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Pintor y Escultor Mexicano Renato González: Irracionalidad artística

July 24th, 2012

Renato González: Irracionalidad artística

Por Carlos del Valle colaborador de LatinAmericanArt

Domingo al medio día, voy llegando al poblado de  Nepantla, mejor conocido como la tierra de Sor Juana. Nepantla es un pequeño poblado con menos de 2,200 habitantes, localizado en el Estado de México.

Observando detenidamente, veo un gran arco de piedras con un mensaje plasmado sobre las rocas que dice “Tierra de Poetas”, dando así la bienvenida a sus visitante, mi imaginación se abre sintiendo cantos de poesía en mis oídos al escuchar el sonido del viento y de los pájaros, empiezo a pensar que estoy en un lugar con pocas atracciones pero con mucho que contar, ya que se encuentra lejos y escondido.

Lo que  la comunidad no sabe es que entre ellos vive un  artista, el pintor  y escultor Renato González, mejor conocido por ellos como “El Chaman”. Llegué al punto de encuentro,  fuera del museo del pueblo “el Centro Cultural Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz”, esperé quince minutos a  que Renato llegará por mí para posteriormente dirigirnos a su rancho.

Anteriormente, vía telefónica me comentó que siempre en las primeras visitas al rancho era casi imposible llegar, dado que la comunidad no tiene señalamientos ni nombres exactos de las calles.

A lo lejos veo un carro de color blanco como  me lo indicó, he de confesar que  era amante y admirador de su arte sin  conocer su rostro y fisionomía ya que es un poco reservado con su  imagen y para dar entrevistas.

Tenía demasiadas  imágenes en mi mente de como seria, algunas de ellas lo recreaban como un personaje con estilo acaudalado, con un toque fino y elegante en su manera de vestir, mostrando un estilo sobre él mismo al ser un artista internacional y  poseer premios como Salón de arte joven,  dos veces ganador del Bienal Rufino Tamayo,  y el Bienal José Clemente Orozco entre otros.

Cuando bajó de su vehículo, reflexioné que cada artista tiene sus propias cualidades y la de él es traer un sombrero de paja,  con  una camisa  roja  a cuadros, un paliacate del mismo color  amarrado al cuello como lo hacían los grandes muralistas,  botas de trabajo y unos vaqueros que llevaban las marcas de la guerra entre la creación y recreación de sus arte.

Me saluda amigablemente diciendo -Este es mi refugio- me da un apretón de mano y reitera –Este es el refugio que me permite  tener calma  para la creación de mis obras pero ahora sígueme al rancho porque es complicado llegar-. El camino fue verdaderamente complicado, algunas calles son cerradas y no tienen sentido estricto en su mayoría. Después de varias curvas llegamos a una calle empedrada, directa y larga hacia la puerta del rancho.

El rancho lleva  por nombre “Las Gaviotas Blancas”, lo primero que hice fue disponerme a estirar las piernas mientras siento la pureza del aire  y la gran diferencia con la ciudad. Comenzamos rompiendo el hielo con un breve tour, veo que tiene una atractiva dimensión territorial y cuenta con gallineros, y árboles frutales en demasía, Renato comenta que  todo es para consumo propio y esta libre de transgénicos.

Detenidamente y sin dejar de prestar atención en sus palabras, empiezo a viajar a través de los colores de las frutas y de la naturaleza en general, como si todo lo que tengo frente a mí  fueran una pintura de verdad y su  única diferencia añadiera el sentido del gusto y entonces el sabor me pareció exquisito.

Caminando sobre las tierras aradas  me  refiere que él es una persona muy alejada de la sociedad y si aceptó conocerme  fue por mi juventud, creyendo que poca gente joven tiene aprecio por el arte.

Llegamos al estudio después del pequeño paseo, me invita a pasar y la primera percepción es de admiración, por que el estudio de un artista es la zona mas personal que pueda tener, allí es el encuentro  entre el artista y la inspiración para la creación de su arte.

Elijo la primera silla,  que es la de mayor atracción visual y veo que sus elementos como la madera tienen la textura  de una artesanía, pero  rápidamente veo una expresión por parte del maestro y cambio de opinión sentándome en el banco mas cercano y sencillo, mi pregunta es mas que obligada -¿Es esa silla especial?- la respuesta fue simple, armada por sus propias manos y  con un diseño áureo -Es la favorita para mis pláticas o meditaciones-

Trato de concentrarme hacia él pero el estudio me tiene atrapado visualmente, quiero poner detalle a cada objetivo que veo,  como a esas frases que están plasmadas en las paredes y los libros que tiene por doquier.

Me pregunta si prefiero agua o café, es automática mi decisión después de escuchar que es un café que siembra en la región y es de sus favoritos. Hecho con cafetera  de mano tradicional, el ambiente comienza a obtener  un agradable aroma a café.

Con taza servida Renato hace énfasis a la época de los 90´s donde tuvo su periodo de fama y éxito, momento que lo llevo a exponer en  algunos países  como Estados Unidos, España y Holanda.

Estos logros también  trajeron consigo problemas personales, por la interacción con la sociedad, grandes eventos y el no saber manejar la fama. Renato reconoce que el problema de todo  fue debido a que él es un pintor de vida y no de ocupación, y cuando el deja de tener contacto con sus creaciones  su cosmos se llena por no liberar las energías  y comienza a perder la estabilidad emocional que es el equilibrio del ser humano.

Después de esto decide partir del mundo visible de reflectores, alojándose en  la Sierra de Michoacán donde tiene contacto e interacción con los nativos y algunos grupos armados con la finalidad de explicar que la diferencia entre los seres humanos no existe ya que cada uno tiene su propia condición  y ventaja pero es parte del por qué de nuestra llegada al mundo; después de largos meses allá,  recordó que gran parte de su niñez  la vivió en el rancho  y junto con esos recuerdos se traslada de nueva cuenta al lugar donde nos encontramos tomando un café.

Cruza la pierna bebiendo un gran sorbo de café  y dice pensativamente -el no estar presente en la sociedad es como el no existir, lo asumo con toda responsabilidad pero la  madurez la obtuve también porque me encontré conmigo mismo de nueva cuenta y de no haber pasado esto habría caído en la corrupción al pensar en cada inicio de obra en cuánto podré ganar con esto y esa es la delgada línea entre ser un artista y ser simplemente un generador de dinero. Quiero que la gente me recuerde como el artista que dejo una huella y que cada pieza de arte sea realmente una expresión de mi ser y no una producción en serie-.

Tocan la puerta y entra una persona al estudio diciendo que lo buscan, mientras Renato sale a atender su llamado,  lo tomo como un descanso en el cual puedo realizar un pequeño recorrido del estudio. Me doy cuenta de los sonidos, escucho el correr del agua del río que pasa justo atrás del estudio y el segundo es el golpeteo del aire con los ramales, la luz natural entra por todas partes a través de las grandes ventanas y puedo pensar ese es uno de los grandes secretos de las obras.

Al final veo una frase que atrapa “LOS SERES HUMANOS SON COMO LOS AGUACATES, MADURAN HASTA LA CAJA”, y entonces regresa el artista a su estudio acompañado de otras personas, y una de ellas vienen cargándola.

Mi primera reacción es que son sus familiares y me dice que le de unos minutos para sobar a  una persona y tomo asiento mientras veo que comienza acomodar un tapete en una de las esquinas de la habitación para  sobar a una mujer de edad avanzada que tiene problemas en la rodilla y los médicos le diagnosticaron que para poder volver a caminar debe ser atendida en una cirugía, sin embargo ella tiene fe en “el chaman” y después de varios movimientos y cambios de posturas termina la sesión.

Renato hace referencia que ella estará bien solo era cuestión de acomodar algunos huesos y desbloquear algunos nudos de energía, después de unos minutos de reposo ella se levanta con ayuda de sus familiares, su postura es diferente y puede apoyarse sin ayuda; en ese momento Renato le pide intentar caminar y asombrados la familia y mucho más yo, la señora comienza a caminar por sí sola.

-Se los dije el chaman  tendrá mi solución- dijo efusivamente la mujer.

Después de ver mi cara de sorpresa  y sabiendo que es la hora de comer, me invita a pasar a la cocina y durante este recorrido veo una capilla que seguramente tiene mas de 100 años de antigüedad y  me lleva a conocerla.

Cuando entramos  me doy cuenta que  ahora es el lugar donde resguarda sus obras  y son bastantes al estar dedicado en cuerpo y alma a la pintura, es un paraíso para los amantes del arte, ver obras como Picasso en bicicleta, Tao, la última cena y otras que en su mayoría son inéditas me hace pensar que es un momento invaluable.

Luego de varios minutos  continuamos el camino hacia la cocina donde cada uno se preparara sus alimentos, una agradable comida con productos de su granja. Nos disponemos a seguir la charla sin olvidar otro la taza de café y le pregunto ¿Cómo llegó a ser pintor?

- A los  16 anos me corrieron del Colegio de México por ser mal alumno, pero no todo era malo en ese momento, logré el record nacional de nado libre y mis inquietudes me orientan a comenzar a pintar como algo nato y  entonces me di cuenta que  la pintura es el placer y terapia de toda mi  vida  y la natación una simple rutina-

Posteriormente estudió en la Escuela de Arte del Lago y terminó la carrera en la Esmeralda una Institución especializada en  Artes Visuales.

Renato describe que  el arte es la parte mas irracional de los artistas y recuerdo que muchos artistas también  tienen un pasado oscuro o difícil y él no podía  ser la excepción.

Ya  caído el atardecer y sin mas café en mano doy las gracias por la oportunidad de conocer, la forma de vida del artista y el humano.

Para finalizar me pide que realice una actividad, el elije una canción y yo selecciono una obra, ¨This is the end¨, que causo atracción en mi desde el primer momento que la vi en la pared de el estudio, teniendo que concentrarme, entro en un silencio  donde solo existíamos la canción la obra y yo, mis sentidos captan el primer sonido , es el de unas hélices, era tan reales como si  todo pasara de cerca, comienzo  visualmente la  recreación de la obra  al ritmo de la música intentando descifrar formas, colores y sentidos como si lo viviera al instante; después de esto jamás volveré a ver  alguna simplicidad en sus obras.

Me despido dándole un abrazo fraternal por el recibimiento. Deja en claro que las puertas están abiertas para  volver y seguir  contestando preguntas que he de tener, esperando un reencuentro no muy lejano.

 

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Photographer Rodolfo Choperena Interviewed by Anjali Gupta

October 14th, 2011

Interview by Anjali Gupta:

Anjali Gupta: Talk to me about your shift from straightforward to nontraditional portraiture and landscape photography. Was there a specific inspiration for this?

Rodolfo Choperena: Yes. Olafur Eliasson exhibited a piece at the 2005 Venice Biennale called “Your Black Horizon” in a pavilion designed by David Adjaye. In 2007, the piece moved to Lopud, Croatia. In essence, it is a single beam of light that surrounds the space, 360 degrees, shifting through the color spectrum of a single day every 15 minutes.

I traveled to Lopud specifically to see the installation. It was an overwhelmingly contemplative experience, and after what seemed like hours, I began taking pictures. In reviewing these images—snapshots, really—I became obsessed with the subtleties of captured light: tonal shifts and fractures that the eye fails to notice.

AG: It is interesting that the impetus for a major shift in the way that you harness photography was inspired by happenstance, but the process you have developed has become, over time, quite regimented.

RC: When the work was first taking form, it was all about wonderment—about the unseen world—but it wasn’t until after my first series was printed that I began to explore the potential for staging and further in-camera manipulation. I traveled to Careyes, Mexico. Call it the prismatic effects of optics, the magnificent light of the Pacific or just an epiphany, but in that second series, everything changed. I began to really see the way that light refracts and bends and curves in three dimensions. It does so naturally, but we simply don’t notice. It’s all about physics.

AG: All of that is in keeping with the basics of how the medium itself works, but what you are doing obliterates the immediacy of the photographic process in terms of the way people digest and process (or rather, don’t process) images. We’ve come to understand the photographic image as a journalistic rendition of reality and don’t even think about how—or how much—they are being manipulated by what they see. But when one stands in front of one of your pieces, they know that they are being manipulated, and that can be a source of discomfort.

RC: That brings us back to process, and how my process is evolving. I started by shooting what I saw. Then the inner art director came out to play…what if there were deeper tones of blue here, or a shock of pink there? I soon started incorporating textiles into the work, which was the first element of staging I explored. It is a way of injecting and sharing a piece of the personal.

AG: Do you feel that the longer you explore this process, the more elaborate this is becoming—and will become?

RC: Absolutely. In the current series produced for my exhibition at Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, I set out to do a study of light, breaking it down into the rather simple way that the eye sees and interprets color. Beyond chroma, in choosing the final images, I looked for texture, depth. Beyond all else, I look for beauty. They—the images—must speak to me. The images must have a sensual quality that goes beyond the parameters of an exploration of the physics of light.

Shadows, too, are of the essence. Look at the hyperreal work of Claudio Bravo and Jason Martin, two of my favorite artists. Bravo, even more so than Martin, achieves multidimensional effects even in monotonal, monochromatic work. Subtleties intertwine in the most sensuous of ways. That is what I am trying to achieve in this series.

Watch Rodolfo Choperena’s video: www.vimeo.com/27203564

Please visit the Exhibition of Rodolfo Choperena at Blue Star Contemporary Art Center – San Antonio, TX

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Latin American Art; Fine Art Funds – Taking the soul out of art investing?

August 25th, 2011

Fine Art Funds – Taking the soul out of art investing?

AUGUST, 2011

Throughout history, retailers and individual collectors have been trading valuable works of art, whether for pleasure or investment potential. As far back as the 1800’s art trading clubs were formed and investors would gather to discuss their collections and potentially trade works. It wasn’t until after the year 2000 that commercial art funds began to gain traction as investment vehicles. At that time a number of entrepreneurs from the financial and arts industries who had a strong personal or vocational interest in art set up these funds, a number of which have fizzled out over the years. An art fund, much like a hedge or private equity fund, provides commercial rewards to both the capital providers and the fund managers. Considered by those involved to be a sophisticated type of alternative investment, art funds provide a long-term hedge during periods of financial crisis and inflation. For this feature, ALI spoke to two prominent fine art funds as well as to top art advisors to understand and analyze strategies of art investment funds as well as the recent growth in the Latin American sector Read More…

To read the full article and other related art articles please register for free with Alternative Latin Investor.

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The Artistry and Stability of Colombian Gold – Latin American Art

July 5th, 2011

The Artistry and Stability of Colombian Gold

Gold Art Investment in Colombia

The history of pre-columbine gold mining dates as far back as the years 1-1000 A.D. Some of the world’s earliest discoveries have been made in Northeastern Colombia from the Tairona Culture, Early Zenu Culture and the Muisica Culture.

The important gold mining center of Buriticá, in the mountains of Colombia’s northern Antioquia Province, exploits rich… Read More

To read the full article and other related art articles please register for free with Alternative Latin Investor.

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Alicia Framis photograph of a naked man spikes traffic

Alicia Framis photograph of a naked man spikes traffic

We could have not imagined that the #5 “Pageviews” listing in our traffic report would be a photo of a naked man by Spanish artist Alicia Framis called: “8th June, female models have a day off, Madrid”. We have had Picassos, Diego Riveras, Frida Kahlos, Gabriel Orozcos boost our traffic at any given day and it is expected to see an increase. This one really caught our attention as we were looking at the link trying to imagine what artwork could have been ahead of so many others that you would think of. You must see this image; it is a great photograph. Warning: if images of naked people offend you, do not open the link below.

Alicia Framis’ Photograph

Until Next Time,

Laura Cunningham
Director

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The New Soumaya Museum is Inaugurated

March 4th, 2011

The New Soumaya Museum is Inaugurated

Replacing a smaller museum located in the south part of Mexico city and with works by great masters like Diego Rivera, Auguste Rodin and Leonardo Da Vinci amongst what will be a rotating exhibition of close to 66,000 artworks so far – and counting, the Soumaya Museum was inaugurated last Tuesday in the northwest part of Mexico City. The museum will open to the public on March 28, 2011 and will be closed on Tuesdays. Admission will be free.

The Soumaya will display one of the vastest collections of European and Latin American Art in Mexico. The collection is owned by the world’s richest man, telecom billionaire Carlos Slim Helu and its name comes after Slim’s late wife Soumaya Domit Slim. The six-story modern building, beautifully designed by Slim’s son-in-law architect Fernando Romero is covered by 16,000 aluminum panels with a curvy landmark design on the outside, and the spectacular 183,000 feet of interior halls interconnected by stairs, ramps and elevators.

The inaugural exhibition will display some 6,200 artworks, which account for about 10% of the complete collection. The 800 million dollar building has a steel structure and it is armed with the latest technology such as controlled temperature and humidity to hold its artworks in the best of conditions.

The first and second floors hold gold and silver pieces, viceroyalty coins, Mesoamerican ceramic, stone and shell pieces. The third and fourth floors exhibit old European masters, New Spain masters, landscapes, portraits and various other art objects. The fifth floor exhibits an impressive collection of what refers to “The Mexican School of Painting” lead by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco, amongst many more such as the initiators of the called “The Rupture Movement”; a group of artists from the 1950’s heralding a huge change in Mexican aesthetic expression and it is known to be responsible for the cosmopolitan direction in which art in Mexico has been developed since. With Auguste Rodin as the main theme, the sixth floor holds “The Rodin Era”, also with works by Emile-Antoine Bourdelle, Camille Claudel, and one of his pupils Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux; it is said to be the most spectacular of all halls and the second most important Rodin collection in the world.

The Soumaya Museum has the most important collection of European art and Latin American art in all Latin America and it is the fastest growing private art collection in the world. Are Mexicans proud of getting a museum from their fellow citizen named the richest man in the world? At least Slim is not keeping his collection to himself. I am proud to have a country inundated with art wherever you go, rich areas, poor areas, parks, corners, circles; art is abundant and it is one of our biggest assets. Mexico is one of the most cultural cities in the world where people, rich and poor, identify themselves with culture in general; it is part of who we are. Mexico City is located on what was the capital of the Aztec Empire in pre-Columbian times and you may feel the power of the Aztecs in areas such as at the Templo Mayor. It is common to see old people, young people, families or groups of friends gather together to go to the museum for the newest exhibition or to check the permanent exhibition once again.

The Soumaya Museum just adds to that. And I am also excited for the upcoming museum that will hold the Jumex Collection, which will be the most important collection of Contemporary art, and it is being built right by the Soumaya and flanked by a new theatre as well.

Until next time,

Laura Cunningham
Director

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An Interview with Peter Fetterman director of Peter Fetterman Gallery

March 7th, 2010

An Interview with Peter Fetterman director of Peter Fetterman Gallery.

Peter Fetterman

Peter Fetterman was buzzing around his booth at the Dallas Art Fair as I was walking around. We made eye contact, got closer and asked each other who we were. Great guy with a thick British accent, I had instant chemistry with him. I wasted no time and asked if I could have an interview and he was ready to collaborate with me. It was the last day of the fair and he had many clients coming back to buy what they had seen over the weekend so my visit lasted for over one hour but the interview was only 11 minutes long. 

Laura Cunningham: How long have you been collecting?

Peter Fetterman: I have been collecting for 30 years.

LC: Have you only collected photographs?

PF: That is correct. I specialized in photography from the beginning.

LC: What got you interested in Latin American photography?

PF: I like the humanism in the images and I think that people from Latin America have a genuine sense of caring and reality, basic human values which maybe a lot of other cultures don’t have. They are very nice, kind, sensitive people – full of life – and sensitive to other people’s problems and a sense of humanity.

LC: Have you always had a gallery to display your photographs?

PF: I started as a private dealer for 3 years and then I opened my first public gallery 17 years ago. Now I am based in Santa Monica, California. I am British by birth and I moved to America 30 years ago. I was a film maker but I got seduced by the power of images – still images – and it changed my life.

LC: Do you only collect Black & White photographs?

PF: I deal primarily with Black & White; it is more powerful for me.

LC: Have you ever lived in any Latin American country?

PF: I have not. I would like to.

LC: Would you tell me more about the Latin American photographers you carry?

PF: Sure, I think Sebastiao Salgado is probably the most important living photographer. He was born in Brazil and lives in Paris. He has a really global view. That’s his ethos. I really think he is the greatest living photographer. I spend a big part of my day on him.

Sebastiao Salgado – Gold Mine 1986

LC: What would you consider to be the main difference between Sebastiao Salgado versus Manuel Alvarez Bravo or Tina Modotti or Graciela Iturbide?

PF: I think because he travels so much he documents the world, and I think that both Bravo or Modotti who I love were very confined only to Mexico, where as Salgado is a Brazilian photographer that has a global vision an he is an economist that has an understanding on how the world works in particular how the third world works and how its relationship with the first world works because of his training as an economist. He is not just a photographer; he is a highly intelligent, analytical person with a great talent, with a great vision and he knows how to tell stories and he knows how to move people and he knows how to show things that he wishes.  

 

Manuel Álvarez Bravo – El Sueño 1931

LC: Do you collect any other type of art; paintings, sculptures…

PF: Occasionally, I collect some paintings, I like drawings, and sometimes I trade with other art dealers. Over the years you find things you fall in love with.

LC: What moves you?

PF: My daughter “princess Charlotte” and theatre.

LC: What’s your favorite play?

PF: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, It makes me cry every time I see it.

This was a little bit about Peter Fetterman. A gentleman, easy to talk to. I hope to visit his gallery soon and pick his brain a little more so I may share with all of you. If you want to learn more about the photographers he represents, please visit www.PeterFetterman.com.

Until next time,

Laura Cunningham

Director

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The Dallas Art Fair – Day 2

February 7th, 2010

At 10am, the first part of the controversial symposium “Finding Frida” took off. The owners of the Noyola Collection Carlos Noyola and Leticia Hernandez de Noyola started the presentation talking about how they met sharing their love and dedication to art collecting and to their Art and Antiques store located in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. After telling us how proud they are of their children who followed in their steps, they went on to tell us how Frida Kahlo got between them to never let go and how they share a passion for her works like nobody they know. The Noyola’s are here at the Dallas Art Fair to vindicate themselves by corroborating the authenticity of the works of Frida Kahlo which they have gathered throughout the years. They printed a book called “Finding Frida Kahlo”. They are also trying to reassert us by showing a video of how they have obtained validation from several sources including Arturo Garcia Bustos, Arturo Estrada, Chavela Vargas, Rina Lazo and Diego Maria Alvarado Rivera.  

James Oles

After proudly playing the video, they were immediately questioned by James Oles about the documentation supporting the provenance of the works. James Oles is a professor of art history at Wellesley College, curator of Latin American Art and researcher of the Frida Kahlo archives at the Casa Azul Museum in Mexico City. Trying to be as unbiased as possible, I really wanted for the Noyola’s to prove their point. Who doesn’t want this collection to be authentic? Nobody. But there are very valid issues that overcloud the provenance and authenticity of the collection. Followed by James Oles was Mary Ann Martin. Mary Ann Martin is the owner and director of Mary Ann Martin Fine Art in New York City and she is one of the leading dealers of Latin American Art in the United States. She was asking the Noyola’s about how in the 90’s, they mentioned the source of the provenance of the collection to one newspaper as being from Manuel Marque and later on they told a different newspaper that the source was Abraham Jimenez Lopez. The question confused the Noyola’s; they seemed unorganized and struggled to answer the question as though they did not understand it. Their advisor Jed Paradies came into their rescue only to be shut down by moderator Jason Edward Kaufman pointing out the uncertainty of their rationale of where the artworks ultimately come from. After the symposium, we walked into the salon where 56 pieces from the Noyola collection were exhibited. Within 15 minutes, there were basically two groups; one consisting of the Noyola’s explaining why the collection is authentic and where they got it from and the arguments to prove their claims.

 

Dr. Salomon Grimberg

The other group gathered first around Dr. Salomon Grimberg who is the co-author of the Frida Kahlo catalog raisonné “Frida Kahlo, Das Gesamtwerk” and one of the leading experts of her work. Later on, another group gathered around James Oles who was absolutely certain that mostly every piece they were showing was a fake. Oles pointed out how the flag that reads “Viva Trosky” was misspelled (Trotsky is the correct spelling) and how the fact that the Noyola’s obtained 1200 works; 40+ original paintings that no Frida Kahlo nor any Latin American Art expert had ever seen or heard about. These details raised most of his claims. Finding Frida part II comes tomorrow. We will be there and I cannot wait to write about it. 

Until tomorrow,

Laura Cunningham

Director

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The Dallas Art Fair – Day 1

February 7th, 2010

The Dallas Art Fair has been even greater than expected and I have met the nicest people. Many of whom are responsible for shaping the art world; others who are responsible for shaping the Latin American Art world and still others who are art enthusiasts and complete the ensemble. After hours of walking and talking to numerous gallery owners, getting to know them and getting the information I was looking for, I walked into the familiar warmth of a colleague who welcomed me into her booth.

 

Patricia Ruiz-Healey is owner and director of Ruiz-Healey Fine Art in San Antonio, TX. Patricia Ruiz-Healy holds a Masters Degree in Art History from the University of Texas in San Antonio. She also did Post-Graduate work in London at the Sotheby’s Institute and at the Coartauld Institute of Art. She is a PhD student at UT Austin working towards a Doctorate in Latin American Studies and clearly knows what she is all about. With a finicky attitude, she welcomes clients into her space and with visible pride, shows them what her gallery has to offer. Often taking works from the back to pull their interest and educating them further about the works.

 

In addition to Carlos Betancourt and Rodolfo Choperena, Ruiz-Healey Fine Art is also showcasing the artworks of Cecilia Paredes, Pedro Friedeberg and Cecilia Biagini among others. Patricia talked to me briefly about the artists she represents and their artwork so I could gather information about them for my articles. It was hard to hold a conversation with so many clients constantly walking in. She then informed me that one of the artists she represents: Carlos Betancourt was at the Fair and tried to locate him for me but he was gone. We then set up an interview for Saturday with Betancourt and also with Rodolfo Choperena which I will share with you once I am done with the transcripts.

Until then,  

Laura Cunningham

Director

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Mexican Artist Guillermo Olguin

February 2nd, 2010

Guillermo Olguin

During my last visit to Oaxaca, Mexico which happens to be the Latin American Art epicenter of Mexico, I had the pleasure of not only meeting and spending time with Guillermo Olguin in his studio, I was also fortunate enough to purchase one of his works directly. Guillermo is a very warm and friendly person who cares deeply about his craft. Judging by the prices Guillermo fetches in Galleries where he exhibits, he appears to be a rising start in the Latin American Art world. His use of color and obscure subject matter give his works a uniqueness that is hard to find today. Guillermo also tends to paint in larger formats and he occasionally uses alternative materials which increases the uniqueness of his paintings. In addition to the size and scope of his works, his paintings often have an exaggerated texture which he does so well that from frontal viewing, it can be difficult to see. However from the side and up close you can clearly see great detail in his brush stokes and the way he varies the application.

The subject matter of paintings in his studio that day ranged from a bizarre self portrait (personally I loved that one) to paintings that were a result of his travels abroad and his most recognizable theme which is an obscure angel with, or on either a fish, buffalo or some other type of animal. The painting I purchased was of a winged angel on the back of a buffalo and the entire painting was in an extreme blue hue with heavy blacks and grays. Here is a photo I took from my iPhone today of this painting and to provide some perspective, this ceiling in my room was 10′ tall and there was only about 12 inches of combined free space between the frame and the ceiling up and floor down. So I estimate this painting to be in the neighborhood of 108 x 90 inches.

Guillermo Olguin Painting

Guillermo was a great host and we look forward to seeing him again. Oaxaca is an amazing place with too much history for this post and the friendliest people you will ever meet.

Highly recommended ~ John

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