Beatriz Castaneda galeria
I thought that I would find new artistic inspiration within myself simply by escaping rainy January in Vancouver. A time to think about my art journey and where I want to go next in my art. I certainly tried playing with some tools and ideas while I was here. I learned some things all on my own.
I wasn't at all sure what I would find in the art world in San Miguel. Until yesterday, I can tell you now that I had been a bit disappointed. So much art. So many artists. Many , many galleries. But to be honest, I saw a lot of gimmicky art work . There are a lot of designers and interior decorators here because the very wealthy are here, are coming here, are building here ... and of course, they want art on their walls.... and a lot of the "art" I was seeing seemed to be just for that purpose - matching colours to designer fabrics,,,, and so on. Interesting maybe, but not necessarily inspiring . Art marketing to the very wealthy to be sure. And some of that art is simply "awful". Really, really awful.
There are those " high end" galleries that aren't really interested in talking to anyone walking in off the street. I went into a gallery yesterday to see some Andy Warhol stuff.... okay so I saw it. The other artists were in that " are you kidding me" category with prices in pesos that I could not translate into Canadian dollars, the numbers were so large.
Sometimes, I realize now, one finds inspiration in seeing the art itself. [ Good , bad and indifferent]. But sometimes, as I discovered yesterday, inspiration comes from individuals that you meet , if only for a brief encounter. So, in sharing this blog with you today , I have captured a number of images and I will talk about a few people, who really inspired me . And that makes my artist retreat and residency all worthwhile. I am looking forward to coming home to my studio [ and yes, maybe a little rain too].
I wasn't at all sure what I would find in the art world in San Miguel. Until yesterday, I can tell you now that I had been a bit disappointed. So much art. So many artists. Many , many galleries. But to be honest, I saw a lot of gimmicky art work . There are a lot of designers and interior decorators here because the very wealthy are here, are coming here, are building here ... and of course, they want art on their walls.... and a lot of the "art" I was seeing seemed to be just for that purpose - matching colours to designer fabrics,,,, and so on. Interesting maybe, but not necessarily inspiring . Art marketing to the very wealthy to be sure. And some of that art is simply "awful". Really, really awful.
There are those " high end" galleries that aren't really interested in talking to anyone walking in off the street. I went into a gallery yesterday to see some Andy Warhol stuff.... okay so I saw it. The other artists were in that " are you kidding me" category with prices in pesos that I could not translate into Canadian dollars, the numbers were so large.
Sometimes, I realize now, one finds inspiration in seeing the art itself. [ Good , bad and indifferent]. But sometimes, as I discovered yesterday, inspiration comes from individuals that you meet , if only for a brief encounter. So, in sharing this blog with you today , I have captured a number of images and I will talk about a few people, who really inspired me . And that makes my artist retreat and residency all worthwhile. I am looking forward to coming home to my studio [ and yes, maybe a little rain too].
First, I gratefully acknowledge the Beatriz_ Castaneda Gallery for allowing me to take pictures of her work to share with you . You can follow her on Facebook at BeatrizCastanedaGaleria. Her gallery is at the Fabrica La Aurora in SMA.
Her work includes acrylics , some very transparent and some inks, as well as sometimes using a very small amount of gold leaf I am told to aid in creating that glow in her work that can only really be appreciated in person. She paints on large canvases, and I fell in love with her greys in all her work. Magnificient colours, beauty and energy in line and a kind of simplicity in structure and composition that I will strive for until my dying day. Here a few more :
Her work includes acrylics , some very transparent and some inks, as well as sometimes using a very small amount of gold leaf I am told to aid in creating that glow in her work that can only really be appreciated in person. She paints on large canvases, and I fell in love with her greys in all her work. Magnificient colours, beauty and energy in line and a kind of simplicity in structure and composition that I will strive for until my dying day. Here a few more :
The Fabrica La Aurora holds a special place in SMA. I went back to take some more time to absorb the many galleries and art spaces. The walk to the Fabrica takes you through artist venues as well and it seems to be the area where up and coming artists are trying to find affordable living and work spaces.
One of the young artists I met at the Fabrica almost made me cry. I don't think he realized it. Or perhaps he did . His name is Mario Oliva and as I passed his open door to his studio, I stopped dead in my tracks as there on his back wall, behind the easel he was painting on, was a very large painting that had to done by the late Toller Cranston.
For most Canadians, Toller Cranston is known as a World figure skating champion and Olympian . For some of us, he will be remembered first as a creative soul and artist as well as perhaps a flamboyant one. Toller Cranston loved SMA where he lived and worked for 23 years. And so many who knew Toller in SMA loved him for his artistic genius and creativity, his friendship and his giving personality .
First, enjoy this video of Toller's house - described as magical and a place that many artists who knew Toller came to paint and be mentored by Toller.....
https://vimeo.com/andrearaiz/toller
Mario Oliva is one of those artists who had a close personal relationship with Toller, was mentored by Toller in his own painting journey and who misses his friend every day. There is a complicated story about what happened to Toller's house and assets and art after he died suddenly , but according to Mario, Mario is able to share and sell some of Toller's work - which is displayed in his gallery as well as another location in downtown SMA.
It was really a joy to listen to Mario talk about Toller Cranston and what Toller meant to him and to SMA. And to see some of these artworks up close and personal was truly an inspiration to me about following one's dream and painting for the love of painting . Yes, being inspired by another painter and his dreams is a gift.
Also check out the Memorial video made by Chuck Rubin at https://youtu.be/T_6JdqHhkHo
Artworks by Richard Trumbull - Zoho Gallery
There is a beauty in simplicity of composition, pattern and colour magic in these works by Richard Trumbull.... couldn't learn much about him on my visit but will try to track him down with some on-line research when I get home.