The art of the brush is matched up with the art of the pen for Expo Coloquio Internacional Pretextos del Solsticio, a unique program headquartered at the Centro Cultural de Ajijic (CCA) opening Friday, June 21.
The colloquium brings together the products of more than 120 creative minds from Mexico and 12 other nations for poetry readings and the exhibition of artistic pendants inspired by verse, to be presented along with other events this weekend at CCA and alternate venues in San Juan Cosalá and Chapala.
The project originated two years ago under the auspices of the Tres Soles Colectivo Cultural in Villahermosa, Tabasco, headed by artist Mario M. Ávila. The second edition, based in Villahermosa last June, branched out to the Estado de México, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Argentina through 2018.
Reflection on works by poets from Mexico, Central and South America, the United States and Europe spawned the collection of hangings created by Mexican artists on vertical formats measuring 180 by 60 centimeters which make up the exhibition. Artists Isidro Xilotl, Chile de Joco and Antonio López Vega and writers Berónica Palacios and Mario Z. Puglisi are representing the lakeside area. The program will be inaugurated Friday, 6 p.m., at CCA, followed by poetry readings held there, 7 p.m., and at the Black and White Café on the plaza, 8 p.m.
Activities on Saturday, June 22 start with poetry readings at CCA, 10 a.m., and an art workshop on its outdoor esplanade, 11 a.m. A special presentation will be held at the Viva México Restaurant, Porfirio Díaz 92 in San Juan Cosalá, 3 p.m., with another round of readings set at the Ajijic Malecón, 5 p.m. A pre-Hispanic Summer Solstice ritual will be performed at the Ajijic Plaza, 7 p.m., to round out the day’s happenings.
The colloquium will close Sunday, June 22 at the Chapala, Malecón, with poetry reading and a roundtable discussion led by participating artists, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exhibit of pendants will remain on display at CCA until Wednesday, July 10.