The Call of Nature: New Photos at Camino Silvestre

I’ve never thought of myself as a nature photographer—or, for that matter, a nature lover. I feel more closely aligned with Woody Allen (“I am at two with nature”) than with John Muir. But when I find myself in the wilds—the Charco, Candelaria, a pond with frogs darting across the lily pads, an artful garden—I succumb to the charms of the natural world.

So I’m leaving photos of battered cars and market tarpaulins behind for the moment, and showing my photos of the botanical garden, the annual plant fair, and a couple of floral paintings, at Camino Silvestre (Wild Road), a beautiful new shop in San Miguel. Here are some images. 

In the end, the subject matter doesn’t matter. The myriad visual pleasures of the everyday world we inhabit are what I want the viewer of my photos to see and appreciate.

Camino Silvestre    Zacateros 46  Centro, San Miguel   Open 7 days, 11-7.

Pozos Party Photos: !NOW REVOLUTION!

NiCk and Manrey at Galeria6 in Pozos know how to throw a party.  It was a picture perfect day, the installation was superb, the gardens abloom, the crowd lively, food and drink aplenty from our generous hosts. And I sold two photographs. Whoopee!  Here are photos of the opening. 
The show is up through January 2, if you want to spend a leisurely day in the country, visiting the old silver mines, the lavender farm, a long lazy lunch...  



Galeria6  Plaza Principal 6  Mineral de Pozos  

!Now Revolution" exhibition at Galeria 6

Mexico's Bicentennial is being celebrated in many and sundry ways, but perhaps none so wild and wacky as !Now Revolution!, a group showing of five artists at Galeria6 in nearby (to San Miguel) Pozos, a growing new arts community. Lena Bartula's got cross-dressed revolutionary heroes; Anado McLaughlin's installation has ten thousand Buddhas doing something or other; Ezshwan Winding says her torched encaustics are "about the underbelly." Jim Pasant's  (who will also do DJ duty at the opening as Notorious J.I.M) is showing photos of Mexican street graffiti. And me?  Banners, fireworks, and things that explode (images here).

Doesn't this sound like fun?? One way or another, we're all playing with fire....

!NOW REVOLUTION!    

OPENING NOVEMBER 6, 1-6 PM

 Galeria6  Jardin Principal 6  Mineral de Pozos

"AUTOreflejo" at ArtPrint Photo Gallery Opening Sept 10

Well, things are heating up as Mexico's Bicentennial gets underway--parades, fireworks, theater, bullfights, fairs, parties, dancing. It promises to be a long and lively celebration.

I'm adding to the mayhem by having an opening on Friday, September 10, at ArtPrint Photo Gallery, just off the square. It's new work, but more cars (images here)--battered old cars, reflections through closed car windows, the rear-view mirrors of taxis. I have several other series in progress, but I just can't seem to get over these cars. Someday I'll move on, I suppose, but their serendipitous beauty still catches my eye.

Viva Mexico!

Photo Show at Cafe Iberico June and July 2010

I know you've all missed me terribly in the many months since I last posted (not so much?), but as usual I've been far too busy for someone who moved to Mexico so I would have more free time. Don't believe everything you hear about Mexico--the threat of narco-traffickers, the killer swine flu, or that it's a manana culture. I have to admit I've had more time for photography and painting, which has been wonderful, even though it now contributes substantially to my perpetual whirlwind state. Fortunately, I do spend an inordinate amount of time having fun, seeing friends, and being charmed by this great country I live in.

At the moment I have three photography shows in the works. One is up now, at a great new restaurant in San Miguel, Cafe Iberico, which serves authentic Spanish tapas, very good wines, and dazzling desserts in a beautiful setting. I'm showing more large images of scraped, repainted cars (there are always new battered beauties) that look like paintings; dashboard dolls; and a couple shots from a new series, "Smithereens," of things that explode in San Miguel: Judas figures, fireworks, pinatas. The show is up through the end of July.

In September, I'll have a show of new work at ArtPrint Gallery, which opens on September 10 in time for Mexico's bicentennial celebrations, and will run through October. Next year I'll be having a show at San Miguel's cultural center, Bellas Artes. Details in due course.

I hope you Sanmiguelenses will have a chance to stop in and see the show at Cafe Iberico at Mesones 101. And I hope to find a little more free time to post all the great quotes and funny videos I've been collecting for you.