We expected beach sunsets and boardwalk energy in Puerto Vallarta, but we did not anticipate the vibrancy of its art scene. We decided to check it out when the brochure for the weekly Camino del Arte (Art Walk) proclaimed that Art is Life.
The galleries are situated within a ten-block area inside the Centro Historico, or old town. Two of the three galleries we visited are well known. Corsica features the works of Mexican masters, including an amazing sculpture garden.
Emotions by Corsica is an affiliate gallery that highlights emerging Mexican artists. The gallery respresentative at Emotions was excited to tell us about two young artists who are poised to make a splash: Jackie Jones, who creates portraits of famous women, including the Mexican icon, Frida, and Carolina Cisneros, who paints symbolic pieces featuring striking colors and the medium of water.
We bought a piece to bring home from artist Petru Voichescu at Atelier 2020, whose tagline and guiding principle is arte de hoy (art of today).
The artistry in this part of town was not limited to the galleries. We enjoyed the mosaics in Lazaro Cardenas Park, the bandstand in the main square and the graceful Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Church of Our Lday of Guadalupe).
One evening we were fortunate to come across a small festival in the square. We had commented the day before that it would be nice to see the bandstand in use. The musicians who fulfilled our wish seemed like a group of locals who gather there regularly and play a repertoire of jazz and traditional favorites they all know by heart.
The songs had a nostalgic feel that fit the spirit of Old Town, where Puerto Vallarta began as a small fishing village. The children playing on decorated rocking horses nearby added an air of continuity, signaling that Old Town's best days may yet be ahead.
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