Erfren Gonzalez
When Efren Gonzalez comes to town, he really packs the house. His January 8 Meet the Artist reception at Galeria La Manzanilla was no exception.
I arrived early, shortly after the event opened at 4 p.m., to avoid the crush. Too late. Dozens of Efren’s fans were there ahead of me, enjoying the art and the artist. He appears to be as popular on the Costalegre as he is in his hometown of Ajijic, attracting groupies from throughout the area. By the time they closed the show at 8, scores of visitors had passed through the gallery.
The late afternoon sun streaming through the Galeria’s many windows accentuated the radiant colors of Efren’s paintings hung in the entry and two large rooms. They popped off the walls. According to Galeria impresaria Silver Mangini, they were purchased off the walls, as well.
“Of the 40 paintings Efren brought to La Manzanilla, four sold before the show even opened,” she said. “Six more were red-dotted at the reception. This is not unusual for a Gonzalez exhibition.” If he brings them, they will sell.
“Efren has a history with the Galeria,” Silver continued. “He joined us during our second season of artist receptions, in 2005. Since then his following has increased exponentially with the calibre of his work.”
Born in Ajijic, Efren Gonzalez was an artist from the moment he could hold a pencil and won numerous area drawing competitions while he was still in grade school. A quick study during local children’s painting workshops, over the years he studied and practiced a variety of media, honing his innate talent to become the much-loved painter he is today.
Gonzalez, who attended the Galeria event with his family, recently relocated his art supply and framing shop to the Efren Gonzalez Art Center at Marcos Castellanos 7 in Ajijic. Paying it forward, he also offers three-hour art classes free for local children five days a week, and provides gallery space to promising artists.
Galeria La Manzanilla is located at Calle Perula Sur #83, a block up on the right from Palapa Joe’s restaurant. Their next Meet the Artist reception, scheduled for February 12, will feature Ernesto de la Pena Folch.
Art Walk
An entertaining way to spend what likely will be another beautiful day in our neighborhood is to enjoy local art during La Manzanilla’s Second Annual Art Walk. Sunday, January 31, is the day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The number of venues has been reduced this year from 12 to nine to make it easier for walkers to see all of the artists’ work. Most are concentrated in the triangle formed by the plaza and calles Playa Blanca and Maria Asuncion. Maps and artist directories are available at each participating venue. Twenty artists are participating in the Art Walk this year.
Venues include Hecho a Mano, Spacifico Spa, Café de Flores, the jardin, #10 Maria Asuncion, the Galeria, and three artists’ studios nearby. Each will be marked by signs bearing a yellow cartoon beach-dude character with a map in his hand. Individual artists will be on hand most of the day to discuss their work.
Representative of the tremendous creativity that charges La Manzanilla is the wide range of art work available for sale. Stephanie Wunner will show papier mache, Nansee New has a pottery display, Charley Farerro and Bonnie Gilmour will offer ceramics. Acrylic, water color, and oil paintings will be presented by Cynthia George, Rennie Hollie, Debbie Wulze, Larry Field, Pamala Page, Mary Jo Oberg, Linda Kauffmann, Carol Lopez, and Sue Siskin. Woven cushions by Norma, wall hangings by Ani Mac, figurative drawings by Susan Davenport, and jewellery by Katherine McCullough and Laila Corbin also will be on exhibit.
Other than opening and closing hours, there is no set schedule to enjoy the walk and no charge. Pick up a map and stroll at your leisure. Some venues may offer light refreshments, but tiendas and restaurants throughout the route will be open for fortification as needed.
Rodeo
The 29th Annual La Manzanilla Fiesta de Toros is scheduled for February 5, 6 and 7. Festivities will kick off at the plaza on Thursday night, February 4, with ponche, a band, and the farola-led parade of people dancing in the street to the casino and back.
Expat Americans and Canadians again are sponsoring the first day, aka Gringo Day. Traditionally we open the rodeo, one of the pueblo’s biggest celebrations, by hosting a gala party at the casino to thank our Mexican friends and neighbours for their hospitality. Beverages, birria and all the trimmings are served by the sponsors, there’s a band and dancing, all at no charge to Mexico natives.
Gringos, however, have to pay. Tickets for admission this year are 180 pesos each. Commemorative t-shirts featuring a bull with U.S. and Canadian flags are 100 pesos. Buy them both together for 250 pesos. Several businesses throughout La Manzanilla as well as individual volunteers have one or both for sale. You can also pay at the door.
Saturday, February 6, celebrates the day the Ejido was formed in La Manzanilla, and (Super Bowl) Sunday on the 7th is sponsored by neighboring El Tamarindo resort. Festivities are much the same throughout the three-day fiesta: lunch at the casino, a parade to the rodeo grounds, equestrian and bull-riding events, concluded by a disco, usually back at the casino. Main street is lined with vendors and mom-and-pop restaurants, and the block of Maria Asuncion near the casino is closed to vehicular traffic for all the festive people gathered at that end of town.
When asked why this year’s rodeo is fewer days than usual, Gringo Day organizer “Canadian” Dave Godin attributed it to the economy. “Everybody’s crying poor,” he said. “Property isn’t selling. People can’t pay their bills. Nobody has any money. As a result, past donors and sponsors had to decline this year.”
Some in La Manzanilla question whether we even need a “gringo” day. It’s been suggested that the money would be better spent on doing something more worthwhile for the community than throwing a party. But as long as there are dedicated volunteers to donate time and effort into the planning, the selling, the cooking and the serving, a party for Fiesta de Toros there will be. And a darned good one.
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