Pat Apt exhibit
Local artist Pat Apt exhibits new paintings, etchings and linocuts at the Centro Cultural Ajijic, kicking off with an inauguration Saturday, February 11, from 4-6 p.m. The show is up through March 1.
Collective exhibitions
“Cielo Abierto,” a collective exhibition featuring work by eight artists from Ajijic and Guadalajara, includes an environmental vision of urban landscapes and a mythological vision from Lake Chapala’s ancestors. The show is up at the Centro Cultural González Gallo in Chapala, Saturday, February 11, from 6 p.m.
Peyote art
Create your own chaquira-style Huichol traditional art at peyote workshop in beadwork and clay, Saturdays, February 11, 18 and 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Children aged eight and older, youth and adults are welcome to the event offered by Ollin Tolkekayotl at the the Centro Cultural Ajijic. Registration fees of 200 pesos cover all the group’s workshops for a year. Each class costs 100 pesos, materials included.
For more information, contact anthropologist Xuan Jaguar, (331) 300-2091 or see facebook/ollintoltekayotl.
Jewish film fest
The 8th annual Ajijic Jewish Film Festival continues Sunday, February 12, 11:30 a.m. with a screening of “A Stranger Among Us” (1992, United States). In order to solve a brutal murder and jewel heist, a tough, beautiful New York City police detective (Melanie Griffith) moves into the home of a Hassidic Jewish family. As she struggles with the case and the clash in cultures, she finds herself falling in love with a rabbinical student.
Presented by the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation, the festival features a film on each Sunday through the end of February at Cinemas del Lago in Plaza Bugambilias. All the films begin at 1:30 p.m.
Other upcoming films are: “Bottle in the Gaza Sea” (2011, France/Canada/Israel), February 19; and “My Mexican Shivah” (2007, Mexico), February 26.
Tickets are 60 pesos, available at the cinema. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Mision San Pablo.
Northern Lights
The Festival de Febrero (Northern Lights) kicks off Sunday, February 12 with a concert by the Quartetto Gelato at the Auditorio de la Ribera 7 p.m. This band is known for virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, pyrotechnical solos, blazing gypsy performances, multi-instrument mastery and a World Accordion champion.
Performances by top level Canadian and U.S. musicians range from chamber orchestra concerts to more intimate recitals and jazz concerts almost daily through February 25.
Six concerts will be held at the Auditorio de la Ribera with tickets priced at 400 pesos for side seats and 500 pesos for center seats. The Salon Series recitals are held in some of the area’s finest homes. Premier Events are scheduled Monday, February 20, 4 p.m. at Casa Contenta 7 in Las Brisas (tickets 1,000 pesos); and Saturday, February 25, 6 p.m. at La Nueva Posada (800 pesos) when the offering will be hot jazz and dinner. Tickets are available 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday at La Nueva Posada. For reservations and information on ticket sales, contact Maureen Welch, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 108-1407 between 4 and 6 p.m. For more information, see www.festivaldefebrero.com.
White on White
Ensamble Azul presents their new album, “Blanco Sobre Blanco” (White on White), at a free public concert, Thursday, February 16, 7 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo in Chapala.
Lakeside Little Theatre
“Chicago the Musical,” LLT’s newest production, was quickly sold out for shows from February 17-28 and is now being held over for shows on March 1 and 2. Tickets are now on sale at the box office only, open Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon and every day except Sunday during the show. “Chicago” dancers shown here are Pamela Johnson, Maritza Freyslinger, Allyson DeJong, Jutta McAdam, Cortlandt Jones, Catherine Gonzales, Val Jones, Joanne Stuart, and D’Le Beatty-Tobias.
Concert for Lovers
Rondalla de Chapala’s annual Concierto para Enamorados (Concert for Lovers) plays Friday, February 17, 7 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera, La Floresta.
The all-male voice and acoustic guitar ensemble will perform a repertoire of romantic Mexican tunes, with a guest appearance by the Rondalla Voces y Guitarras de San Juan Cosalá.
Side seats, priced at 120 pesos, are still available at the auditorium box office. A portion of proceeds will be set aside for Niños Incapacitados del Lago.
LCS films
As part of the Lake Chapala Society’s continuing free Spanish-language films open to the public, this month’s offerings are: “Ni Chana, Ni Juana” starring India Maria on February 17; and “Grandes Amigos” starring Robert Redford on February 24. All start at 7 p.m. at the Wilkes Biblioteca on Calle Galeana near the LCS campus.
English-language films are also shown Thursdays at 2 p.m. to LCS members (bring your card). On February 16 the featured film is “Hidden Figures,” (2016, United States). A team of African-American women provides NASA with invaluable mathematical calculations in the quest to put America ahead of Russia in the race to the moon (120 minutes).
Exhibit
An exhibition of art by Laura Gallardo, “Viaje Orbicular,” opens Friday, February 17, 6 p.m. at Casa Luna Galeria at Ocampo 22 in Ajijic.
JPO bus trips
Viva la Musica hosts bus trips to the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra concerts in February.
Sunday, February 19: “The Piper of Hamelin” with the Ballet de Jalisco. Sunday, February 26: Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.” Thursday, March 2: Brahm’s “Symphony #1” with the Percussion quartet; Sunday, March 12: Latin rhythms and Lalo symphony with A. Olivo solo violin: Thursday, March 16: Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” and a clarinet concerto; Sunday, March 26: Old Testament themes including Bernstein’s “10 Commandments,” “Nabucco Overture” and “Samson and Delilah.”
Bus tickets, 450 pesos (550 for non-Viva members), are available at the Lake Chapala Society on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Showstoppers
Showstoppers 14 takes the stage Sunday, February 19, 4 p.m. at St Andrew’s Anglican Church. This is bi-annual fundraising concert presented by Los Cantantes del Lago is always a major crowd pleaser. This year features some new faces as well as guest musician Jimmy Barto in the mix. Barbara Pruitt is emcee and the inimitable Timothy G. Ruff Welch accompanies. Tickets, 200 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique, from any choir member or at www.loscantantesdellago.com.
A hit at Cantantes del Lago’s 2016 Christmas show, young Georg Esteban Oetling Ramirez and Justin Flores Cogswell will also be performing at Showstoppers scheduled Sunday, February 19 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Timothy G. Ruff Welch (far right) will be accompanying on piano.
Live from the Met
Viva La Musica sponsors Saturday bus trips to Teatro Diana in Guadalajara to view productions of Live from the Met. Operas screenings are February 25, “Rusalka” by Dvorak; March 11, “La Traviata” by Verdi; March 25, “Idomeneo” by Mozart. April 22, “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky, and May 13, “Der Rosencavalier” by R. Strauss.
Bus tickets, 400 pesos (500 for non-Viva members), are available at LCS on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Prize winner
Chapala artist Carlos Torrres Chavez took second place at the recent Archeological Reproductions contest at the Instituto de la Artesiana Jalisciense.