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Art Season 2009-2010

by Rubén Cham |

The art season 2009-2010 in Puerto Vallarta is about to begin. October 28 is the date scheduled for the début of the 14th edition of Art Walk, the fascinating and already traditional event that marks the beginning of the new art season.
In addition to the galleries associated with Art Walk, there will be a variety of art houses and independent artists' studios certainly bringing life to the visual arts scene and continuing the growth of this event along with all its important cultural offerings.
In the Old Town, you should be aware of the excellent exhibitions of Factor Art, with the presence of Jorge Marin, and Quadro, with Alfonso Peña. Thierry Blouet Fine Art Collection certainly maintains the high level of its catalog as does Art Gallery Millán; Alpacora with its splendid tapestries, Sol y Luna, Your Creative Awakening, and Haus der Künst, in terms of promoting contemporary art. Elsewhere in the city, you should visit the Gallery Flores, at Francisco Villa 305, upper floor; Beatriz Narváez introduces a brand new studio at Los Mangos Library, which also houses the Berenice Starr Salon. This space has been very important in terms of promoting new values of local arts.
In the Romantic Zone, I recommend visiting the studio of Cassandra Shaw, Gallery Dante, and Vértice. A very good exhibit from a leading group of independent artists, under the leadership of Javier Niño, is the "Open Learning" group; making a joint event where the works of Javier Niño, José Marca, Cathy Von Rohr, Fernando Sánchez, Ireri Topete, Ada Colorina, Angeline Kyba, Saúl Salcedo and Rogelio Díaz, among others, are all on permanent display. And we cannot overlook, though not part of this association, the studios of Meg Munro and Roberto Bermejo.
Another bit of good news, and new for this season, is the redevelopment of La Cuiza Restaurant, on the west side of the river which, into a place dedicated to promoting the work of emerging artists together in a cooperative initiative by Mercedes Sanchez, who operates this splendid space.
On January 5 to 31, 2010, the important 2nd Annual Exhibition of Vallarta Art will be held at the Naval Museum on the Malecon, with the participation of Manuel Lepe, Javier Niño, Meg Munro, Martha Gilbert, Joseph Mark, Cathy Von Rohr, Édgar Martínez, Ramón Barragán, Regino Carrillo, Pico Reséndiz, Cecilia Bojórquez, Roberto Bermejo, Gaby Vergara, Cinthia Corona, Pedro Tello, Marisa Zepeda, Ireri Topete, Gustavo López, Alicia Bueno, Pepe Gutiérrez, among other major artists. Exactly three decades have passed since the 1st Exhibition local artists was held, back in 1979; an event that served as a launching pad for a first time that the local work of Puerto Vallarta artists was exhibited abroad.
Needless to say these are challenging times with the dubious economy; however, new art spaces continue to appear on the local scene, such as Galería Ana Romo and the studio of Saúl Salcedo. And this is because art can not, and should not, be regarded as a mere commodity. In creating, the artist attempts to express what moves and exalts that which transcends the mere act of survival. Art expresses the best of humanity. I invite you to visit the many galleries and studios that will be promoting the arts this Art Season in Puerto Vallarta. You need not purchase any works or act as patron to any artist. Just go with an open mind, find the work with which you feel empathy, one that says something to you and it will have satisfied the main purpose of the artist: to convey his/her expression. If you feel a special fondness for the art, and are considering acquiring a piece; congratulations too. You are one of the best places in the country to purchase works of art.

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