Saturday, April 21 2007 @ 02:37 PM CDT
Contributed by: Marilyn
The idea of the life of an artist has been romanticized in movies and novels and in fact, it can be a very exciting profession. The reality, of course, is that most artists who begin an art career drop out well before they can realize the “life of an artist”. The long years of study and practice perfecting their craft, coupled with extreme economic hardship is too daunting for most. The “art game” is not for triflers. This is why it is referred to as a calling and not a career. If you have talent, focus, courage and humor you are half-way there. Timing, luck, fortitude and persistence will take you the rest of the way. Few there are that can travel this road and not give it up for a “so called normal job”.
One such traveler who made it is Cabo artist Chris MacClure. A veteran artist of 35 years, Chris opened his studio/gallery, the Golden Cactus Gallery, in Cabo San Lucas in 1997, after spending 6 years traveling back and forth from his studio in White Rock, B.C. There is nothing like information straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, so we asked MacClure some questions that might shed some light on art, artists and the art scene here in Baja.
Saturday, April 21 2007 @ 02:34 PM CDT
Contributed by: Marilyn
The inspiration for this article comes from a recent invitation to attend a “Garden Party”. We hadn't met the host but were informed that he was an avid collector of art and we'd enjoy seeing his collection at his home. Nothing could have prepared us for the magnitude of his “collection”. Obviously he and his family had amassed this body of art over a couple of generations, at least. Every wall from the ceiling to mid-wall was covered with art, magnificently and ornately framed, every square foot of every room in this rather large home, contained a painting. From the moment you entered the house, you were plunged into the art world. The furniture, the artifacts that adorned every niche, that sat on every table and counter were a testimony to the lives that these people had lived. The library had a carved rosewood ceiling commissioned from an artisan in the far east, the front door was carved especially for the host by a Chinese artist and many of the interior doors were similarly commissioned. This was a true “collectors collector” and an incredible experience to view a collection that spanned the four corners of the globe and included many priceless paintings and etchings from the 14th, 15th, and 20th century masters. It was rather like being in some of the castles and estates of Europe but condensed down into a small cottage. We were speechless.
Saturday, April 21 2007 @ 02:31 PM CDT
Contributed by: Marilyn
The Internet is an amazing tool. However, I'll be the first to admit that I am still a reluctant participant in this technology, I use it but I do so as little as possible. We have it in our gallery and it is indispensable for business. I think my hesitation is that we may become more and more dependent on its' information for our everyday life. To my thinking, reliance on information alone can take away much of the newness and spontaneity of life and I still love surprises. For example, if this is your first trip to Cabo and you went “on line” and gathered all the information you could possibly use during your trip here, you have probably already discovered that a lot of the information is incorrect, out-dated or not relevant. Armed with your “list of to dos” you could miss other opportunities, or activities that would unfold naturally if you didn't have preconceived ideas of what you wanted from your vacation.
Saturday, April 21 2007 @ 02:28 PM CDT
Contributed by: Marilyn
October 25th is International Artists Day and it's gaining support worldwide. This grassroots movement is not mainstream as yet but artists and galleries in communities everywhere are jumping on the bandwagon. Perhaps an overview is needed to explain the concept.
Artists are a much ignored group although almost anything you use day to day has an artistic design at its root. Throughout history art has been the most important defining characterization of a culture or people. Art survives personalities, dynasties, movements and civilizations. Artists are pioneers and are usually at the forefront of changing times and events. We might well ask why.
True art is timeless and universal and recognizable to all. Where does the inspiration for art come from? What makes some art priceless and other art mediocre? The artist themselves are the lynch pins. Art that is inspired comes from the “unexplainable” and is translated by the artist. If the artist is “tuned into” this area of consciousness, masterpiece works in painting, sculpture, music or prose can manifest. There are thousands in the arts over the centuries of this magnitude, they are natural conduits and are household names because of the recognition of their contribution to culture and humanity.
Saturday, April 21 2007 @ 02:24 PM CDT
Contributed by: Marilyn
When the “Influential Leaders in Cabo/Mexico”subject of this issue was announced by our esteemed publisher/editor, I knew right away that this was my opportunity to write about a person I believe has remarkable leadership qualities. In fact, artist Chris MacClure has the quintessential personality traits that define a leader. Notwithstanding the fact that he is my friend and partner, anyone who knows him would concur that he is the archetype of leader.
A painter for over 35 years, this self-motivating pursuit has given him a quiet assurance. Being an artist is a survivalist profession. You either make it or you give it up for easier money. It's one thing to paint a picture, quite another to sell it to pay your rent. It's the first years in the professional artists' life that gives expression to the saying “starving artist”. These are the years that test the true resolve of an aspiring artist and it can take many years to develop your art to a place where there is commercial value enough to appeal to the world at large. In this regard, MacClure came out the other side stronger than when he began. Chris' natural strengths of character were honed over these learning years and because he was resilient, resourceful and astute, he recognized early on that an artist needs to “pay their dues” for the privilege of being able to survive in the art game. Thanks to a delightful down-home humor however, there's a wonderful compassion that oozes from him like filtered light. It takes “being there” yourself to understand the road that others travel. A video crew came to Cabo to document his life as an artist and he was quoted as saying “An artist can go to art school and learn some techniques but it's actually living the life of an artist that gives you the direction your art will take and makes of you - the artist”.
Tuesday, February 13 2007 @ 04:39 PM CST
Contributed by: Marilyn
Trying to describe Los Cabos is like trying to describe water or sunshine-you have to experience it because words and even pictures don't quite capture the essence. Much of life can be so lived on the surface of things that we lose touch with the importance of how we are feeling and relating to our experiences. The pace of our lives can be almost frenetic with our "to do" lists that stretch far into the future and our world filled with gadgets that we use to save us time. Time we use mostly to give us more "stuff" to do. Hopefully on your vacation time here, you can use some of that time to discover something new about yourself you didn't know before, in addition to the famous Cabo pastime of just relaxing and basking in being. Holiday time is the time for renewing yourself-inside and out.
Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 01:35 PM CST
Contributed by: Marilyn
The overall theme of this issue of Destion is really poignant and pertinant to where things are heading here in Cabo. If you were fortunate enough to have been here as far back as the '80's or '90's, the feeling in Los Cabos was very strong and noticable. The feeling of well being and 'peace' here radiated everywhere and was made even more evident by the absolute lack of it anywhere else. During most of the 90's that feeling predominated and is probably more responsible for the path that has been beaten to Los Cabos doorstep than even the beauty or the weather, which are great on their own. The tip of the Baja is like an island, cut off from civilization. Only one road down, and hundreds of miles of it wind through pristine landscapes unmarred by telephone poles and hydro lines. The silence is awesome. However, great secrets can't be kept and now the world has discovered our oasis in the desert. With this discovery comes the mass of humanity that could take away this precious pearl and replace it with a knock-off replica.
Individually, we have a responsibility to preserve this jewel. We have choices and we need to excercise our discretion in how we conduct ourselves for the good of our paradise. Do we want just another "tourist mecca" with all the problems that brings, or is there a way to share this gem with the world and yet not take onboard the mediocrity that inevitably follows a mass influx of people into an area.
An archetype is a universal idea or concept, un-manifested as yet into visible form. A true and gifted artist can render, through the medium of paint, music, sculpture or prose, a less than perfect but nevertheless a reasonable facsimile which would suggest this eternal idea. Any person, anywhere would relate to such a piece of work, whether they were aware of the intent behind its creation or not. Most artists, in fact, would probably not even know themselves that they had touched a universal chord, until after the fact. Truly inspired art is never contrived and when this perfect note is struck it surprises the artist as much as anyone.
Because the nature of inspiration is so elusive, this occurrence is rare for most artists although there have been thousands in the course of history where this has transpired many, many times. For example, Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, William Blake, Rembrandt, Rubens, just the tip of the iceberg creativity-wise but in our present time, recognized all over the world as inspired artists. In their time, of course they were celebrities within their own immediate circle of influence. Had telecommunication been available then, they would have reached global celebrity status and reached a much wider audience even though they have done that in modern times because of the advent of mass media, and electronic technology.
