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| After checking into my accommodations in San Jose del Cabo, I find this vantage point high above the city. In the center of the photo is a large Mexcian Flag. Left of the flag is a church that extends above the palm trees. This is the north end of the plaza in San Jose, where the art walk is. After the three-hour bus ride back to San Jose del Cabo, I head out to find food before the Art Walk tonight. I am craving those delicious fish tacos from the last time I was here.  I look over the menu and notice, Almejas (Clams) on the menu. So when the waiter returns, I ask, "Tienes almejas de chocolate hoy? (Do you have chocolate clams?)." He looks at me like, with a look that says of course we do and says, "Si. One order?" Chocolate clams are fantastic, and I am thrilled to have them today.  I reach the plaza where the Art Walk is just as the sun sets. The weather is perfect, warm with a slight breeze. The last time I was here for the Art Walk, it was cold and windy. It should be much more enjoyable tonight.  These large paintings by Hector Estrada are magnificent. Each is approximately 4 ft (1.2 m) high. The one on the left is 5 ft (1.5 m) wide. Hector's style reminds me of the great French impressionist painter Claude Monet. I am very fond of impressionistic art. The further away you are, the better it looks. Notice the difference between the close and far print.  I have yet to learn who this artist is, but I love the bold, vibrant colors. As I admire the piece on the right, I have not seen a single boat with these colors in Baja. All the boats are either solid white or tried in pale blue. I love how it appears that the colors of the boats are bleeding into the water below.  One block north of the plaza, I wander into Inspiration Gallery. The gallery is spectacular and themed around the natural world. All the photographs are printed on metal canvases. Metal is dramatic. It adds depth to the photos, as well as vividness. The bold colors are striking, and they give me some ideas. How would my photos look on metal? Would anyone buy them? This could be a side hustle. Then I laugh. How can I have a side hustle, when I don't even have a job! 😂  Another gallery has pottery from Mata Ortiz. What a surprise! I had forgotten about Mata Ortiz, a little town in Northern Mexico, south of the panhandle in New Mexico, United States. I was last in Mata Ortiz in the mid-2000s. I was near there to assist the Mexican government with reintroducing the black-footed ferret to the Chihuahan Desert. During that visit, I purchased a few pieces. One was for me, and my parents have a stunning black and silver piece. You can explore more ceramics from Mata Ortiz here. Prices are listed in Pesos. Keep in mind it is approximately 18.6 Pesos to 1 USD, as of today.  The pottery style is unique to that region of Mexican. Every pot is shaped and decorated by hand. You can read more about the style and what makes it unique below.  The gallery also has several Huichol Art pieces. Huichol are indigenous people that live in the mountainous regions of Jalisco, and other parts of north-central Mexico. The art is characterized by colorful decorations tied to traditional symbols and signs. For example, not only are the symbols traditional in the piece below, but the Jaguar itself symbolizes bravery in warriors. In this video, you can learn about symbols. What makes this art form unique is it is comprised of very tiny beads. Each bead is hand placed, and you can watch the process here. The pieces are incredible, and I love the vibrant colors. Check out the Tierra Huichol website. The prices are listed in Pesos but can be switched to USD, via a dropdown on the flag menu on each specific art page. You can also change the language from Spanish to English or French. Also, the prices are very reasonable.  Speaking of vibrant traditional Mexican art. I love these pieces. Something about this style of art makes me long for Halloween.  Gabriel Fernández' sculptures are simple and elegant. The Humpback Whale is striking, and his Whale Shark is elegant with simple lines. Both remind me of the fantastic time I had on the ocean on this trip.  Tonight is full of surprises and reflections of the past. Enrique Bascón's Galleria de Arte draws me in when I iconic paintings of Clint Eastwood from his spaghetti western days, like this one from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Spaghetti Westerns were a sub-genre of American Westerns produced by Italian film director Sergio Leone. They are fantastic films, and Clint Eastwood always plays the hero. Enrique's work is stunning. However, it is his political pieces that steal the show. They remind me of the street art in Bristol, United Kingdom. His piece about the 2nd Amendment in the United States captivates me. I stop and ponder the implications of this statement the problems of American Culture.  When I discover Ivan Guaderrama's Gallery, it is the vibrant colors that pull me in the door. As I enter, a gentleman at the door says, "Welcome to our gallery. All our art is interactive and designed to work with our free special mobile device application. Let me show you." He pulls out his iPad and holds it over a set of angel wings. I am amazed as I watch the piece come to life. This is incredible how you do this, I tell the doorman. He smiles, then says, "Enjoy the Gallery." Take a moment to visit Ivan Guaderrama's Gallery  As I leave the gallery, this neon sign makes me smile. Isn't this what life is all about? We shouldn't need reminders, yet we do. We let non-important things fill up our days and soon realize that we no longer have time for the things that make us happy. I am fortunate these days. I do what makes me happy every moment of the day! I am so grateful I chose to come back to San José for another tour of the Art Walk. Tonight reminded me how much I LOVE Mexican culture, the people, the food, and of course, the art. Mexico has so many great things it has to offer.  |
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