Painting guild
The Lake Chapala Painting Guild opens its first juried show at the Ajijic Cultural Center on Saturday, December 10, with a reception from 5-7 p.m. featuring refreshments and entertainment. The public is invited to view paintings in a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, encaustic, pastel and mixed media. The show will remain up until Friday, December 23.
Straw art
Isabel Mendoza of Guadalajara learned the traditional art form of straw art from her grandfather. Here, she is showing some of her work at the annual Feria Maestros del Arte, an exhibit and sales of folk and indigenous art, in Chapala. The art fair is produced by volunteers, Mexican and foreigners. The artists keep 100% of the money from their sales. Mendoza purchases a rare wild straw that grows only in Zacatecas from men who have hiked into the mountains to collect it. Selecting the right size and thickness is crucial to the final outcome of her art. The straw is about 1/32 inch thick (0.75 mm). She colors the straw using only traditional dyes and substances. It takes a week to complete a small piece and about two weeks for the larger pieces. Mendoza said she is one of very few people who still practice this form of straw art.
VIVA soprano
VIVA la Musica! presents talented Guadalajara soprano Dolores Moreno on Thursday, December 1, 7:30 p.m. at Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago in Ajijic. Moreno ’s repertoire covers Gregorian chants to contemporary music, all utilizing her pure, lyric soprano voice. Joining her will be mezzosoprano Teresa Banderas.
They will be accompanied in the Christmas concert by the Northern Lights Youth Ensemble, founded by Christopher Wilshere to provide his talented students performance experience. They first appeared in the Northern Lights Music Festival in February.
The holiday program includes arias such as “I know that my redeemer liveth,” and “Rejoice” from “The Messiah.” You can also hear traditional carols such as “Minuit Chretiens,” “Adeste Fideles,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Silent Night.” Look for magnificent duets of “Pie Jesu” and “Gesu Bambino,” as well as works by Greig, Corelli and Bach played by the string ensemble.
Tickets are 250 pesos for VIVA members and 300 pesos for non-members and are on sale at the Lake Chapala Society (10 a.m. to noon), Diane Pearl’s Colecciones, Charter Club Tours and the Auditorium.
CASA
Hearty congratulations to Alexandra Gordon, who has received her BING award for three first place wins in the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic (CASA) competition in 2011. She took first place at the November meeting for her Chicken with Squash Blossoms in Mole Sauce in the Poultry Main Dish Category (Category A). Category B was Crips, Cobblers and Strudels.
Other winners in Category A were a brand new member and first-time presenter Nancy Traill taking second place with her Indian Butter Chicken and Naan. Third place went to Joe deLeon for his Chicken Artichoke Terrine.
Winners in Category B were Carol Wolfe in first place for her Blackberry Cobbler, Marti Hurley in second place for her Pear, Apricot Cobbler with Corn Biscuits and Helena Feldstein in third place for her Apple Pear Strudel.
The People’s Choice awards in Category A went to Nancy Traill and to Anita Caldwell in Category B for her Skillet Peach and Blackberry Cobbler.
Those interested in joining CASA should contact Mary Ann Waite at 766-1436 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit the CASA website at www.ajijiccasa.org.
Bird photography
Paul Hart opens an exhibition of his remarkable photographic work, “A Celebration of Birds,” on Tuesday, November 29, 3-6 p.m. at Galeria Sol Mexicano, Colon 13 in Ajijic. The artist will be present and all of the works will be available for sale. He’ll also present his calendar that features his bird photography. The show will remain in place until December 9. Contact the gallery at 766-0734.
Membership
The annual general meeting of VIVA la Musica! takes place on Sunday, December 18, 3 p.m. at the home of Tony and Roseann Wilshere, Nicolas Bravo 35 (entrance on lake front). The meeting will be followed by the VIVA membership party from 4-6 p.m.
It’s time to renew your VIVA membership. Those who have already renewed should take their 2012 membership card and enjoy the party. Friends and non-members are welcome for 200 pesos.
Champagne and hors d’ouevres will be served and the Medeles String Quartet will provide the entertainment.
VIVA offers a four-concert season: March, September, October and November in 2012, plus bus trips to see the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra and the “Live from the Met’ opera simulcasts in Guadalajara, as well as concerts in other cities.
For more information contact Rosemary Keeling at 766-1801.
Pottery
Master potter Frank Howell is now making his mugs, mixing bowls, Ikebana and such available at the 60’s in Paradise Restaurant at Hidalgo 10 in Ajijic. Regular hours are 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
Auditions
The Pro-Auditorio fund-raising committee is planning another smashing, crazy, wild, fun lip-sync show on February 9, 10, 11 and 12. Tickets will go on sale in January.
Michael McLaughlin is holding open auditions for new acts on December 5 and 6, 1-3 p.m. at Club Exotica in the rear of the Jardin Restaurant on the Ajijic Plaza. Bring a cassette or CD of the song you want to audition with or just show up and be part of another fun musical act. Of course, support staff is always needed. Please keep the song length to under four minutes.
Christmas
Los Cantantes del Lago choir presents “Christmas through the Years” on Tuesday, December 13, 7 p.m. and Wednesday, December 14, 4 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago.
Under the direction of Timothy G. Ruff Welch, the choir is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.
Tickets for 250 pesos each will be on sale at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Monday through Friday, from any Los Cantantes member or by contacting them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Reduced
The Music Appreciation Society (MAS) has announced reduced season ticket prices for the remaining four MAS events in November and December at the LCS Tickets, Etc. booth. The tickets will now be sold for 1,400 pesos, 1,100 pesos and 800 pesos. Purchase your season tickets and reserve your seats for the continuation of the MAS 2011-2012 season.
Expression
Showcasing nine clay sculptures in a surrealistic style, 23-year-old Lazaro Luna will open an exhibition of his work on Monday, November 28, 5 p.m. at the Art Studio Gallery located at Ocampo 61 in Ajijic. The show is being promoted by the Alas a las Artes group that focuses on featuring the talent of local and regional artists.
Luna is a native of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos and has been studying under the direction of Daniel Palma. Luna has participated in five group exhibitions. The title of his exhibition in Ajijic is “Expresion Libre: (Free Expression) and reflects Luna’s push to forever change the concept of art. The exhibition will be in place until December 12.
Children’s Choir
MAS presents the famous Coro Niños Cantores de Morelia (Children’s Choir of Morelia) in concert on Thursday, December 8, 7:30 p.m. at Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago in La Floresta.
The choir will perform a wide range of traditional and contemporary holiday music from around the world.
The choir was founded in 1949 by Picutti Romano, who at one time directed the Vienna Boys’ Choir. The Morelia group has performed throughout Mexico, the United States, Canada, Europe, and Central and South America. They recently sang with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and participated in the 2011 Chicago Youth in Music Festival to rave reviews in the Chicago Tribute.
This is the choir’s first visit to Lakeside in many years. Come out and start the holiday season with the sound of children’s voices. Tickets are 350 pesos each and will be available from November 28 through December 8, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the LCS Tickets, Etc. booth and at Charter Club Tours at Plaza Montana.