At a time when many cultural happenings—crowded stage presentations, traveling artists, etcetera—are on hold due to the Covid pandemic, Guadalajara’s 24th annual Festival Cultural de Mayo, which normally draws on talent from North and South America and Europe (areas hard hit by the pandemic) is trying a novel approach.
Festival organizers chose the dog as the unifying theme and called upon artist Sofía Crimen to create the installation “Perrón” (big dog). Crimen’s work of art, 25 sculpted dogs depicted walking, sitting and playing, begins in the plaza outside the soaring Expiatorio church and leads the public on a walk past six activity locations in Guadalajara: Zona Expiatorio, Ex Convento del Carmen, Paseo Fray Antonio Alcalde, Plaza de la Liberacion, Teatro Degollado and Centro Cultural Bréton. In and near these sites, 155 other artists (the large majority from Jalisco) present videos, fine arts, sound arts, music, poetry, documentaries and presentations in cultural management.
Dogs may seem like a stretch considering themes and invitees of past years, but organizers have pointed out that dogs have been valued companions during the pandemic, and that Guadalajara is a dog-loving city, considering its many organizations devoted to dog welfare.
Festival Cultural de Mayo. May 4 to 30, Guadalajara.
For events see www.festivaldemayo.org