Jocotepec’s Department of Art, Culture and Tradition wraps up its March calendar of events with two art show openings set for the last two Fridays of the month.
Jesús López Vega and Lucía Corona will share the limelight in a dual exhibit to be inaugurated Friday, March 21, 7:30 p.m., at the Casa de Cultura located adjacent to the Jocotepec plaza. The exhibit will continue through Thursday, April 10.
Paintings by San Juan Cosalá artist Christian Hernández will be displayed in the bandstand set at the town’s central plaza, on Friday, March 28, 6 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the cocktail opening parties for both shows.
Ajijic expo
Arte en Movimiento celebrates 25 years of arts and culture with a festival on the Ajijic plaza running from Thursday, March 20 through Sunday, March 23.
Their expo will include typical Ajijic cuisine dating back 100 years (featuring the dried and salted meat known as cecina, beans and handmade tortillas), an exhibit of photographs and paintings, a temescal (a sweat bath) for those who wish to partake, and aguas frescas (delicious flavored water). An ofrenda (altar) made from seeds will be prepared as a homage to the village of Ajijic. The fair will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Collective show
MEXICOELECTIVE, a group of local and expat artists will hold its third annual exhibit and sale on Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ajijic’s Plaza Bugambilias shopping center. The show will be displayed on the ground and second floors of the complex.
The collection will include paintings by Victor Alcazar and Salvador Ortiz, photographs by Jaime Barbiery and Karen Spencer, terracotta pieces by Rafael Piñeda and Juan Ramon Soto, wearable art by Debra Fry and jewelry by Heber Bajaras.
Each artist will donate a piece for a raffle that will raise funds to support Chapala’s HIV prevention and education programs. In addition, there will be a fashion show featuring the new collection of designs from Zaina Boutique. Participating shops and restaurants will offer special deals for the occasion.
Plaza Bugambilias is located on the Careterra at Calle Revolucion, next door to El Torito Supermarket. For more information, call 766-1537 or 333-474-1192.
Nature’s Music
Los Cantantes del Lago’s Spring Concert, titled “Nature’s Music,” features music from Renaissance to folk and gospel; the poets from William Blake to Sara Teasdale; the composers from Orlando Gibbons to Eric Whitacre and Cole Porter sung a cappella, with piano and accompanied by cello and flute.
The concerts are on Tuesday March 25, 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 26, 4 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Tickets are 250 pesos and available at Mia’s Boutique, Diane Pearl Colecciones or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Viva la Musica
Viva la Musica presents an exciting concert featuring the Catarsis Piano Trio on Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m. in the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta. This performance will include Beethoven´s “Sonata No. 8 for violin and piano,” Schumann´s “Fantasy for cello and piano” and Piazzola’s “Four Seasons for violin, cello and piano.”
The trio is comprised of pianist Azelea Beltran, violinist Diego Rojas Miramontes and cellist Yalissa Cruz. Both Cruz and Rojas Miramontes are members of the Jalisco Philharmonic, while Beltran, who entered the University of Guadalajara (UdG) Music School at age 12, has played with the orchestra as a soloist.
Tickets cost 200 pesos and are on sale at Diane Pearl Colecciones, the auditorium in La Floresta and at LCS, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Lakeside Little Theatre
Tickets are available for the final play of the season at the Lakeside Little Theatre, “Social Security,” which runs from March 28 through Sunday, April 6.
Directed by Phil Shepherd, it’s a sophisticated comedy by U.S. screenwriter Andrew Bergman. The Broadway production opened in 1986 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 388 performances. Cast members include Phyllis Silverman, Pierre Blackburn, Georgette Richmond, Zane Pumiglia, Candace Luciano and Roger Larson.
Tickets for the show are 200 pesos. The box office will be open from 10 a.m. to noon from Wednesday, March 26 through the run of the show (except for the Sunday matinees), and one hour before curtain time for each performance.
Free concerts
The Centro Cultural González Gallo, housed at Chapala’s former railway station, will be the venue for two free concerts coming up in early April.
The Chamber Orchestra from Guadalajara’s José Clemente Orozco Artistic Education Center is scheduled to appear on Friday, April 4, 7 p.m.
ASA Judged Show
More than 400 people attended the opening reception of the Ajijic Society of the Arts 2014 Judged Show on Saturday, March 15. Sixty-three members entered 109 pieces in the 31st annual show and People’s Choice Awards, which can be viewed at the Cultural Center in Ajijic until Thursday, March 27.
The Best of Show winner was Rick Present for Cohetes.
Winners in the other categories were:
Acrylics:
First: Geraldine Classen – Going to Church; Second: Linda Dunn – Desert Treasure; Third: Lois Schroff – Green/Black Abstract; Third: Marian Decker – Another World.
Ceramics:
First: Jeanne Greene – Dinosaur Egg; Second: Steve Weckel – Bare Earth; Third: Jeanne Greene – Dos Nahuales.
Jewelry, Metal:
First: Benjamine – White as Snow; Second: Kate Schomp – Leap of Faith; Third: Sascha Frowine – Tierra Topaz.
Jewelry, Non-Metal:
First: Flo Rhodes – Spring Fling; Second: Susy Wright – Alcatraces; Third: Marti Hurley – La Rana.
Mixed Media:
First: Rick Present – Cohetes; Second: Slight of Hand – Linda Dunn; Third: Geraldine Classen – La Cocina Encantada; Third: MaryAnn Linhart – White Tulips.
Oils:
First: Jennifer Miller - A Shepardess; Second: Cynthia DuBois – After the Fiesta; Third: Randall Tumblin – Sunset Somewhere.
Pastel, Charcoal, Pencil:
First: Inak Gieysztor – The Casita; Second: Cynthia DuBois – Long Legged Sadness; Third: Judy McKinnon – Adelita.
Photography:
First: Val Decker – Palm 19; Second: Jerry Wolfe – Untitled; Third: Karen Spencer – Light from Within. Third: Norm Tihor – Feathers.
Sculpture:
First: Jan Steinbright – Fish Trap II; Second: Jan Steinbright – Green Man; Third: Frank Howell – Large Cactus Flower.
Textiles:
First: Gethyn Soderman – Standing on the Canyon Rim; Second: Diane Roux – Caftan; Third: Gethyn Soderman – Mid Day; Third: Kitt Vincent – Sun and Moon.
Watercolors:
First: Judy McKinnon – The Bolsa Seller; Second: Lois Schroff – Flirting Flowers; Third: Elizabeth Lee – Evening Sun; Third: Varn – Finding Flowers.
Marcia Lavender once again did a fabulous job in getting the folks who came to the opening reception to vote. And, obviously, the public enjoyed the participation – 288 votes were cast.
The top five Peoples’Choice winners were:
First: Hershel Clepper - Tawa (Sculpture); Second: Judy McKinnon - The Bolsa Seller (Watercolor); Third: Jennifer Miller - The Bicycle (Oil); Fourth: Flo Rhodes - Celestial Dreams (Jewelry, non-metal); Fifth: Jennifer Miller - A Shepherdess (Oil).