Galería Pérez Meillón Presents Virginia Vásquez Art Exposition
text by connie ellig

Vásquez speaks eloquently of her art and her artistic process. “I feel my artistic ability is something that was given to me,” she says. “I would describe my style of painting as stylized minimalism and I love acrylic paints because I can see the results immediately. Many of my ideas come from something I’ve heard or read; the line stays with me and images are created. The complete painting is developed in my head; this can be a quick process but sometimes it is not. “Between Many Worlds,” for example, took over a year to develop.

“The idea for “Between Many Worlds” had been in my mind for a number of years, but I wasn’t able to find the right images I wanted to use. Finally it all came together. I have felt for a long time that I was somewhat lost. If I’m in America, I’m a Mexican. If I’m in Mexico, then I’m an American. “Between Many Worlds” includes some of the ingredients of who I truly am. The background is red, white and blue (the American element in the mixture); the cross in the center symbolizes Catholicism yet it contains images from the Aztec calendar; the top half of the arch represents the Mayan sun; the bottom half is a feather for my indigenous heritage.”

Vasquez continues “Before my brush touches the canvas, every element has already been visualized and decided upon, from the size and shape of the canvas to the images that will be used to even the colors that are needed. When I’m unable to paint this ‘mental picture’ for whatever reason, I put all the information down on paper in a small sketchbook I keep nearby. Eventually I’ll look at my book and the excitement returns. It is then time to paint.

“While my paintings are a well-planned, thought-out process, my gourd art is just the opposite. I choose gourds based on their shape or size or texture. The challenge is in creating something beautiful out of something that is not ‘perfect.’ I’m constantly collecting items that will be used: beads, bones, feathers, sticks, glass, rocks, etc. The collection grows. When I’m ready, I surround myself with these goodies and the process of creating begins.

“It doesn’t matter whether the piece has a message or tells a story or is just plain pleasing to look at; when my art is right I know it. I can’t explain how I know, I just do. Like I said before, my artistic ability was given to me,” Vásquez concludes.

During a recent business trip to Sonoma County, gallery owner Adalberto Pérez Meillón happened upon one of Vásquez’s paintings and was greatly impressed. “I met Virginia through her sister, Christine Vásquez, who is the Exhibits Specialist at the Jesse Peter Museum in Santa Rosa, California. Both Christine and Virginia have been friends of Galería Pérez Meillón for many years, but I was unaware of Virginia’s extraordinary talent until I saw her painting, “Two Sisters,” in Christine’s home. It is a beautiful work that portrays the two sisters’ love for each other. Each sister is represented by a corn plant (a symbol of their Mexican heritage) and the two corn plants are touching each other with their leaves, like holding hands. Each plant has different hair, similar to the different hair style worn by each sister. I found this painting very touching, even more so because it reminded me of the love and support that my wife and her sister have for each other.”

After viewing more of Vásquez’s paintings and examining her one-of-a-kind, hand-painted gourds, Pérez Meillón invited her to exhibit at his gallery. “This will be Virginia’s first exposition in Mexico and I am very delighted that Galería Pérez Meillón will be the host,” he declares.

On Thursday, August 3, nearly six dozen art aficionados from Ensenada, Northern and Southern California gathered to meet artist Virginia Vásquez and view her works at a wine and cheese reception at Galería Pérez Meillón. Guests enjoyed the music of Gustavo Rivas and Julie Genchi while savoring Real del Castillo cheeses, artisan breads, and courtesy wines provided by Bodegas de Santo Tomás and Cavas Valmar wineries.
 
 

(center photo) Artist Virginia Vásquez with gallery owner Adalberto Pérez Meillón

Since opening in 1988, Galería Pérez Meillón has hosted a variety of art functions including exhibitions and workshops by master potters Juan Quezada, Lydia Quezada, Macario Ortiz, Rubén Lozano Lucero, Héctor Gallegos and César Navarrete, who are among the leaders and most renowned artists of the Mata Ortiz pottery movement from northern Chihuahua. In addition to fine Mata Ortiz pottery that is personally selected by Pérez Meillón, the gallery features native Baja California art like Paipai pottery, Kumiai baskets, Kiliwa necklaces and Cochimí soapstone carvings, as well as one-of-a-kind jewelry by Don Valentín Torres and paintings on amate (tree bark) paper by artist/owner Adalberto Pérez Meillón.

Open daily from 9am-5pm, Galería Pérez Meillón is located in Locale #40 of Centro Artesanal (the large, single-story orange building) on Blvd. Costero (Lázaro Cárdenas) #1094 at Av. Castillo in Ensenada. For more information about the Virginia Vásquez exhibition or other artwork featured at Galería Pérez Meillón, call (646)175-7848 or e-mail

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