meantime, celebrate current members’ work at Mesones and Relox, off the interior patio with China Palace restaurant.

Rosa Torres displays ceramics both functional and sculptural, dragon’s eggs and seahorses and birds in brightly colored glazes and paints. Rebecca Peterson shows embellished tin nichos with a new smaller sized series filled with treasures from nature: shells and seeds and stones displayed as a meditation on life. Lisa Simms shows her link-hammered chain bangles and necklaces with lost-wax cast silver charms—angels, birds and dragonflies. Victoria Pierce exhibits new work in encaustic, adding another rich texture to her layering style in these glowing small pieces on wood. Jo Brenzo and Gary Berkowitz display ever-new forms of cornhusk-and-bamboo “eyeglasses,” art objects which can be worn, as well as new prints and photos.

Visit for a last look at this configuration of artists and work, meet the artists and say hasta luego, not goodbye but see you again, soon!