After 11 years at the helm María Elena Ramirez Aguilar has stepped down as administrator of the Centro Cultural González Gallo (CCGG), housed in Chapala’s former railway station. Named to fill her shoes is María de la Luz (Lucy) Mendoza Huerta, a local kindergarten teacher who brings past experience as a public servant to her new position.
Ramirez assumed management of the CCGG when it opened with a new identity on March 28, 2006. The stately edifice, Chapala’s architectural crown jewel, operated as the train station from 1920 to 1926. It changed hands various times after the railway line folded, finally ending up under the ownership of former Jalisco governor J. Jesús González Gallo. His widow and heirs eventually donated the property to the people of Jalisco for its reincarnation as a cultural center named in his honor.
As administrator, Ramirez oversaw significant achievements in CCGG’s development, among them the opening of a permanent museum exhibit of local archaeological relics and the train station’s history. She was likewise instrumental in the acquisition of six unique pieces crafted by renowned Mexican sculptor Miguel Miramontes and a collection of paintings and drawings by distinguished Austrian-born artist Georg Rauch, both of whom lived out productive years and their final days in the lakeshore area.
She also promoted the center as a venue for temporary art shows, high quality programs in performance arts and an facility for education in diverse artistic disciplines.
One of her proudest accomplishments was landing a coveted designation from the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) to operate a local branch of the Escuela de Iniciación Artística, offering introductory courses in music, dance, theater and the plastic arts to local children and youth.
In recognition of the building’s origins, Ramirez took advantage of any opportunity to foster activities related to railways and their history, building close ties with the Mueso Nacional de Ferrocarriles de Mexico in Puebla.
Under her guidance CCGG has hosted a series of model train exhibits, as well as displays of vintage railway photographs. And space on the grounds is dedicated to the Train Garden, where the miniature railway line and collection of hand-crafted 1920’s-period buildings donated by the late expat resident David Netherton have a home for perpetuity.
Having collaborated with Ramirez over the years on a wide range of projects, Mendoza is committed to preserving her predecessor’s legacy by keeping existing programs and projects on track.
In addition to her strong background in education, Mendoza’s credentials include a professional title as an attorney earned at the University of Guadalajara, and three stints in the municipal government. She has served as city hall’s director of culture (1995-1997), head of economic promotion (1998-2000), and held elective office on the city council (2012-2015) with appointment as presiding officer of the culture commission.
She was also a founding member of the original Voces de Chapala chorale group. She later joined the Coro del Estado, singing with the chorus in its operatic debut at the Degollado Theater, a performance of Pagliacci starring Placido Domingo.
In those diverse roles she has become well-connected with cultural activists, state officials and prominent politicians who will be of value in reaching the goals and facing challenges at CCGG.
“This is a place for people to contact with cultural activities that transform lives,” she observes. “That’s especially important for youngsters today who are so absorbed by technology.”