International Exposition of Contemporary Art in Ensenada from October 7-31
text by connie ellig; photos by david hopps & connie ellig

One of the spacious warehouses at Bodegas de Santo Tomás Winery served as a communal studio and location of the Art Camp. It was here that the artists spent five days creating the works that would be displayed at the exposition. Some artists brought works in progress that they completed in Ensenada; others started their projects on-site.

Upon visiting the Art Camp on October 2, I was greeted outdoors by the buzz of a chain saw and the sight of a slight man carving massive eucalyptus logs. After I shot several photos, he stopped working and introduced himself as Mukai Katsuma. The Japanese sculptor then proceeded to show me his portfolio of photos of his incredible wood sculptures that adorn landscapes in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, France, Austria, Canada and the United States. “And now in Mexico,” he added with a wide smile.

Inside the quiet warehouse, the other artists were busy at work. Austrian sculptor Inya Laskowoski was fashioning an unusual mixed media piece made from a pillow covered with papier maché, silver leafing and pushpins. American Jim Busby was forming a ceramic teapot, bottles, covered jars and platters. Narupon Buranabunya, an art instructor from Thailand, was in the midst of creating a huge, mixed media hanging titled “International Artist,” made of 161 soft sculpture dolls. Versatile Argentinean artist Marisa Caichiolo, known for her body art, installation art and abstract paintings, was involved with her newest project, a series of “Sacred Dresses” that interpret the feminist part of different world religions.

Watching the painters was a revelation. Creative methods, mediums and styles were as individual as the artists themselves and often reflected their cultural backgrounds. Participating painters included Angelica Rochón from Argentina, Andrei Wilenius from Finland, Thosaporn Suthum from Thailand, Chiyomi Taneike Longo from Japan, and Al Longo from the United States. Mexican painters included Joly Lacarra, Alejandro Martínez-Peña and Ricardo Alvarez Cruz of Tijuana and Jaime Delfín, Marco Miranda, Octavio Ventura and Luis Gabriel Razo Castro of Ensenada.

Since the Art Camp was open to the public, visitors had the opportunity to see professional artists at work, discuss artistic processes and learn how to develop their own artistic potential. Over its five-day period, the Art Camp attracted nearly 1,000 schoolchildren, design students, art aficionados and curious passers-by.

The visiting artists shared their experiences, learned from each other and got to know the multicultural city of Ensenada while staying at the homes of local artists and patrons of the arts. They sampled the diverse flavors of Ensenada at sponsoring restaurants like Ale Beirut, Covelli Pizza, La Finca Steak House, Las Cazuelitas and El Charro, and took scenic side trips to La Bufadora and Valle de Guadalupe. Chiyomi Taneike Longo, who felt very much at home in Ensenada, commented upon the friendliness of the people. “It’s good to understand people’s similarities and differences. If we can learn to understand each other–even one new person every day–eventually we can put an end to war in the world.”

On October 7, 2nd Annual International Exposition of Contemporary Art opened its doors in two different Ensenada venues with a combined total of 36-40 works by the aforementioned artists and Argentinean photographer Patrick Liotta. The first inauguration took place at 5pm at Bodegas de Santo Tomás and attracted a large throng of viewers and art lovers. At 7:30pm, even more attendees were on hand for the second inauguration at the Museo Histórico Regional, the 1886 military barracks and former local jail. Here some of the paintings were displayed in the corridor while others were hung in the small prison cells, where interesting juxtapositions contributed an additional dimension to the concept of visual art. In addition to the art exposition, the crowd enjoyed a cultural fiesta that included regional foods, Baja California wines, a classical ensemble, a jazz trio, and Mexican, Latin American and electronic music.

The 2nd Annual International Exposition of Contemporary Art will remain on display until October 31, 2006 at the Museo Histórico Regional, located on Av. Gastelum between Av. Lopez Mateos & Virgilio Uribe. (Many of the works originally exhibited at Bodegas de Santo Tomás have been transferred to the museum.) Museum/gallery hours are 9am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday) and admission is free. The exposition is a unique opportunity to view or purchase outstanding paintings by eighteen prestigious artists of diverse backgrounds, styles and artistic visions. For additional information about the exposition or the goals and objectives of Arte Praxia, A.C., visit www.artepraxia.org or e-mail  Additional works by some of the artists can be purchased online at www.artdecollectors.com

AT THE ART CAMP (top left photo): Narupon Buranabunya attaches a face on one of his 161 soft sculpture dolls (top right photo): Painter Alejandro Martínez-Peña at work (bottom left photo): Painter Thosaporn Suthum at work (bottom right photo): A group of the artists outside of the Art Camp

AT THE MUSEO HISTORICO REGIONAL (top left photo): Andrei Wilenius with his “Santo Tomás II” (top right photo): Marco Miranda with his “Bodegas” and Jim Busby with his “Plato Ceramico” (middle left photo): Al Longo with his oil painting, “Transition #2” (middle right photo): Ricardo Alvarez Cruz with his mixed media on wood “Diptych” (bottom left photo): Inya Laskowoski with her mixed media sculpture, “Ensenada Luna” (bottom right photo): Marisa Caichiolo with her “Sacred Dress” dedicated to Judaism DOIN’ TIME ... (left photo): Jim Busby poses with old prison cell doors (right photo): Al Longo and Chiyomi Taneike Longo share a solitary moment in a jail cell with Chiyomi’s mixed media on wood painting, “Locus #19”

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