Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Exhibitions by artists Gerald Gallant and Emilio Rama open at Galleria Dante on December 15, as part of this week's South Side Shuffle. Stop by Vallarta's largest and most eclectic art gallery to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary cocktails from 6-10 pm.

Gerald Gallant

Gérald Gallant is a native of Quebec, Canada. A self-taught artist, his perseverance and his constant work in the studio have helped him develop his style. He continually refines his technique by taking different classes of Quebec masters. Three solo exhibitions and numerous participations in symposiums and artist collectives have been enough for Gallant to impose himself in the Quebec arts community.

The artist's works are part of a contemporary artistic approach and he has been able to impose a particular style with the theme of urbanism of our great cities. He draws his inspiration from architectural elements and current or historical monuments that are in the foreground, thus offering a more personalized vision and reinventing the city. The medium advocated by the artist is acrylic.

On abstract backgrounds obtained by successive layers of transparent colors, he integrates forms proposed by perspectives of real or imaginary planes or vanishing points, which then complete his first opaque planes. The highly colored environment organizes and completes the work.

However, this perspective of the object, although it serves to the understanding of the work, is not its main concern. Gallant's work is more focused on an ambience-based proposition because the dynamic atmosphere and energy of urban environments influence his subjects in which reality and imagination overlap to create the universe of Gallant.

His pictorial works are needed as a documentation of the atmosphere and energy that urban environments are creating - more than what is reality.

Parallel with the structural development of his work, the artist arranges shapes and objects in highly colored environments that organize and refine his work.

Gerald was influenced by Jackson Pollock, for his spontaneity through the dripping and automatism of his technique; Banksy for his street art, his message and his particular subjects; and Calder for his moving sculptural forms.

Aside from the painting, which remains his greatest passion, Gérald excels in culinary art which, he says, joins his artistic and Epicurean side. The arrangement of flavors, colors and the presentation of food often become works of art pleasant to view and then to savor. For all these reasons, he puts a lot of care into the composition of his dishes which brings great delight to his friends. His first passion, (profession) however, was hair styling. Again, color, form and aesthetics were parallel to his painting for 35 successful years.

An unconditional animal lover, last year he adopted a rescue dog in Puerto Vallarta - saving a puppy from a tragic end. What was originally thought to be a tiny Chihuahua became an adorable 18-pound Jack Russel. Charlotte has become the mascot of her artistic appointments.

Last year was the first season for Gerald at Galleria Dante, but he soon became sought after by the clients. Not only is he a great artist, but beloved by all the staff at Galleria Dante! Come meet this talented artist for cocktails on December 15th from 6 to 10 pm.

Emilio Rama

Born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Emilio Rama is a resident of Queretaro. A self-taught artist who has formed his talent through his participation in workshops led by international artists such as Patrick Petterson, Rafael Rodriguez, Gustavo Villegas, Marco Lamoyi and Ramses de la Cruz, he's also participated in other art and philosophy courses.

The work of Emilio Rama projects his feelings before a consumer and saturated society of entertainment, a face of the hyper modernity of Lipovetsky that dictates a behavior focused on the lightness of time and joy as the main factor of today's life. Emilio's works are not merely a protest banner, but rather a funny face rich in textures and aesthetic in color, as well as in shapes, the confrontation between the honesty and the respect that is needed to make delicate pieces of origami - They confront the corporate image of large transnationals and images of characters from mass media.

The artist explains:

"My previous work, Graphic of a Manipulated Generation, explores the role of the media on the manipulation of the consumer awareness, whether in commercial, political or social issues. At that time, I understood the cultural differences between the American corporations and the Japanese. I was really interested in the topic. I started wondering how to put them face to face, to show both different sides of the coin, and that is how I got involved in the origami project named Honor y Decadence.

The main idea of this project was to find a Japanese icon that represented honor and respect versus the Western culture of massive consumerism, such as logos, pop characters, brands, etc... After some research, I found origami, a paper folding art consisting of making animals and objects from nature without scissors, glue or paint.

This technique requires honesty and dedication in order to be successful. That is why I represented a very well-known brand or character for the mass consumer on the origami object, confronting both concepts. My work always tries to send a social message about the way we are as a society, but it also tries to be an artistic piece that could be part of the life of my collectors.

I've been playing with nostalgic feelings using popular characters from our first years as a child. As humans, we need to express ourselves, and art is the most sublime way to accomplish this. In search for expressing my ideas, I have experimented with different graphic techniques, such as engraving, painting, drawing and photography.

In each work that I produce, I try to give a message that reaches the consciousness of people. I am very interested in theme of the decadence of our modern society, but also the unsettling feeling of how small our world is in comparison with the universe; modern society has stopped asking questions like: 'Why I'm here?' ... 'Who am I?' ... 'What's out there beyond the sky?' Our society nowadays is more concerned about the things that keep them entertained so they won't have the time or the interest for going deeper into themselves. We go through life working and living up the day, without taking time to analyze our existence or the pursuit of happiness.

As an artist, I have the obligation to produce works with a critical message that sets the spectator into a context of deeper analysis of current issues that should interest our modern society. The emptiness of our generation is caused by the appreciation of material things which have become the engine of an increasingly poorer and more lonely society; being aware that the fight cannot be won, it encourages me to imprint messages that do not fit only for decoration, but they are appreciated by the background of the work."

Emilio was awarded the Apoyarte art program from the Culture Secretary, Honored with a mention in the last Biennial of the Constitution anniversary. He was selected in the I Biennial of Art Queretaro Santangel, as well as beneficiary to the program of promotion to artistic creation by the Institute of Culture and Arts of the state of Querétaro.

He has exhibited in galleries in Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta and Los Angeles, California! He has participated in urban art festivals such as Boarddripper and Arte Nine Urbano, as well as at the Affordable Art Fair in Mexico City. Come meet this talented young man, who in his spare time is an avid cyclist - last year having cycled from San Diego, California to Alaska!

Don't miss your chance to meet this talented artist for cocktails at Galleria Dante while you're out doing this week's South Side Shuffle on Friday, December 15 from 6-10 pm.

While you are there, be sure to check out Di Vino Dante, a chic wine and tapas bar overlooking the gallery's sculpture garden. In late June, Di Vino Dante opened a small dining area on the ground floor in a corner of Galleria Dante, for those who like to people watch.