Looking back on his life, Antonio López Vega holds cherished childhood memories of dashing out of the classroom at the end of the school day to spend long afternoons at Ajijic’s Biblioteca Pública.
Little did he imagine at age seven that his exposure to books and art supplies would become the foundation of a career as one of his hometown’s most accomplished professional artists.
People who aren’t fully familiar with the Biblioteca’s history may not be aware of its range of activity and lasting impact on local culture. Founded by American author and early expat settler Neill James around 1953, the year Antonio was born, the Biblioteca was more than a place where children were allowed to draw and paint to their hearts’ content. It was indeed a full-fledged library, with shelves loaded with books on myriad topics and contents suitable for adult readers.
Under the watchful eye of administrator Angelita Aldana Padilla, children were obliged to spend time reading or completing homework assignments before they were permitted to get their hands on paper, paints and brushes. She taught the youngsters how to properly handle the tomes, carefully turn the pages and delve into diverse subject matter.
Antonio recalls getting a glimpse at world history, geography, science and the vast extent of the cosmos as he read and viewed illustrations through the eyes of a child. The knowledge and insights he gained would inspire the artwork he created in his childhood and over the decades that followed.
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