Guanjuato Reclaims Diego Rivera: last day of special exhibit Sunday, March 15

As part of a whole month of honoring Diego Rivera, born here, the Casa Museo Diego Rivera, is hosting a special exhibit of his works on loan. As you enter, you will see one of his cubist works, painted during the years he lived in Paris. For viewers who know his murals but not his easel work, the exhibit is a revelation, as are also the three large bronze reliefs made from his sketches. And look for a drawing the versatile artist made of a rural US scene.

The traveling exhibit is on the first floor. Take the elevator up one floor more to see works that are always on view at the Museum, both by and of Rivera.

Other local tributes to the artist: the tunnel named for DR (instead of the usual engineer) that goes from Paseo de la Presa in the direction of the bus station -- and a bizarre bronze statue on Juan Valle that shows what he would have looked like with short legs. Nationally, the 500 peso note, with Rivera on one side and Frida Kahlo on the other.

Guanajuato: MuAG (Women Artists of Guanajuato)

Twenty-three artists showed their work in the VII edition of Mujeres Artistas de Guanajuato that opened tonight in the Dieguino Museum next to Teatro Juarez. At the bottom, Loreta, the organizer, happy afterward. Talina Rodríguez created the image of Coatlicue, the mother of the Aztec gods, the photo not as sharp as I would like it, better to see it for yourself. To see pre-Hispanic sculptures of Coatlicue, google "Coatlicue images."

The one sculpture and the 22 paintings all featured women. I always like going into this museum that blends convent ruins with a modern approach to natural light.

Guanajuato Artists: Kate Delos at 81 Positos through February

Kate's double exhibit, Obras en dos partes, is just what the title says. The rear galleries on the ground floor show Delos's work based on nude figures, the front gallery --my pick--shows more recent work suggested in part by Guanajuato colors and shapes, with the artist working her magic on both parts. An expo-venta.

entrance hall to the three-floor gallery

detail from "The Weight of History"

One of many that start with a nude figure

20th Century Italian Artists at MAHG, Leon until January 31

My visits to Leon run the gamut, this time from eating tacos in a place I like a block off Lopez Mateos, walking to the art museum, and afterward stopping off at Costco.

The shopping bag even had the lettering we are used to seeing

Constance prompted me to watch for the loom

Above and beside, two toys I saw at the exhibit Mexican Toy Exhibit just ended, but they should all be back on permanent display at San Miguel's Toy Museum by now.

Below, a sampling of the variety in the Italian
exhibit: one of two striking fabric sculptures made of painted canvas; an embroidered geometric "painting" made up of tiny stitches; and of course, other paintings in many different styles, of which the horses by de Chirico shown are so different from the architectural-surreal painting we usually see reproduced.

Informative texts to guide the viewer through the exhibit.  

This exhibit of 20th century art from Italy is fascinating for showing how art crosses borders, both in themes and techniques. Highly recommended if you are going to Leon on a weekday as the traffic is slow and sidewalks crowded with the annual Fair in full swing.

Children's Room for classes (no one there on the weekend)
Note the enlargement of the needlework design

By the way, the fully accessible museum building and galleries are world class. The bookstore there has piles of good reads and picture books in Spanish.